Reviews Marlborough Viognier 2010

Great Wine Hunter

  Churton Marlborough Viognier 2010   This first vintage of viognier from Sam Weaver’s Marlborough vineyard.  Weaver specialises in making wines of distinction for discerning palates rather than commercial imperatives.  It is off-dry and aromatic with a nutty, savoury, creamy finish.

Fermented in large French oak demi muids, 50% new and aged 10 months in oak, the 2010 Viognier is the first wine producing crop from Churton’s 4 year old Viognier vines. It gives some cedary, oak-led aromas at this stage over expressive notes of ripe peaches, fresh apricots and apple tart. The rich, full bodied, satin textured palate gives some sweetness (10 grams per liter of residual sugar) offset by crisp acidity, finishing long and toasty. Approachable now, it will be best to give this another 6-12 months for the oak to marry and drink it 2012 to 2016+.