£5.49 mix-six sale price, Majestic
Even at £8–£8.25 (Sainsbury's and Morrisons) this is great value, so at Majestic's mix-six sale price (until 27 January) it's an absolute bargain. I've just had a bottle of the 2014 that I'd forgotten about (bought in a 'buy 6 save 25% offer', probably in May 2016). I didn't expect it to have lasted – Viognier isn't long-lived – but it was stunning: bursting with ripe apricot and peach fruit, zippy grapefruity acidity, Viognier's oily richness and some delicate petrolly mature notes. It's a good demonstration of the benefits of screw caps for aromatic whites. If you have somewhere reasonably cool and dark to keep wine, you might want to stock up on some 2017, even if only to drink during this year (just a reminder, if you do, that you need to be careful not to inadvertently bash any of the screw caps and break the seal). The 2017 shares the peach and apricot character of the 2014, but it's lighter on its feet, more floral (think freesias), a little spicier and hasn't developed any of the petrolly hints. Drink it as an aperitif or with spicy but not volcanically hot dishes, shellfish, cold meats, creamy pasta dishes and vegetables with sweet or bitter flavours, such as roast chicory.13.5%.
Yalumba The Y Series Viognier 2017, South Australia, Australia
£5.49 in any 6-bottle mix until 27 January (£10.99, single bottle); £8, Sainsbury's; £8.25, Morrisons