The 2008 Viognier reveals plenty of honeysuckle, peach, and exotic fruit notes, medium to full body, good acidity, and surprising minerality (which is rarely found in California Viognier). Enjoy it over the next 1-2 years. Although this is a Napa report, I took the liberty of including the Pride Mountain Sonoma bottlings since their wines tend to be primarily Bordeaux varietals rather than the Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Zinfandel, etc. that will be covered in the Sonoma report. My apologies to subscribers and the winery for some mistakes I made last year in issue #180, when I listed 2006 instead of 2005 for the Reserve and Vintner's Select wines. This is the strongest portfolio of Pride Mountain wines that has been made under the new winemaker, Sally Johnston, who replaced Bob Foley several years ago. Tel. (707) 963-4949; Fax (707) 963-6039

Not quite up there with the great ’07. More like the ‘06, offering vast, ripe flavors that lack complexity. The pineapple, creme brulee, apricot, nectarine and honeysuckle flavors taste almost dessert-sweet, accented by caramelized oak.——S.H.(5/1/2010)—— 87