This a Greyton WO.

Balance is the key to this wine. Viognier is an aromatic and generous varietal, it benefits from barrel maturation and lees contact with a fuller mouth feel and increased texture. This combined with the firm acid backbone and intense fruit will allow this wine to integrate beautifully and gain further complexity over the next 3-5 years.

Rich, lush and decadent. Viognier is a gorgeous variety. Honeysuckle, peaches and dried apricot with a lingering citrus finish. A clean fresh acidity supports the extravagance of the nose and the palate.

Viognier, a traditional Rhone variety is perfectly suited to Lismore’s cool-climate terrior. The vineyard block is on decomposed shale and one of the healthiest and well balanced on the farm. The entire team looks forward to the Viognier harvest and the beautiful amber tinged berries.

The grapes were picked at optimal ripeness and whole bunch pressed, slowly extracting the juice at a rate of 500ltrs per ton. The juice was settled for 48 hours and was racked into burgundian barriques (1st fill) for fermentation and maturation. The wine was left on the lees with regular “batonnage” for 11 months.

 Lighter styles are often paired with curries and the like. This Viognier is different. We recommend medium bodied meals that are intense and complex. For example:

- Sesame encrusted tuna marinated in a blend of orange, lemon and lime juice spiced with sesame oil and balsamic vinegar – seared on a wood fired grill and served with griddled vegetables, or
- Free range duck breast smoked with Darjeeling tea and coriander leaves. Set on a cinnamon poached pear glazed with a gooseberry jus.
In both of these dishes, the fruit and floral aspects of the wine are complimented by the exotic and aromatic elements in the dish which are also highlighted by the spiciness from the oak fermentation; the fresh acidity freshens the palate, and yet the Lismore Viognier has the body to hold up against the weight of the duck or the tuna. It is also gorgeous with a well laid cheese platter.

Review:

"One of two Lismore estate Viogniers reviewed in my 2019 report, this comes from a 0.3-hectare block that was planted 13 years ago. Rich, complex and concentrated, it has pear and apricot fruit, a hint of nectarine and a patina of vanilla and cinnamon spice. 2019-23 Greyton (14%)" - Tim Atkin (South Africa 2019 Special Report), 94 pts

Grand Veneur Cotes Du Rhone Viognier Blanc is made from 100% Viognier

Soil: clay/sand with limestone.
Yield: 38 Hl / hectare
Hand-picked harvest. Vinification in stainless steel vats at a controlled temperature of 18°C.
Bottled early, 6 months after the harvest.

The color is clear and brilliant. A very intense nose of flowers, white peach and pear. On the palate, aromas are expressed with balance and an amazing freshness. A great example of Rhone white, single grape "Viognier".

To be enjoyed young, but can age for 3-5 years.

Soil types
Located next to the single vineyard “Les Champauvins”, nearby the Domaine Grand Veneur. Soils are made of clay and sand with limestone.

Winemaking & aging
Hand-picked harvest. Fermentation in temperature-controled vats. Early bottling, 6 months after harvest.

Review:

"Lightly colored, the 2018 Côtes Du Rhône Le Blanc De Viognier has terrific notes of apricots, white peach, honeyed mint, and white flowers. With medium body, a rounded, sexy Viognier texture, good freshness, and a great finish, it's another terrific wine from this brilliant estate."
- Jeb Dunnuck (August 16th 2019), 90 pts

Lismore Chardonnay made from 100 percent Chardonnay.

Intense citrus and soft fruit layered with honey and vanilla carried by a distinct minerality and crisp acidity with a lingering citrus finish.

Fermented and aged in 225-300 liter older French barrels with regular batonnage. 10 % Malolactic Fermentation. Residual Sugar: 2.41

Delightful with warm curries which lift the aromatics or a traditional pairing of smoked salmon highlighting the fresh acidity.

