Le Versant Pays d'Oc Viognier, 2025

Top Viogniers come from Condrieu in the Northern Rhone, but these wines have always been too expensive for my wine budget. I have, though, enjoyed many good Viogniers from Domaine Sainte-Anne in the Gard area of the Southern Rhone, grown from cuttings taken years ago from Condrieu. Le Versant is made by a coop in the Languedoc and, as a result, has a price tag of $12 to $15.

Medium deep yellow. Lively topnote of white peaches and apricots. Not as floral or musky as those from the Rhone. Leesy mid-palate, not much oak. Appropriately dry finish. Donna likes it, and I will be a buyer.