2009 Ch la Canorgue Viognier at last! The justifiably touted 2009 vintage has arrived. we're picky about our Viognier, and this is one that passes the litmus test. Pretty floral aromas, ripe and not too heavy, a summer Viognier that in a perfect world would be served to me with langoustines or fresh N.C. shrimp. It also tastes lovely in less-than-perfect surroundings, so by all means sip it on the patio some warm evening soon when Julia Child isn't in the kitchen. This great wine will class up a simple dinner. And (like all the Chateau la Canorgue wines) this Viognier is certified organic.

The Wine... As you probably know, lower-yielding old vines tend to make more interesting wines. The average yield at Chateau La Canorgue is 30 hectoliters per hectare. As a point of comparison, regional  qualitative high water-mark Chateauneuf-du-Pape, France's first AOC, has a permissible yield of 40hl/ha. Farming good vine stock the traditional way does lead to lower yields. And better flavors.  This wine is hand-harvested, in a fussy way. Less good fruit is left for the birds.

The Family... Chateau la Canorgue is in the Luberon, in central Provence. The 30-hectare estate is run by an amiable father-and-daughter team. Life is too short to work with jerks, right?  And who wouldn't be happy, making wines this good. Friendliness aside, the decision to buy from Nathalie Margan  and her father had more to do with what they've done, and what they do. I've tasted  and intermittently sold the wines of this estate for at least seven years (roughly the statute of limitiations on my memory) and they have always been worth paying attention to. Quality is consistent and exceptional. The wines of this estate are farmed organically and in adherence with many Biodynamic principles. Swing by the store or call me for an in-depth (and probably passionate, depending on my level of caffienation) discussion of Biodynamics. Better farming makes better wine, and the good people at Chateau La Canorgue are willing to work harder to make a better wine for your dinner, and for their environment. Diligence worth rewarding, no? 

The Land... No matter what your wine map may tell you, this is Provence. Beautiful, kinda isolated, viticultural Provence. The estate is about a mile from Bonnieux. If you are more of a visual learner, check out Chateau La Canorgue in the major motion picture A Good Year filmed on the estate. Apologies for Russell Crowe.  Or maybe you like that sort of thing. Wine has almost always been a part of this landscape. The current estate was built on the site that once housed a Roman villa. There is a pretty chapel on the property that was built  during the reign of Pope Benoit XIV.