Yalumba Viognier 2009, South Australia

So fast forward 20 hours from my post the other day, and I'm back at it again.  Though my good friend and I have decided to buck the Friday night trend and just stay in, you can never just stay in without a good bottle for company.  She is a white-wine-only kind of a girl, (a sad situation which I am attempting to rectify) so I brought over a big guy- this Yalumba Viognier.  An alcoholic heavyweight, weighing in at 13.5%, this guy is not your mom's White Zinfandel.  This is serious stuff.  And my friend is a cheap drunk, so I figured it would kind of be a fun little experiment...


Annnnnyway, this wine is quite interesting on the nose.  For a white, especially an Australian white, it's super low in fruitiness on the nose.  I caught some pear and apricot maybe, but there was a buttery note I didn't expect from a Viognier that I really did like.  There was also an interesting grassy sort of minerality, if that makes any semblance of sense.  (If it doesn't, ignore that completely.)  Though the nose was kind of mellow and cool, the mouthfeel was where this wine won me over.  Very round and smooth in the mouth.  Really trippy fullness for a white - trippy in the nicest way possible.  There was a unique type of restraint in here too as far as fruit goes, a hint of butter in the middle, and a watery yet sexy finish.


Alcohol: 13.5% 

Varietal: 100% Viognier

Origin: South Australia

Price: ~$10 at World Market, Central Market, and other well-stocked grocery stores

Rachel's Grade: B+   I am just on it guys.  I haven't picked a loser in a while, and this guy is no exception.  Super interesting, if not too complex.  It will surprise and satisfy your guests.  Especially those "I only drink red." types.  This Viognier is big enough to hold down the fort... and I'm usually Aussie wines' biggest critic!  Good value gives it the big B+.

Pine Ridge Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon 2007, Napa Valley, CA

So it's 3:30 am on a Thursday night (Friday morning might be more appropriate), and I'm sitting in my best friend's neighbor's apartment with a bottle of Pine Ridge Cab.  Not a bad Thursday.  After a long night of drinking, I'm going to drink even more.  But drink better.  That's what counts.  A nice bottle of wine to round out a nice night.  Badass.  My friend's neighbor is assisting me on this review.  He's actually a very good consultant.  His wine fridge is a strong testament to that.

Up front, this guy is super jammy.  Dark fruit abounds.  Blackberries, Blueberries, and some gorgeous vanilla perfumed dark wood.  Maybe even with a hint of cedar?  The nose has a hint of spice on the back end, and I like it.  On the tongue, the fruit takes a backseat.  It's bold and silkily tannic up front.  Some cherry and dark berry pop out at the very end and edge it into the jammy realm again.  Let's go California Cabs!  Pump me up.


Alcohol: 14.7% 

Varietal: 92% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Malbec, 2% Merlot, 2% Petit Verdot

Origin: Napa Valley, CA

Price: ~$30- $40 (I got it for free!)

Rachel's Grade: A-   I would buy this guy, for sure.  In a few years.  When I've saved up more than the pocket change I currently have.  Would I accept it again for free?  Yes, yes, and yes.  If you've got the money, I've got the wine. Try it out.  Pine Ridge is a gem of a vineyard.  Look for their reasonably priced Chenin Blanc - Viognier if the Cab is out of your price range.