What is the best WA Viognier?

What do you think is the best viognier from WA state? Say from the last couple vintages?

Thank you for your opinines!

[Robin Garr]

I think this one's going to be a challenge for the Pacific Northwest gang, Rod. I don't believe I've ever seen a Washington State Viognier around here. Sitting back curiously to see the responses ...

[Jenise]

What do you think is the best viognier from WA state? Say from the last couple vintages?

Thank you for your opinines!

Rod, the best Washington viogniers I've had so far have been from Whitman and Mt. Baker (the Reserve), Whitman being a more restrained and elegant style (and closer to the French model) while the Mt. Baker was more intense and new worldly, but in a good way.

Where's Mt. Baker Dave? I am sure he has more experience with this grape here than I do.

I think this one's going to be a challenge for the Pacific Northwest gang, Rod. I don't believe I've ever seen a Washington State Viognier around here. Sitting back curiously to see the responses ...

I have never seen one either Robin, but I am not actively looking either. I am not sure, but I doubt that there is another wine grape that I have less taste for. I guess that different strokes for different folks saying applies here.

Where's Mt. Baker Dave? I am sure he has more experience with this grape here than I do.

Hey, I'm here, but I haven't chimed in because I don't have a suggestion. I tried one I liked a few months ago, but I don't remember whose, and I can't find my notes. Mught have been Mark Ryan or Waters, but I'm not sure. Frankly though, I'm really turned off by almost all Washington Viognier. Too tropical, too tuttifrutti, and just too TOO much. There's Viognier coming out of Southern France that blows the socks off of the Washington stuff at half the price. For example, get a bottle of Domaine Astruc. It's ten bucks, floral, restrained and even elegant. You'll never look back.

Dave

[Jenise]

Where's Mt. Baker Dave? I am sure he has more experience with this grape here than I do.

Hey, I'm here, but I haven't chimed in because I don't have a suggestion. I tried one I liked a few months ago, but I don't remember whose, and I can't find my notes. Mught have been Mark Ryan or Waters, but I'm not sure. Frankly though, I'm really turned off by almost all Washington Viognier. Too tropical, too tuttifrutti, and just too TOO much. There's Viognier coming out of Southern France that blows the socks off of the Washington stuff at half the price. For example, get a bottle of Domaine Astruc. It's ten bucks, floral, restrained and even elegant. You'll never look back.

Dave

Ah, there you are. I sure hear you re WA vs. France--I avoided mentioning the WA viogniers I haven't liked, which is a far greater number. And that I hold France's Texier in my mind as the benchmark standard, though at $40ish it fails your "half the price" comparison. Astruc, huh? I'll have to look for it.

Not from the NW gang, but easily the best WashState Viognier I've had is the Harlequin. It has hints of the same minerality that you find in Condrieu. And reasonably priced around $20. Made by RobertGoodfriend, who happens to be a good friend from his SantaFe restaurant days. But the '04 was, I thought, one of the best USofA Viogniers I've had.
The Cristom ain't too shabby, either, but not WashState, but close enough for gummint work.
Tom

AMaurice Cellars in Walla Walla makes a very good old world style viognier and I love Syncline's Late Harvest viognier (with ice cream and chocolate).