96 points, Robert Parker, Wine Advocate
June 2005
This wine was recommended, but no tasting note was given.
96 points, Robert Parker, Wine Advocate
February 2005
One of California’s finest white Rhone Ranger blends is Kongsgaard’s 2002 Roussanne/Viognier (45% of the former and 55% of the latter, both co-fermented). Kongsgaard told me the wine that inspired this cuvee was Beaucastel’s Chateauneuf du Pape Roussanne Vieilles Vignes, a 100% Roussanne considered by most authorities to be the Montrachet of the southern Rhone Valley. Exotic notes of papaya, mango, and other tropical fruits intermixed with lychee and mineral characteristics emerge from this full-bodied, concentrated, intoxicating, provocative white. It is meant to be consumed during its first 2-3 years of life as once the aromatics begin to crack up, much of this wine’s allure is over.
96 points, Robert Parker, Wine Advocate
December 2003
The 2002 Roussanne/Viognier (27% Roussanne and 73% Viognier) may be the finest example of this cuvee Kongsgaard has yet produced. A smorgasbord of aromas soar from the flamboyant, over-the-top, exotic bouquet that smells like an Asian fruit market. Extremely full-bodied and unctuously-textured, but buttressed by surprisingly good acidity as well as remarkable minerality, this is a profound effort that should be drunk during its first 2-3 years of life.
94 points, Stephen Tanzer
June 2004
($75; a 73/27 blend) Bright aromas of citrus and peach, with a piquant cyanic bitterness. Very dry and very fresh, with a tactile, phenolic quality that is supported by-or perhaps the result of-the wine's intense peach, apricot and mineral flavors. The structure here comes from rocks and tannins, notes Kongsgaard, not acidity. Finishes firm and very long. At least as good as the 2001 version. Serve this with scallops, lobster bisque or fish soup in general, he suggests. Kongsgaard originally found that the viognier from this hilltop site was too floral and the roussanne too minerally, earthy and gnarly, so he began by blending the two varieties. Pretty soon he was co-fermenting them, and now he actually picks the two varieties together. 94 points
This is a pre-arrival item. You will be contacted once this product has arrived at our warehouse to arrange delivery.
For a shipping quote, add this product to your shopping cart. From there you will be able to enter a zipcode and get a detailed quote. For full details on our shipping policies, click here.
