Viognier

[Innkeeper]

Hi RC, and welcome to the Wine Board. Am not familiar with the Phelps Vin Du Mistral, but have not met a California Viognier that I liked. Reason? In a word, oak. The first impression you get when you take a whiff of viognier is perfume. The mere thought of perfume and oak together makes my skin crawl.

Try Georges Duboeuf Vin de Pays L'Ardeche Viognier. It runs around $10 or less. Try soft garlic herbed goat cheese and crackers with your viognier.

Since you are on the Left Coast, it would be difficult to obtain East Coast wines. If you ever venture back East, look for Norton (of Virginia) Viognier or other East Coast Viogniers. Then tend to make them in the French style, sans oak.