2017 Landa Vineyard Viognier - Anaba Wines

Fragrant passionfruit, honeysuckle, mandarin orange. Candied lime, plumeria, ripe cantaloupe. Bird-of-paradise and sweet tropical flowers, lanolin and fresh honeycomb. Extremely aromatic and expressive fruit erupts notes of papaya, canned peach, and fruit loops with pronounced intensity. Nervous tension and a bit of phenolic grip lay hiding beneath the flashy fruit-driven exterior, adding structure and seriousness to the sultry sex-appeal. Lemongrass and acacia contribute a wild tinge that is filled out into the round and oily mouthfeel. Full bodied with a surprising dousing of acidity that courses like polished stones throughout the long and energetic finish. This 2017 Landa Vineyard Viognier by Anaba Wines is an impressively balanced and well made Rhone white from Sonoma County.

It seems almost every grape variety on earth can grow well in Sonoma County California. Pinot Noir finds its home in the cool coastal regions, Cabernet and Zinfandel thrive in the warm inland valleys, and even Rhone grape varieties have carved out a place for themselves here. This bottling, crafted by Anaba Wines using 100% Viognier sourced from the Landa Vineyard, makes an extremely impressive case for cultivating Rhone whites in Sonoma. Coming from a single site in the Sonoma Valley at the base of the Mayacamas Mountains this wine exudes tremendous depth and complex intensity. It is structured and well put together, avoiding the flabby feeling that can occasionally plague this finicky variety. This is an extremely well executed wine that measures up valiantly against some of best Rhone whites from California and beyond.