The 1999 Viognier (50% of this cuvee is declassified Condrieu) reveals the elegant side of this varietal. Scents of white peaches and apricots emerge from the stylish, pure aromatics. In the mouth, it is medium-bodied, well-delineated, and pure, with rich fruit, and an attractive, clean finish with no wood influence (thankfully). Drink it over the next 1-2 years.
The Gaillard wines I tasted were all cuvees selected by David Hinkle of North Berkeley Imports, Berkeley, CA; tel. (510) 848-8910. However, these wines are also imported by David Shiverick of Langdon-Shiverick, Cleveland, OH; tel. (216) 861-6800. While they are not the same barrels North Berkeley has chosen, I have been told that the Langdon-Shiverick wines were essentially identical, as well as bottled without any clarification.