Idaho’s Snake River Valley is much more than Riesling when it comes to white varieties as Melanie Krause’s dry version of Viognier shows. She relies on Sawtooth and Williamson vineyards to help offer aromas of rosewater, pineapple, dried pear, orange oil and alyssum. She also stays true to the variety on the palate, where there are complex flavors of orange, yellow grapefruit and Gala apple. Notes of lanolin and minerality emerge on the midpalate before giving way to grapefruit pith and dazzling acidity not often found in this Rhône variety. Suggested pairings include crab cakes, goat cheese salads, risotto and vichyssoise. This received at gold medal at the 2014 Sunset International Wine Competition.
Rating: Outstanding!
Production: 675 cases
Alcohol: 14.1%
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