Wine Review: Pepperwood Grove Viognier 2006

Posted by Wine Welfare | Filed under $6-$8, California, Unbelievable Deals, USA, Viognier, White

No More “Recession Wine”

If you are into wine, then you have heard this term by now. Heck, you’ve probably heard if you don’t care too much for wine, because the term “recession wine” is everywhere. We here at Wine Welfare are determined to help stop the use of this term because we feel it causes negative thinking when it comes to finding good wines under $20 (though it would be a good name for a wine website). We are doing this for a number of reasons:

1. By labeling a wine with the word “recession,” you are immediately invoking negativity. We don’t care if the wine is made from table grapes found in your local grocery store and fermented in an abandoned L.A. school bus. If it tastes good, it tastes good.

2. Wine is either good or bad, and neither has to do with how much it costs.

3. You should not drink wine you do not enjoy just to save a few bucks. If you have always liked that $10 bottle of Merlot but now it costs $12, spend the extra $2 on it.

4. Think about how stupid you would feel if we were living in boom times and people were calling that same $12 bottle of Merlot “Wealthy Wine” (another good website name).

You get the picture. Now onto the Pepperwood Grove Viognier 2006.

Bad News

Not the most structured white, but when we picked up the Pepperwood Grove Viognier, we weren’t expecting a hearty white Burgundy. The wine is a bit too crisp and tart for our liking. We usually prefer Viogniers that roll along like a red carpet: softer and more silky. This one kind of hits you in the face and moves on; a drive-by Viognier. Imagine someone fires a green apple at your face, then dumps a blob of honey on you when you’re bleeding on the ground, and then leaves you, wondering what the heck just happened.

Sorry about that, we’ve been off for about a week and had a Tangent Attack there…

Good News

Uh….$6.99 and it tastes good?

Color: Golden and clarified. Very pleasing and looks syrupy, which is deceiving because it is not at all.

Nose: Booze. Seriously, just booze. You might find a flutter of honey or maybe some pear, but this baby is as noseless as Michael Jackson. Wow. Too soon? We just lost some readers.

Ahem.

Flavor: The flavors really are the best thing about this wine, which, let’s face it, is the most important factor. Good minerality, which is kind of odd for a Viognier. Again, not too syrupy. Good apple, peach, lime, clover, a touch of honey, very faint butter, and a touch of cinnamon. The flavors are concentrated just enough, but the tart really comes through and is almost too much to bear. Your mouth clenches, but thankfully the finish is brief and the wine is gone before you know it. So basically the pros and cons balance out.

With Food

Seafood, chicken, this one runs the whole board. Don’t get too buttery with the shellfish, though. This baby can’t handle it. We would also suggest it with some strawberries or peaches and a mild cheese.

Only $6.99 at GreatCorks.com!

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