Nov 05: With November being the Indian Wine Day (Nov. 16) month, we feature an Indian wine and what better to recommend than what we tasted at the Kimono Club where we Charles Donnadieu, the Corporate Sommelier of The Lalit Hotel partnering Indian Wine Academy for the Indian Wine Day, and I insisting on an Indian wine and finding Sula Dindori Reserve Viognier 2018 a perfect match for the various dishes we tasted, writes Subhash Arora
Sula Dindori label is a smart idea from Sula as it is named after the village where Sula has had vineyards from the early days in 2000-2001. Few labels are generally allowed to register their labels based on the village location (Charosa is a later example). In any case, the Red was the first such label and after a couple of years of the huge success of the red Dindori Reserve wine aged in barrels, Viognier was added as white variant of the label. And at Rs. 795, it is a sure winner. Luckily, the prices have not taken a Northward jump yet and under Rs. 800 it is a highly recommended wine from delWine.
The 100% Viognier wine is quite intense in perfume, with typical nose of fruits like apricots and peaches. The medium to full-bodied wine has tropical fruits on the palate with a satisfying mid palate and long after taste. It goes down the gullet very smoothly. There are strong notes of minerality, making one wonder if it has interacted with the oak somehow.
Served chilled at around 6-7° C like a sparkling wine, it is quite fresh and crisp. The alcohol level at 13.5-14% might be slightly high thanks to the sunny days and higher sugar during the ripening period, but it is well integrated.
The wine was a great match with sushi and other oriental dishes and would also match with grilled fish, chicken dishes and the host of Indian vegetarian dishes.
Viognier is a French grape used in the Northern Rhone and also the only grape in the Condrieu appellation. It adds a lot when a small quantity of 1-5% is blended with Shiraz bringing a special dimension to the flavours, a practice being followed by a few Shiraz producers in India also.
Incidentally, Viognier was introduced as a blend by Grover Vineyards earlier in 2004-5 and has more than one label in the category currently. Their Viognier is a bit more elegant but oak oozes out. A great medal winner but if you are looking for an easily quaffable white, Sula Dindori Reserve Viognier is fairly inexpensive at Rs. 790 a bottle MRP in Delhi.
If you find it at around Rs. 2,000-2,500 a bottle in the wine list of any stand-alone restaurant, it is an excellent white wine for quaffing as well as with food including Sushi, Dim-Sums and fish or chicken kebabs. Even with Chinese food, it would go well in general. I would be happy with some munchies as an evening drink before sitting down for dinner.
For a related earlier Article, please visit:
Grover's Viognier Just Grows on You
Subhash Arora
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