Looking for an expressive white wine with ripe stone fruit, blossom, and a soft, round texture? Première Note Viognier delivers that recognizable Viognier profile in a fresh, accessible style that immediately leaves you wanting more. This is a true standout in its price range.
For its Première Note Viognier, Cave de Tain uses Viognier from the Collines Rhodaniennes IGP in the northern Rhône, in the hills east of the major cru appellations around Tain l'Hermitage. The vineyards are situated on gentle slopes with a mix of alluvial, sandy, clay-limestone, and granite soils, resulting in ripe grapes with both abundant fruit and a distinct, fresh minerality. Viognier plantings in this area are limited, and there is hardly any space to expand on the same slopes in the same location. Therefore, Cave de Tain works very carefully with the available plots, making this grape an almost scarce specialty here.
The focus is on aromatic purity. Cool fermentation keeps the floral aromas and ripe fruit at the forefront. What does aging on fine lees mean, and why does it produce more creaminess? By allowing the young wine to rest on the fine yeast cells for a period, it gains extra texture and roundness without overpowering the fruit. The result is a Viognier with 13% alcohol that feels full-bodied yet remains fresh and drinkable.
Viognier – Collines Rhodaniennes
This wine is 100% Viognier from the Collines Rhodaniennes, a grape known for aromas of peach, apricot, orange blossom and a soft mouth structure, often with lower acidity than Sauvignon Blanc, for example, which makes the wine feel fuller and rounder.
