The Maison Barboulot Chardonnay Viognier 2024 is a $5.99 Trader Joe’s import exclusive. This is an IGP or Vin de Pays designated wine from the Languedoc growing region of southwest France.
The Story
The Languedoc-Roussillon wine region is a place where French wine drinkers can find value-priced wines. IGP (also known as Vin de Pays) wines are a step below AOP wines. They have looser rules and regulations in the vineyard and wine production, but are seen as wines that represent the region.
IGP wines can be great values and quality wines.
The Maison Barboulot Chardonnay Viognier 2024 is sourced from grapes grown in the foothills of the Black Mountains in South Central Languedoc.
The Blend is 60% Chardonnay and 40% Viognier. This wine is un-oaked to maintain its freshness and brightness. As a 2024 vintage, this wine is young and is best consumed sooner rather than later.
Viognier is typically added to a blend to enhance the nose, and this wine is a great example.
This is a wine that should be served chilled, and the alcohol content is 13%.
The Maison Barboulot Chardonnay Viognier 2024 Tasting Notes
The color is a pale sunshine yellow. The nose is sweet and spicy; there are notes of peach, pear, and pineapple. melon, candy spice, and a light floral edge. The Maison Barboulot Chardonnay Viognier 2024 is crisp, clean, and tasty, with some fun at the finish.
This White blend tastes like white peach, marmalade, coconut milk, apple (not sweet), and Meyer lemon. and guava, with tropical fruit on the finish.
The acidity is very well balanced, considering this is a $5.99 wine.
The Summary
- The Maison Barboulot Chardonnay Viognier 2024 is a homerun at under six bucks.
- It is bright and appealing. It calls to you to take another sip.
- Another excellent Trader Joe’s exclusive value wine.
I’m amazed at the quality, the balance of this inexpensive wine. The peach in the viognier comes at you first, but not sweet, and the transition step to Chardonnay is painless, it’s smooth and maintains that great sweet/mildly acidic equilibrium. A really great value.