2014 Express Winemakers Summer Harvest Viognier

It's a variety that polarises opinion and I count myself in the hard to please category when it comes to Viognier. But it's thanks to this little ripper from fifteen year old vines located in the cool Karridale sub-region of Margaret River that has me all fired up. 

Produced by friends and adventurous winemakers Ryan and Pete from Express Winemakers at Porongurup in Western Australia, the guys have managed to extract the essence of the Viognier grapes by harvesting early in the season to maintain the variety's natural acidity with little intervention subsequently besides some fermentation in French oak. Their m o of allowing the grapes and terroir to tell their own story in the finished product has worked here beautifully.

The 2014 Summer Harvest is light yellow silver in colour, youthful in appearance. The nose reveals lifted aromatics of peach, apricot, nutmeg spices along with some interesting fresh sea salt nuances. 

On a clean, fresh light- to mid-bodied palate, the wine displays apricot, peach, perfumed blossom and subtle phenolics with cleansing acidity. Well-balanced overall, it finishes with perky acid and a dryness that is altogether mouth-watering. Purity of expression and delicately flavoured, the wine doesn't have that overt oiliness that Viognier often possess and makes the Summer Harvest a pleasure to drink. I really enjoyed how this Viognier has been made with quality, freshness and flavour in mind. Recommended.

Source: Sample. ABV: 12.5%. Closure: Screw Cap. Price: $22.00. Rating: 91 Points. Website: http://www.expresswinemakers.com/

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