Chateau de Pennautier Viognier 2015
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In the heart of the Cabardès appellation, the vines grow on the sunny, rugged hillsides south of the Montagne Noire, set at an altitude of 650 to 1300 feet. The views from up there are breathtaking: at a glance, you can see the entire Pyrenean mountain range to the south, the Massif Central to the north, and the famous town of Carcassonne just a few miles away.
This terroir combines clay-limestone soils, the Mediterranean heat, an Atlantic influence and the coolness of the mountains. Many areas of garrigue and rock on the Montagne Noire include vines, up to an altitude of 1300 feet.
Full-figured and charmingly floral, Viognier is one of the most important white grapes of the northern Rhône where it is used both to produce single varietal wines and as an important blending grape. Look for great New World examples from California, Oregon, Washington and cooler parts of Australia. Somm Secret—Viognier plays a surprisingly important role in the red wines of Côte Rôtie in the northern Rhône. About 5% Viognier is typically co-fermented with the Syrah in order to stabilize the color, and as an added benefit, add a subtle perfume.
A catchall term for the area surrounding the Languedoc and Roussillon, Pays d’Oc is the most important IGP (Indication Géographique Protégée) in France, producing 85% of this country’s wine under the IGP designation. (IGP indicates wine of good quality, not otherwise elevated to the Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée (AOC) status.)
The near perfect Mediterranean climate combined with dry, cool winds from the north, optimal soils, altitudes and exposures make Pays d’Oc an ideal wine growing region. Single varietal wines and blends are possible here and while many types of grapes do well in Pays d’Oc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Grenache and Cinsault are among the most common.