Alban Vineyards Alban Vineyards Edna Valley Viognier 2022 750ml

Looking at the flagship estate Viognier, the 2021 Viognier Estate boasts a vibrant, medium to full-bodied, incredibly focused and mineral-driven profile that reminds me of a Condrieu from pure granite soils. Tangerine oil, honeyed flowers, brioche, and citrus notes all emerge on the nose, and it hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, a layered, seamless mouthfeel, and one heck of a great finish. I finished my note with "Love it." As I've written in the past, no one in the New World does Viognier better than John Alban.

Lastly and tasted from barrels, the 2022 Viognier Estate shows the more opulent, sexy, supple style of the vintage while staying nicely balanced. Plenty of citrus oil, honeyed flower, and subtle brioche notes define the aromatics, and it has terrific purity, full-bodied richness, and a vibrant mouthfeel. It’s not going to be as long-lived as the 2021 but will blow you away on release and over the following 2–4 years or so.

Scheduled to be bottled in August, the 2021 Viognier Estate will be another beautiful example of Viognier. Ripe tangerines, quince, flowers, and a kiss of honeyed minerality all define the bouquet, and it’s as pure and seamless as they come, with medium to full body, integrated acidity, and a great finish. It’s slightly more chiseled and focused compared to the 2020, but both are brilliant.

The 2021 Viognier Estate was mostly barrel fermented and matured, with the exception of a small portion of terracotta. Lush quince and white peach are complemented by tones of crushed almonds, beeswax and spice on the nose. Medium-bodied and satiny, the palate is generous and savory with plenty of freshness and a touch of anchoring texture that drives the very long finish. It will be released in the spring of 2023.

Rich yet elegantly detailed, with an appealingly oily, fleshy texture overlayed with honeysuckle, caramel and tropical fruit flavors. Finishes on a plush accent. Drink now. 300 cases made. (Tim Fish)

Still in barrel, the 2022 Viognier Estate has soft, youthful scents of apricot and peach, honeysuckle, white pepper and fresh bread. The medium-bodied palate offers impressively concentrated fruit, an alluringly oily texture and a long, perfumed finish. It will be bottled in August and released in the spring of 2024.