Atamisque Serbal Viognier 2018 Tupungato, Mendoza, Argentina 75cl

Bodega Atamisque is a French-owned estate high in Tupungato, in the Uco Valley, known as the stone-roofed winery for its distinctive architecture and for vineyards set at around 1,300 metres against the Andes. Alongside the cellar sit a restaurant, guest lodge and even a golf course, part of a wider estate built for visitors.

Serbal is the estate’s fresh, unoaked range, made to showcase clean, vibrant fruit. This is pure Viognier, an aromatic white that keeps its perfume and balance in the cool mountain air, made without oak so its floral, stone-fruit character stays to the fore. The unoaked approach keeps it light and true to the grape.

From the 2018 vintage, it is a bright, aromatic white built for early drinking while its perfume is at its freshest, ideally within a few years of the harvest. Aromatic whites like this are best enjoyed young.

Expect a fragrant nose of white peach, apricot and honeysuckle, a soft, dry palate and a clean, refreshing finish. It is aromatic without being heavy. Serve well chilled as an aperitif, or with roast chicken, mild curries or lightly spiced Asian dishes. It suits the table as much as the terrace.

Viognier is grown in small quantities in Argentina, so this is a chance to try the variety in a fresh, high-altitude guise. If you enjoy aromatic whites such as Torrontes or dry Muscat, Serbal Viognier makes a lovely, easy-drinking alternative worth seeking out. Serve it well chilled and it makes a bright, fragrant start to a meal or a glass to enjoy on its own.