2016 La Vrille et le Papillon ‘Caprice du Chameau’ Viognier

Region: Ardeche < France

Grapes: Viognier

Vineyard/Cellar Stats: Biodynamic farming, argilo-calcareous soils with lots of pebbley rocks; matured in stainless steel vat; bottled unfined/unfiltered with no added So2; 12% ABV

Winemaker: Meryl and Géraldine Crozier

The Ardeche region is part of northern Rhone, and mostly known for the famous AOC wines of Cornas and St. Joseph.  Here Meryl and Géraldine are making tiny lots of not famous but super delicious and über natural wines - native yeast only, no additives, no enzymes, no SO2 before or during fermentation, no fining, no filtration. This is light and lovely Viognier that glows in the glass with a cloudy golden haze.  It starts with an electric jolt of pear and lime, then wild mint and fuzzy peaches that tickle your tongue.  But the most remarkable thing about this wine is how it evolves.  On day 3, it was still as fresh and gorgeous as ever (in and of itself amazing for a no-sulfur wine!) The peach flavors were popping, and it got a little creamier, like lemon curd, finishing with that distinctive lime acid pop.