Fontareche Viognier 2025

This Southern French beauty explodes with apricots and peaches, but there's a floral whisper of honeysuckle too. It's crafted entirely from Viognier, grown in the sunny Languedoc where the grapes ripen fully. Despite that warmth, the winemakers have kept the acidity crisp and refreshing. There's a lovely textural contrast here - juicy stone fruit, zingy freshness, and a final flourish of smooth, creamy richness. A sophisticated sip without a hefty price tag.

Fragrant and peachy, this is a joy on its own, but truly sings with a creamy chicken dish or a fiery Thai takeaway.

Château Fontareche, near Narbonne is a bit of a hidden gem. It's quite a historic estate and on their 160 hectares of sustainably farmed vineyards things are taken quite seriously. The gravel and limestone soils are just right for vines, and while the climate can be tricky, Jacques De Lamy knows his stuff and this corner of the Corbières pretty well. His focus on getting the fruit perfectly ripe shows his expertise and is the secret behind Fontareche's consistently top-notch wines.