WineLovers Discussion Group

The wine merchant warned me as he recommended a bottle of Opolo 2003 Viognier. He said, "This will ruin you for other Viogniers."

He wasn't kidding! I won't bore you w/ my WTNs, but it was soooooo good. I wasn't expecting it. Full-bodied, bursting w/ aromas and flavors of apricot and flowers as well as hints of vanilla.

He has one left, but at $25 a bottle I don't know if I can do it. (He sold me the first bottle 1/2 price b/c I bought half a case.) How can I go back to my $8 Viognier? It's so sad.

Yes, and the name of the Viognier?

Best regards,
Alex R.

Opolo 2003.

Alex, she said Opolo. That's a winery in the Paso Robles region of California where they grow mostly Rhone varietals--hot climate, hot year. I just spent a couple days in there with friends, and I vouch for the fact that there 14.5 abv's low, and 16-16.5 isn't that unusual.

Ronica--ha ha ha ha ha. We told you this would happen! You'd find a wine that really talks to you, and you'd be off to the races. Funny how once you fall in love, the price becomes a little less important. Which was the $8 viognier that you liked?

I like the Cline Viognier (which I can find from $8-$10) and McManis, too.

This is so interesting to me, b/c I'm a big red wine lover (cabs from Cali). Never been too interested in whites.

I'm new to Viognier, too-and my first was a Trefethan Oak Knoll Vognier. $30. Trying a $8.00 one at the grocery store's tasting last night-it just didn't do it.

(Although, they had a everything but the kitvhen sink Barbera-dominated "SuperTuscan" (SuperLodi, to be honest) that was amazingly tasty and ba;anced! .

Hi Ronica! I am also new to drinking Viogniers and will make a point of trying your "new found love" simply because of your passionate reaction...lol! Love it! :cool:

Yes, congratulations, moments of breakthrough are exciting even if expensive.. I suppose he told you about the next tier of viognier prices you can break with Condrieu, but, maybe you want to wait a bit

Rahsaan wrote:Yes, congratulations, moments of breakthrough are exciting even if expensive.. I suppose he told you about the next tier of viognier prices you can break with Condrieu, but, maybe you want to wait a bit

Monetarily speaking, I can only handle one breakthrough a month, but I have been wanting to try Condrieu. Have any recommendations? As long as we're speaking French, what do you think of Vouvray?

Deborah Ackerman wrote:Hi Ronica! I am also new to drinking Viogniers and will make a point of trying your "new found love" simply because of your passionate reaction...lol! Love it! :cool:

Deborah,

I tend to like bold and flavorful wines. That's why I'm having an adjustment curve to the subtle French reds I've been trying. So, take that into consideration b/f you go for the Opolo. If you find it I hope you like it.

RonicaJM wrote:Deborah,

I tend to like bold and flavorful wines. That's why I'm having an adjustment curve to the subtle French reds I've been trying. So, take that into consideration b/f you go for the Opolo. If you find it I hope you like it.

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Thanks for the preference info, Ronica. I do tend to prefer a more medium-bodied wine as I am not fond of the normally higher alcohol content of a full-bodied wine, but I do enjoy intense flavor! Whether I love the Opolo like you or not, I look forward to the experience of trying it; that's part of the fun of discovering new wines! The trick is to find it now! :cool:

Monetarily speaking, I can only handle one breakthrough a month, but I have been wanting to try Condrieu. Have any recommendations?

If you do try Condrieu the Opolo will probably go out the window. Yves Cuilleron Les Chaillets Condrieu is a good place to start, or to end for that matter. It should be available in the neighborhood of $30.

Rahsaan wrote:Yes, congratulations, moments of breakthrough are exciting even if expensive.. I suppose he told you about the next tier of viognier prices you can break with Condrieu, but, maybe you want to wait a bit

Very good, Mr R !!!

Haven't had one in a few years, but the GDB VDP used to be damn good for around $10.

what do you think of Vouvray?

Along with riesling in my opinion it represents the pinnacle of white wine. And much better value than Condrieu. If you do searches you should find lots of notes on the better producers.

I'm with Rahsaan on this one: chenin blanc (Vouvray wines) outclass Condrieu and viognier wines to my palate. I enjoy a nice viognier, but even with Condrieu wines, you have to spend fairly big bucks and try numerous wines before you hit a winner. That's been my experience, anyway.

Buy anything from Domaine Huet in Vouvray and I don't think you'll be disappointed. The only problem, viognier is meant to drink soon, but chenin takes 7-10 years to really shine. That's not to say it isn't yummy as a young wine, but it shows much greater complexity with age.

Baumard makes lovely Chenin Blancs (Saviennieres), and the low end bottling is less than $20, if you can find it. For a bit more their Clos de Papillon can be stunning.

James Dietz wrote:Baumard makes lovely Chenin Blancs (Saviennieres), and the low end bottling is less than $20, if you can find it. For a bit more their Clos de Papillon can be stunning.

James, I have a few bottles of the 1996 of this wine (the regular bottle), do you suppose it is time to open one?

Bob, I would think it would be time.. the Clos de Papillon is an ager.. had the '96 of that last year and it was superb. I'd be interested to know if the regular bottling has aged as well.

I had a 96 Pichon about 6 months ago, and this is not a high-end bottling. It too was very very good. Had developed those pineapple and other tropical fruit flavors that older Chenins seem to show.

Ruined? We need to keep you away from Yves Cuilleron's Condrieu, or we'll have to write an obituary.

Thanks for the comeback James, I will break open a bottle of the 96 soon. I am a little bit confused by your reference to Pichon. Is this the Pichon's of Bordeaux, or is this a Loire branch of the same name? Or is it an altogether different Pichon? Enquiring mind's and all that.

Bernard Roth wrote:Ruined? We need to keep you away from Yves Cuilleron's Condrieu, or we'll have to write an obituary.

Too funny. I'll take my chances!

Speaking of vouvray, the '05 Champalou is pretty yummy chenin at around $14.

Pichon, hmm...I know of Jo Pithon and Francois Pinon in Loire, but not sure about Pichon, Bob.

And if we are talking Savennières, you should give Dom. du Closel Savennières and Clos du Papillon a try. Damned good stuff.

RonicaJM wrote:How can I go back to my $8 Viognier? :roll: It's so sad.

Hey, I have a $8 Viognier that I love, from Domaine Astruc in Languedoc. Thing is, the reason I like it, besides the price, is that it doesn't smell like Carmen Miranda's hat! Most Washington viognier I've tried has a nose of all tropical fruit and alcohol, and I've gotten very tired of that.

Dave