Viognier Reserve, Lismore Estate Vineyards 2022

The 2022 Viognier Estate Reserve comes from a 0.8-hectare parcel and is oxidatively handled, spending 11 months in 225 and 300-liter oak (20% new). The well-defined and quite mercurial nose is nutty and smoky at first, and then this elemnent floats away and is replaced with dried honey, lanolin, pressed white flower and a little Portuguese pasta de nata. The well-balanced palate has a waxy texture, pithy in style, finely balanced with a taut minerally finish. It may need a tad more length, but otherwise, this is a very fine – cerebral Viognier. Drink 2024-2036.

Lismore's Viognier plantings escaped the devastating fire of December 2019 and have produced one of the estate's best-ever Viogniers in 2022. Layered and voluptuous, with classic white peach, cream and apricot flavours, this is exotic yet refreshing at the same time, with impressive extract and refreshing, balancing acidity. Drink 2024-29