   Review:

"The 2016 Chardonnay contains 10% fruit from the Elinskloof vineyard (hence the different WO than the 2015). The tightly wound bouquet of citrus fruit, honeysuckle and light chalky scents gathers momentum in the glass. The palate is well balanced with a slightly petrolly opening and a little more viscous than the 2015, featuring a touch of spice and perhaps not quite the length of the 2016. Excellent, but it needs a couple of years in bottle. - Neal Martin"
- Antonio Galloni's Vinous (August 2018), 92+ pts

"From the moment your nose goes into the glass, the 2016 Chardonnay commands your attention. Instantaneously, the soft, elegant oak tones are matched with classic apple and pear tones, lemon curd and hints of soft white peach. On the palate, the wine is expressive, with a focused core of opulent tree fruit, a structured beam of acidity through the mid-palate, and lift from well-managed, integrated oak flavors. The long finish has me thinking of something between the Russian River Valley and Montrachet. This is how you make Chardonnay. Bottles of this are going into my cellar and I recommend you do the same. - Anthony Mueller"
- Robert Parker's Wine Advocate (Issue #245, October 2019), 93+ pts

Babylons Peak Viognier-Roussanne is made from 60/40 blend of Viognier and Roussanne 

Babylon's Peak winery, situated on the highest weathered granite slopes of the Paardeberg Mountain, is privately owned by the Basson family who has passed down the tradition, passion and art of winemaking over four generations. Predominantly low-yield dryland bushvines are selected to produce these excellent wines with distinctive character.

Complex flavors of flowers, peach, dried pear and apricot with a long, smooth finish on the palate.

Review:

"This 60/40 blend of Viognier and Roussanne offers a perfume of white flowers and a finely focused palate of spice and white stone fruit with just a touch of minerals and white pepper. At the time of tasting, this wine had just been bottled and was for that reasons a bit closed; the 2017 vintage we also tried was richer, more expressive and had a lovely, slippery lanolin mouth feel. - Don Winkler" - i-winereview.com (The Wines of Babylon’s Peak in South Africa’s Swartland, September 30th 2019), 90 pts

The Siegel Special Reserve Viognier has a pale yellow color with green tones. The nose is quite intense with superb notes of white peach, grapefruit and floral expression. On the palate, the wine is balanced, persistent and it has an excellent acidity.

The Siegel Special Reserve Viognier is a blend of Viognier aged in French Oak barrels for 3 months and Viognier aged on the lees in stainless steel tanks. The wine didn't go through a Malolactic fermentation in order to keep it lively and fresh.

It was bottled right after a slight filtration.

The Siegel Special Reserve Viognier goes well with thai food or fish cooked in sauce.

Review:

"Brimming with peach and floral aromas, this is is ripe enough with crisp acidity for this grape variety. Good length, too. This should be good for at least a couple of years. Drink or hold. Screw cap." - James Suckling (April 2019), 91 pts

Lismore Pinot Noir is made from 100 percent Pinot Noir

The grapes were picked at optimal ripeness. 30% whole bunch fermented in large 5000 liter vats with gentle pump-overs twice a day. The process allowed for a long extraction period which lends to the fruit expression and structure of this wine. The free run wine was drained off and the fermented grapes were then pressed in a traditional wooden basket press. The wine was racked into 225, 300 and 500 liter barrels where malolactic fermentation took place and the wine was aged for 10 months. 35% new French oak was used.

Review:

"On the nose, the 2017 Pinot Noir begins with classic dusty red fruit with subtle red spice tones and hints of oak. On the palate, the wine is just slightly tart, revealing some fresh, zippy cranberry tones with orange spice that lingers through to the finish. The mouthfeel is something like that from the Willamette Valley, where it has a quiet strength at its core, with complex fruit and soft earthy tones. The finish is long and shows great focus and balance. It's beautiful now, but I know it will get better with age. Be patient and let it rest. - Anthony Mueller"
- Robert Parker's Wine Advocate (Issue #245, October 2019), 92+ pts