Château Noel St. Laurent Côtes du Rhône Reserve Viognier 2004

Beautiful color to this wine, like liquid gold in a glass. The nose is packed with powerful aromatics, with ripe roasted pineapple, vanilla, toast green apple and a smoky botrytis note. Plenty of acid on the nose too, as it almost made me drrol in anticipation of the taste. The palate is rich and complex, with lots of clover honey, toasty almonds, oak and even grape tannins. Wild and unevolved, this wine needs a little time in bottle to settle into itself, but the juice, flesh and flavors are all way ahead of schedule. Very impressive, and sure to be a fantastic wine in a year or two.