Mile High's Wine of the Week: July 5th
Chateau Pesquie Viognier 2010
Regular Price: $21.99
Sale Price: $10.99
Sale End: 7/8/2012
Chateau Pesquie has been one of our favorite Cotes du Rhone producers for quite a while now. Their wines consistently deliver tremendous amount of depth and character while remaining still remaining reasonably priced. This week we grabbed a fantastic deal on their 2010 Viognier (pronounced vee-own-yay). If you’ve never had Viognier before then you are in for a real treat this week. This is one of those white wines that, once you’ve had it, you’ll never be able to forget it. The nose is ridiculous as it displays vibrant scents of honeysuckles and orange blossoms. The first sip is like having a really good sneeze that leaves you tingling all over. It’s so racy and vibrant with loads of ripe peach, Meyer lemon, and tangerine flavors that seem to just dance all over your palate. The finish is dry but oh-so juicy. It is the sort of wine that you simply cannot deny. Unlike so many non-descript whites, the Chateau Pesquie Viognier has real presence. Pair it up with some Baja style fish tacos and a nice homemade pineapple salsa and you will think that you’ve died and gone to heaven!On to the Tasting Notes:
If you’ve been reading these reviews for a while then you probably have a sense for the ridiculous volume of big bold red wines that I taste every month. I love doing it. There’s no doubt about the way that a magnificent Napa Cab or a stunning aged Rioja makes me feel. But I’ll tell you, I have a special place in my heart for the white wines of the Rhone. Whether it’s a bright fresh Viognier like this week’s special or an older blend from Chateauneuf du Pape, I just love the depth and complexity that they deliver. Viognier isn’t a very easy grape to make into wine either. When it’s ripe it gets syrupy and flabby. When it’s under-ripe it’s tart and lifeless. But when it’s done right it can be absolutely triumphant. This 2010 Pesquie Viognier is perfectly crisp and fresh without losing the wonderful depth of fruit that makes Viognier so enjoyable in the first place. The nose is just gorgeous as it displays exotic scents of orange blossoms, Kafir lime leaves, honeysuckles, and warm honey. It’s an intoxicating perfume. The palate keeps up the momentum with racy acidity framed by tangerine, lemon, pineapple, mango, and white peach. The finish is just weighty enough to remind you that this is not just another simple New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. Hints of candied ginger and almond peel seem to linger almost indefinitely. It’s a perfect white to serve on its own as an aperitif since it’s so fresh and clean on the palate. But it isn’t the least bit simple. It has more than enough depth to pair up well with a wide range of light dishes from homemade chicken salad right on through to Copper River salmon sushi. Once you taste it your mind will immediately start racing with possibilities.Food Pairing:
The 2010 Chateau Pesquie Viognier is just begging to be served with some fresh fish tacos. Try your hand at some pineapple salsa too. It’s really easy. Grab a large bowl and add half a fresh pineapple diced, a couple of finely minced habanero peppers with the seeds and ribs removed, half a red onion diced, a half cup of fresh cilantro chopped, a small dash of salt, and the juice of a half a lime. Let that marinate for an hour or two before you serve it. And if you’re feeling a little mischievous you can always toss a nice little chunk of habanero rib back in at the end as a little “surprise” for one of your guests. I can’t tell you how amusing it is to see someone at the table start sweating when they stumble across that fiery little habanero rib.
You MUST mention this special or print it out to receive the price on the above wine.
This price expires 7/8/2012 at 6pm and is limited to in-store quantities.
No rain checks given. Call (303) 936-0272 to reserve bottles with a credit card.