Alban Viognier 2010

91 points Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar: "Hazy yellow. Alluring perfume of smoky citrus and pit fruits, with floral honey and leesy nuances. Silky in texture, with sweet peach and Meyer lemon flavors; expands and becomes more exotic with air. The fresh, precise finish strongly repeats the lemon note. " (Nov/Dec '08) 90 points Wine Spectator: "Intense and fragrant, with a great balance between ripe, lush peach, citrus and tropical fruit flavors and sophisticated tobacco, mineral and spice notes. The flavors gain momentum on the finish. Drink now." (Web Only, 2009) The 2007 Central Coast Viognier from California Rhône varietal pioneer John Alban is his 17th vintage of viognier. Two-thirds of the fruit comes from the winery's estate vineyard, which contributes stone fruit and mineral notes and focus to the wine. The remaining fruit is purchased from other Central Coast vineyards and it adds a rounder, more forward aspect to the wine. Enjoy within three years of the vintage to fully enjoy the forward stone fruit and pear notes that make this a favorite year in and year out.