Yalumba

Rare & Fine The Virgilius

Yalumba The Virgilius Viognier bottle image

The Virgilius is Yalumba’s most distinguished Viognier - a wine that shows power with restraint. As Yalumba’s most premium and enchanting white wine, it is loved by wine lovers looking for something beyond the more conventional offering.

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Wine Production

Handpicked grapes were whole-bunch pressed directly to
mature French oak barriques, where they were fermented by
‘wild’ or indigenous yeasts occurring naturally in the vineyard. These wild yeasts play a small and subtly different part in the development of the wine, creating layers of richness, complexity, fine textures and flavours. After fermentation the wine was aged on lees with regular batonnage for ten months to further heighten the palate weight and increase the complexity andflavour generosity.

Tasting Notes

Pale gold with green highlights. Intense aromas of apricots, cardamom, white pepper and fresh ginger. Lifted ginger spice is layered on the palate with mineral, sourdough-like texture, apricots and almond savoriness. It is complex while at the same time shows purity and restraint, that will unwind slowly in the glass and take the imbiber on a sensory journey.

Food Pairing

At its best with food, The Virgilius complements a wide range of flavors, particularly dishes with spice and richness. Try with beef rendang, pan fried herb mushrooms, or fresh gnocchi with olive oil and shaved truffles.

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Wine Production

Tasting Notes

Food Pairing

Brand Materials

Tech Sheet Bottle Shot Acclaim

POINTS

“Widely considered to be the benchmark wine for the variety in Australia, the '22 release of the Yalumba Virgilius once again impresses with its texture, purity and driving line across the palate. Subtle apricot, white flowers, ginger, spice, cut fennel, crushed quartz, liminal sherbet and the quietest whisper of mountain herbs. It's in fine form with a minerally drivetrain and, within that finely focused line, a sense of latent power being held back. Having recently tried a stunning 21-year-old Virgilius at the Yalumba 175th anniversary museum tasting, I may be a bit light on the drinking window here … let's just say 2035-plus.”

James Halliday

POINTS

An exceptional viognier that features a delicate and floral bouquet reminiscent of orange blossoms and jasmine, alongside hints of quince and dried green mangoes. This medium-bodied wine offers luscious white fruit flavors, with a lovely texture that is velvety rather than creamy. Despite its apparent textural richness, it maintains a focused finish.

James Suckling

POINTS

James Suckling

POINTS

“The 2022 The Virgilius Viognier hails from the Eden Valley, and it delivers us a cavalcade of spring flowers, apricots, marmalade and cinnamon on buttered toast, elderflower, a hint of lychee and a flutter of yellow citrus notes. In the mouth, the wine is viscose and a little oily, and it blankets the tongue. Matured for 10 months in French oak, it is a rich, detailed wine of great length.”

POINTS

Lime blossom, green melon, and candied grapefruit on the nose, with touches of spice and honey on the palate. (Silver)

POINTS

“Lime blossom, green melon and candied grapefruit on the nose, a tough of spice and honey on the palate.”

POINTS

“Tiny spritz on opening. Bright and fresh on the nose and palate, with enjoyably energetic nectarine and peach flavor. Good acidity, good length, without excess alcohol or oak. Well-made Australian Viognier with intensity and concentration. One of the finest examples in the country.”

POINTS

“This refined 2022 Viognier The Virgilius from Eden Valley offers bright and vibrant aromas of apricot skin, honeysuckle and musk with beautifully integrated oak. Good impact thanks to tangy acidity and pithy textures before building a creamy and lengthy finish. An earlier drinking vintage for this label.”

Vineyard & Production Info

Vineyard name:

Multiple Vineyards

Elevation:

750-1,500 feet

Average Vine Age:

35 years

Certifying Organizations:

ISO14001; Entwine Australia

Sustainability Certification:

EPA Acredited Sustainability Licence

Winemaking & Aging

Prefermentation Technique:

1-4 days on solids before wild yeast start to ferment

Varietal composition:

100% Viognier

Fermentation container:

mature old French oak puncheons and barriques

Malolactic fermentation:

Partial

Fining agent:

Vegan

Type of aging container:

Barriques and Puncheons and Demi muids

Type of oak:

French

Length of aging before bottling:

10 months

Age of Aging Container:

Mature

Total SO2:

Analytical Data

pH level:

3.37

Acidity:

5.39 g/L

Alcohol:

13.5 %

Total SO2:

Residual sugar:

1.6 g/L

About the Vineyard

After 35 years we believe that the Eden Valley has proved its place as one of the great homes of Viognier.

A lovely, wet winter set the vines up a healthy start to the season. Spring was drier than average and the vines responded quickly, growing and flowering well and setting a good number of bunches. Summer saw warm, dry days with the important cool Eden Valley nights. These conditions ripen the grapes while maintaining freshness and natural acidity. The balmy Indian Summer of early March helped finish ripening these perfectly balanced and flavored grapes.

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