The CWB Languedoc Viognier-Off

Two Viogniers from Languedoc

• Les Jamelles, Viognier: Viognier | Les Jamelles
• Abbotts & Delaunay ‘Les Fleurs Sauvages’, Viognier: Home — Abbotts et Delaunay — Abbotts et Delaunay

Viognier is the peachy-apricotty, sun-kissed Comeback Kid of grapes — once almost extinct and limited to just a few hectares in the Northern Rhone, it is now once again a mainstream variety, in no small part due to the work of The Yalumba Wine Company’s Louisa Rose — see here for her range: The CWB Meta Aussie Viognier-Off. Four Viogniers from Australia’s Yalumba… | by Tom Lewis | Medium

These two Languedoc Viogniers are from Laurent Delaunay; Les Jamelles is available at The Co-op for under £10 — it’s ripe, plush and fresh yet sophisticated. The Abbotts & Delaunay, available at Majestic Wine for a few pounds more, shows more complexity and food-friendliness.

Les Jamelles produce consistently good wines mixing, as befits their origins, Burgundian elegance with New World fruit and precision

Les Jamelles Viognier 2024 (£9.50, Co-op)

They say:

This opulent and fragrant Viognier is made from a blend of grapes sourced from four mineral terroirs chosen for the crispness and vivacity they bring to the finished wine. Grapes are picked at peak ripeness, bringing heady scents of apricot, white peach, acacia blossom and a perfect balance of richness, golden fruit, and fresh acidity. Serve with Asian dishes, seafood, asparagus, or an apricot and frangipane tart.

I say:

13%

Decanter Silver

sandy gold; fresh peaches and apricot blossom with white pepper; plush with ripe yellow stone fruits, citrus and lemon curd, sweet baking spices, honey, leesy macadamia and complex salinity. Very harmonious and adept.

Good.

Drinks nicely on first pouring and opens up with air. Can be cellared for greater savouriness.

Match with richer starters such such as pork terrine, or pasta with a creamy mushroom sauce or mackerel pâté.

Abbotts & Delaunay ‘Les Fleurs Sauvages’ Pays d’Oc, Viognier 2024 (£12.50, mix six £11.00, Majestic)

They say:

This single varietal Viognier is made from grapes grown on warm, 150–200m hillsides in southern Minervois. This is a decadent, fragrant wine reminiscent of Condrieu, bursting with notes of peach, apricot and almond, as well as ginger spice and orange blossom. While lees ageing has brought creaminess and texture to the palate, the decision to harvest the grapes during the cool hours of the early morning has brought balance and freshness.

A delicious match for roast chicken with tarragon and roast potatoes, or a spiced squash and apricot tagine.

I say:

sandy gold; honeysuckle, apricot blossom and fennel; fresh and precise with orchard and yellow stone fruits, citrus, fennel and ginger; savoury and complex with leesy almond and saline minerality. Very harmonious and adept.

Good.

Drinks nicely on first pouring and opens up with aeration. Drinking nicely now but will gain complexity with cellaring.

Match with richer dishes such as roast guinea fowl, pork belly slices, scallops, sole in butter or chicken liver pâté.

Others say:

Joanna Simon: WINE OF THE WEEK: Abbotts & Delaunay Viognier Les Fleurs Sauvages 2022, Pays d’Oc, France

Wine Ninjas (2015): Les Jamelles Viognier from Coop: Review — The Wine Ninjas

Wine Enthusiast (2016): Les Jamelles 2016 Viognier (Pays d’Oc) Rating and Review | Wine Enthusiast