'04 Yalumba Shiraz Viognier

[Innkeeper]

2004 Yalumba, Shiraz 93%-Viognier 7%, South Australia ($9.99 NH Liq Store). This is not the Barossa bottling that costs $7 more and has been getting some good press lately, but a very nice jug of wine in itself. Alcohol level: 14%.

If 1% of something can noticeably alter the character of a wine a Dan Berger strongly suggests, then 7% can move mountains. The Viognier in it hits your nose like an express train along with a combo of red and black fruit that also visit the tongue tip. A wild complexity of fruit, spice, and silky savoury subtlety affect the palate, and the finish lingers and lingers.

I saved the other half for some lamb tomorrow night, but am just quaffing the first half tonight after an evening of hard driving. After getting out of Bev's doctor's appointment at 4:30 (no problems) we drove down to Gloucester, MA to visit friends who were in from Omaha on an Elder Hostel. Did manage to have some nice fried clams down there with a couple of brews, but needed a "calm down" after getting home around 11 PM.

Do recommend this one highly.