A Viognier under $20 for peach lovers

We are fans of Viognier wines, the whites extracted from this grape are usually fruity, not too dry and have a great balance of acidity making them the perfect pick for hot summer days.

We discovered this bottle from Laurent Miquel, 100% Viognier from the domain Cazal Viel in Languedoc, France and really enjoyed it.

Credit: SAQ - Cazal Viel Viognier

It starts with an explosion of peach flavor and a combination of several "fruits à noyaux" from apricot to mirabelle plums. The fruitiness is definitely dominating here but without hiding its good level of complexity.

The acidity is present making it very drinkable when served cold right out of the fridge but it's not as dry as other white cépages. I enjoy picking a Viognier for their perfect balance between a acidic Sauvignon Blanc and a semi-sweet tropical fruit Gewurztraminer. The Viognier also brings some roundness on the palate but without the heaviness of a Chardonnay. In short this is our go to white wine for the summer and we are always looking for new bottles of it at the SAQ.

We paired it with a plate of hard cheeses (comté, cantal, landana) but it's also a great bottle to go with seafood starters such as grilled calamari or even a dessert to balance the sweetness with something fresh.

Price wise we were surprised to see it listed at $17.75 which is very reasonable for the quality. Another good bottle on a small budget in our opinion.

Credit: Cazal Viel Domain Laurent Miquel

For the curious, Laurent Miquel is not new to winemaking an his family has been producing excellent bottles since 8 generations. Known for its innovative approach and respect of the grape, you can add this domain to your future French wine road trip.

Cheers!