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Chateau De Campuget Rhone Viognier 2006

Love doesn't come to mind with every glass of wine, but this one's a real find. If you're looking for a special white for a special occasion this season, say a wedding, here it is.

Chateau Campuget's winemaker Delphine Crouzet creates a classic 100% Viognier out of southern Rhone fruit. Winewaves recently reviewed Campuget's Nîmes Tradition Blanc 2005, an expressive Roussanne dominated white blend.

Excellent value ($18). Closure: Real cork. Alcohol content: 13%.

Style: Elegant tropical fruit and flowers.

Tasting Notes: Appearance: Light straw. Aromas: A peach and pear dominated fresh fruit punch combined with honeysuckle in bloom. The mouthfeel is juicy and round yet tart and round. The lime citrus comes through the fruit punch and joins with a gravelly minerality as the finish reaches for the stars.

Comment: Celebrate the season with a flawless Viognier for under $20.

Zaca Mesa Santa Ynez Valley Viognier 2005

Zaca Mesa is thirty-something now and has developed into a very well managed and focused wine estate that practices "sustainable winegrowing". Through a winnowing process they found Rhône varietals (Syrah, Grenache, Mourvèdre, Viognier, and Roussanne) grow best on their sprawling property north of Solvang. Although they also produce Chardonnay from vines planted in the 1970's.

Clay Brock follows a string of highly successful Winemakers. He reports Viognier 2005 was fermented in stainless steel and neutral oak barrels, aged 3 months on the lees but not allowed to go through malolactic fermentation. Filtering was "gentle".

Excellent value ($15). Closure: Neocork. Alcohol content: 14.5%.

Style: Aromatic fruit, lightly floral, round body, crisp finish.

Tasting Notes: Appearance: Light golden straw. Aromas: Peach, mandarin orange and cold blossoms. The mouthfeel is nicely round and juicy tart. Layers of citrus fruit, peaches and cream reverberate in the crisp dry finish.

Comment: Chill gently; this natural beauty will easily form "wine diamonds", or tartaric acid crystals. This is considered by many a good sign for a white wine. If you're bothered by them, you can filter them out.

Michael-David Incognito Lodi Viognier 2005

A tip off from a friend is a great way to discover a new wine. Already familiar with the big earth shattering reds from Michael-David Vineyards, I had not yet picked up a bottle of Incognito Viognier until musician Tony Vincent tipped me off. "Quite a lovely Viognier" he said and I must agree.

Incognito Viognier was once believed to be Roussanne, until DNA testing proved it is Viognier. Never mind that, it is a big robust white wine made from a "fat" and happy grape, and the result is a blockbuster.

Excellent value ($15). Closure: Real cork. Alcohol content: 15%.

Style: Fruit forward, round, weighty, juicy, potent, dry.

Tasting Notes: Appearance: Light straw, with a greenish tint. Aromas: Peach, cold blossoms, and noble apricot. The mouth feel is creamy, smooth, weighty, medium-bodied and tart, and the mouth filling peaches and cream flavors are joined by a big warm kick in the glass.

Comment: Drink it like a martini, shaken not stirred. Thanks for the tip, Tony!