Our Rating
Santa Barbara
Viognier
This single vineyard Viognier from Jack McGinley Vineyard in Happy Canyon of Santa Barbara sits at the concentrated end of the variety without feeling heavy. It is 100 percent Viognier, priced at 45 dollars, and finished at 14.9 percent alcohol. The Cork and Journey panel scored it 93 points, with an expected drinking window from now through 2030 and no need for decanting. Full details are listed on the winery’s product page here.
Bellante Family Winery is a small producer based in Mission Viejo, California, working mainly with Santa Barbara County vineyards. The range leans toward Viognier, Pinot Noir and Rhone varieties, often from specific sites such as Jack McGinley Vineyard in Happy Canyon. Production remains modest, and most wine is sold through the tasting room and wine club. The winery describes its approach and sourcing in more detail on the Bellante Family Winery website.
Winemaker and owner Chuck Bellante came to wine after a career in chemical engineering, which shows up in the steady, detail oriented style rather than in technical jargon. Over the past two decades he has focused on Santa Barbara County fruit, particularly cooler sites that can support ripe flavors with enough freshness. Viognier is a recurring theme in the lineup, and this Jack McGinley bottling reflects his preference for small lots, clear vineyard identity and whites that have both weight and structure. Background on Chuck and the winery team is available on the about us page.
The 2023 Viognier from Jack McGinley Vineyard presents as a confident, fruit driven white with a layered profile. Ripe orchard and tropical notes lead, citrus adds lift and a measured touch of oak and cream rounds the edges. The palate is generous, with enough acidity to keep the wine focused and a clean, persistent finish.
In the glass the wine shows a bright, medium gold color, a shade deeper than many coastal whites, which fits the variety and ripeness level. The rim remains clear and youthful. On the swirl there is visible viscosity, with slow forming legs that match the 14.9 percent alcohol, yet there is no haze or cloudiness.
The nose opens with mango and ripe apple, followed by lemon and mandarin notes that bring a citrusy lift. As the wine sits in the glass, hints of cream and light oak emerge, more in the form of vanilla and subtle toast than overt wood. A gentle honeysuckle tone adds a floral accent without dominating. Overall aromatic intensity is expressive but not overpowering, with the fruit remaining at the center.
On the palate the wine is dry, medium to full bodied and quite concentrated. Apple, peach and apricot form the core flavors, joined by mandarin and a touch of lemon zest that keeps the midpalate feeling fresh. The texture is weighty yet balanced, with moderate to bright acidity that carries the fruit rather than cutting through it sharply. Cream and a hint of oak give a rounded feel through the middle, while honeysuckle and stone fruit linger on a persistent finish. The alcohol feels warming but generally well integrated, especially when the wine is served nicely chilled rather than straight from a very cold fridge.
The 2023 Viognier Jack McGinley Vineyard, Happy Canyon of Santa Barbara, is a focused, site specific example of the variety that delivers concentration without excess. It is approachable now, with enough structure and fruit intensity to evolve gradually through 2030. Within the Bellante Family Winery range it reads as a well executed expression of Viognier from a warm, inland Santa Barbara site, and the 93 point Cork and Journey panel score reflects that level of quality. For more information or to purchase, the winery lists the wine directly on its product page here.
USA
Santa Barbara
Viognier
14.9%
Chuck Belante
Not Necessary
Now to 2030
Bellante Family Winery
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