Cline North Coast Viognier 2018
-
Suckling
James
Product Details
Your Rating
Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
Viognier can be a tricky grape to grow. It buds early and is susceptible to frost. The grape has a thick skin and benefits from a long ripening period to develop full flavors. Vines bask in the sun during the day, but experience cool nighttime temperatures which contributes to the wine's full-body weight and nice acidity. Cline Viognier shows juicy tropical fruit, fresh apricot and notes of mandarin orange and grapefruit.
Professional Ratings
-
James Suckling
This is very subtle and fresh with sliced-apple, honey and melon aromas and flavors. Medium body. Fruity and very drinkable. Surprisingly fresh. Drink now. Screw cap.
Other Vintages
2021-
Panel
Tasting
-
Spectator
Wine
-
Enthusiast
Wine
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.
Reaching up California's coastline and into its valleys north of San Francisco, the North Coast AVA includes six counties: Marin, Solano, Napa, Sonoma, Mendocino and Lake. While Napa and Sonoma enjoy most of the glory, the rest produce no shortage of quality wines in an intriguing and diverse range of styles.
Climbing up the state's rugged coastline, the chilly Marin County, just above the City and most of Sonoma County, as well as Mendocino County on the far north end of the North Coast successfully grow cool-climate varieties like Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and in some spots, Riesling. Inland Lake County, on the other hand, is considerably warmer, and Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel and Sauvignon Blanc produce some impressive wines with affordable price tags.