Yalumba’s flagship white (and seriously underpriced). From a 40+ year old vineyard, the handpicked fruit is whole-bunch pressed to older French oak barrels for 11 months. Wild fermentation. Vegan friendly. Benchmark Australian Viognier. Winemaker is Louisa Rose. The team at Yalumba have just rolled to the 2021, but there will still be plenty of this out there.

Yalumba, The Virgilius, Viognier, Eden Valley, 2020

Bright, light yellow with green highlights. Fragrant nose of honeysuckle, apricot flesh, ginger, white pepper, beeswax, tartness of sourdough yeast, thick lime skin, flint and pistachio. Power and precision. Depth and layered palate. Apricot and white pepper spice with a savoury, briny, tart close that just keeps on and on with persistence and filagree. Benchmark for a reason.

RRP: $50
Alc: 13.5%
Rating: 95/100

Wine sample courtesy of Yalumba