Y should we drink these Viogniers?

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These are a couple of freebies that arrived in the post this week. We’re not that easy to bribe and we don’t always write about them but these wines are worthy of attention. The company Yalumba - an aboriginal word for “all the land around” - is also worth supporting. under its fifth generation Smith, it is 150 years old and one of the few remaining family owned companies at a time that the big boys are trying to gulp them all down.Yalumba Y Series Shiraz Viognier 2004 (A$11.95)They say: This wine is medium to deep crimson purple in colour with a very attractive nose showing warmer aromatics of heady ripe berry fruits. The Viognier lends fragrant notes of apricot blossom and musk. The palate is very approachable, with ripe raspberry and ju-jube-like flavours, quite plush and smooth finishing with a long velvety texture.We say: This is a red that reminds me of summer. Summer fruits, summer pudding (my favourite) and cherries. The shiraz is softened by the Viognier grape. This wine has a great balance of flavours and a smooth easy red to drink, for any season. The best thing is the price A$11.95. That’s US$8.95 Glug factor 8Yalumba Y Series Viognier 2005 They say: Good rains for the beginning of the growing season predicted a good vintage. By mid January the skies had cleared and no subsequent rain, combined with balmy temperatures for the remainder of the season, meant that flavours ripened over an even and long period. The result is white wines with excellent flavour and structure.We say: The 2004 scored 88 with Robert Parker. The 2005 is a clean wine that smells of cut grass. It’s not too fruity or floral. Citrus flavour lingers. This was an excellent accompaniment to a spicy knock-your-shoes-off Pad Thai (recipe). Glug factor 8

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