PICK OF THE WEEK

2015 Pedernales Cellars Texas Viognier

Overall score: 19 (9 for quality, 10 for value)

Our tasters: Gave it a unanimous recommendation with five scores of at least 9. “Nice acidity and minerality. Tangerines. A fresh, lively wine.” My score: 9. “Tart and bright. Clean. Peachy with citrus notes. Tastes of spring.” Varietal/blend: 100 percent

Texas viognier Alcohol: 13.1 percent Winery/vineyards/winemaking:

Larry and Jeanine Kuhlken planted their first vineyard near Fredericksburg the early 1990s. Son David and daughter Julie, and their spouses, began planning what would become Pedernales Cellars in 2005. Today David is the winemaker, Julie handles the marketing duties, but Larry and Jeanine still look after the sustainably farmed vines. This value-priced viognier — the varietal, of course, best known for its role in Rhone Valley whites — is fermented in stainless steel. Though not quite as expressive as the Reserve Vigonier, it’s about half the price. Winemaker notes: “The nose offers notes of apricot and kumquat. On the palate, one gets notes of coconut, candied ginger and lemon peel.” Critical acclaim: Earned a gold medal in the 2017 TEXSOM International Wine Competition. Pairings: Pork chops with cherry-miso mustard sauce. Soft cheeses, citrus-based dishes or Asian food. Price: $15.99 at Spec’s