Identity Wine Co. Viognier, The Outsider | 2023

Owned by Hialeah native, Pablo Antonio Suarez, who literally packed up his car and headed to California during the summer of 2018, Identity Wine Co. is making some seriously good wines that showcase California's under-the-radar terroirs. I love when a wine's back label packs useful information, like this one. Pablo states, "The Viognier was harvested from a high elevation family vineyard in Amador County. The fruit was gently pressed, and the juice was immediately racked into stainless steel tank to begin a low and slow fermentation in order to unlock bright aromatics and retain vibrancy. The wine was then transferred into neutral French oak barrels to age 5 months before bottling." At 13.2% alcohol, "The Outsider" finds a sweet spot for Viognier, where it's plenty aromatic but fits into a medium size. At first, you have to dig for the fruits, but after a few minutes in the glass, the wine unfolds with peach cobbler, jasmine tea, and poached pear. Then, on the palate, there's a pleasant saltiness, which balances the dewy fruits, and the acidity is firm and bright. With a tough grape to get right, Pablo Antonio Suarez is anything but an outsider. He's on the up and in. ~Allegra A