Raylen Viognier — Wine Review

Continuing with our Yadkin Valley streak, we opened a bottle of the 2012 Raylen Viognier, from Raylen Vineyards.   For those not familiar with Viognier, it is a white grape that produces a wine across a wide spectrum ranging from bright and acidic to mellow and tropical.  No matter what style Viognier you are having, they will all be very aromatic with notable characteristics.  

Viognier is classically used in French white wines and is very common there.  In the mid 1960s, the grape was nearly extinct.  However, through careful viticulture practices, the grape was resurrected and although it is rare, it is no longer in trouble.  In the US, Viognier is a popular grape in California as well as Virginia (so popular in fact, Virginia named it the official state grape).  In my opinion though, I feel that North Carolina really produces a superior Viognier.

The 2012 from Raylen doesn’t disappoint.  It is more on the full-bodied side and lends itself to  slightly nutty and tropical fruit flavors.  The dark yellow color of the wine is clear and free of any debris.  The nose is complex and delicate.  There are hints of pineapple, dried papaya and coconut.  The nose almost reminds me of sweetened condensed milk.  The first pull of the wine into the mouth exposes a nice light acid profile which disappears quickly into a mellow peach and apricot on the mid palate.  The finish is long and lingering with a slight (very slight) sign of eucalyptus and herbaceous undertones.

If you’re interested in picking up a bottle of the Raylen Viognier, you can do so on their wine ordering website.  Or, if you happen to be traveling on Interstate 40 between Winston-Salem and Statesville, NC you should stop in.  The winery is just off the highway and the stop will be well worth it.

Raylen Vineyards is located in Mocksville, NC.
[su_gmap address=”Raylen Vineyards, Mocksville, NC”]

Check out our other NC Wine Month postings:

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