The second ten-year old Hawke’s Bay Viognier to cross my path in a few days, after the Falconhead 2014 (www.winefolio.co.nz/?p=12483 ) last week! A pale steely green colour, with flashes of straw yellow at the edges. The nose is tight but aromatic, with red apple, peach, apricot, lemon zest, white pepper and jalapeno on the nose. Dry and quite tight on the palate, with a swell of acidity. I get some phenolic rasp but it is clean and precise – in fact, if anything it lacks the honey and weight that some aged Viognier develops – but that’s its style, and it wears it well. The finish has more spice and a long, harmonious length. 92pts
De la Terre Reserve Viognier 2015
