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*Sur Lie: wine is aged on the ‘lees,’ which is the sediment made up of dead yeast cells and small grape particles. This treatment is intended to add complexity to a wine. ‘Yeasty,’ creamy or yogurt-like scents and flavors are the usual result from sur lie ageing.

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Basic Juice Review

Terre Rouge Viognier, 2000

*** (3-Stars)

Price: $30

Producer: Terre Rouge

Origin: Shenendoah Valley, California

Type of wine: Dry white wine made from Viognier grapes

Try it with: A ‘showy’ wine by itself; hearty or spicy foods – pot stickers, sautéed salmon

Date Reviewed: Feb. 2004

A big, bold, showy wine. Terre Rouge Viognier is gold in color and appears very ‘thick’ in the glass. The wine is alive with vanilla (from new oak barrels), yogurt (from sur lie* ageing), apricot, pineapple, mango and alfalfa scents. It grabs the palette with a hint of oak tannin, yogurt flavors and noticeable alcohol. Pineapple and citrus flavors follow to make for a long, complex finish. My only complaint: The Viognier characteristics were a bit overshadowed by the oak-derived and cream-like qualities.