Miner Family Viognier 2023

When I presented this wine to the franchises as the upcoming weekly feature, they had the same reaction as I did: How have we never featured this wine before? It is such a star for the category, delivering amazing quality and value. There was a time, over 30 years ago, when Viognier was the “hot” variety, and everyone was making an example of it. Most were alcoholic, expensive, and often aged in new oak, making for a real mess. The wines that survived are just like Miner, capturing the incredible aromas of this variety while retaining some tension as well. 

It really pays to decant this wine for a few minutes before serving, as it truly opens up the bouquet. The nose is classic Viognier—a fruit salad mélange of dried apricot, white nectarine, and pineapple. What sets Viognier apart from other varieties are the exotic secondary notes: white pepper, lemongrass, and a rich, almost creamy quality similar to melted cultured butter. Where this wine really excels is in the bright, zippy quality that frames the ample fruit in the long finish. Drink this all by itself, or try it with curried chicken salad, bratwurst served with buttered onions, or pineapple/ginger-marinated pork tenderloin.