Yesterday I had the opportunity to attend another amazing wine tasting at Court Street restaurant in Hoboken, NJ. We tasted 10 top rated wines several of which I will be writing about in future posts. We started with 4 whites and I was excited to see that one of my favorite varietals was on the list. Viognier is a white grape that is produced in the Rhone Valley in France. Zaca Mesa winery located north of Santa Barbara, CA in the Santa Ynez Valley is producing what I feel is an excellent version of this wine. They are the first winery to plant this varietal in the area. Zaca Mesa Viognier 2008 has both rich aroma and bold, crisp flavors. This wine is first aged in stainless steel and then transferred and aged in French oak barrels. In the glass is a clear pale golden color with a strong floral nose. This white has an intense burst of flavors on the tongue. I tasted pear and citrus with hints of peaches. It is medium bodied and has a long finish with great acidity. You can pair this wine with spicy dishes and seafood. I recommend this white for wine drinkers who favor less sweet and slightly drier whites. Zaca Mesa Viognier is rated 90 points from Wine Enthusiast 2008 and is available for less than $20 per bottle.
