Little James’ Basket Press Sauvignon Viognier, a French white blend, offers value and quality, plus crisp, fresh fruit
The Little James’ Basket Press Sauvignon Viognier 2015 isn’t quite as spectacular as the same producer’s non-vintage red blend used to be (and which is now a shadow of its former self). But the white remains well made, affordable, and full of value in this age of overpriced and underperforming wine.
The Little James’ Basket Press Sauvignon Viognier ($12, purchased, 12.5%) is made by Chateau de Saint Cosme, a top-flight Rhone producer that seemed to understand great cheap wine better than most. The red and white made the Hall of Fame for a couple of years, but we all know that things happen in the wine business. In this case, it was a new importer, and the red turned into something only a focus group could love.
But the white remains fresh, crisp, and fruity (as well as available after going missing in this part of the country for a couple of years). Look for grapefruit and a little minerality from the sauvignon blanc, balanced by ripe apricot fruit from the viognier. It’s a spring and summer wine, pairing with almost anything on the grill that isn’t hamburgers. In this, it’s better made than most of its grocery store contemporaries and worth the extra couple of bucks that it .