ChaLou Dreaded Friend Viognier 2023 from Orange in NSW is a bright, floral and quietly racy take on viognier – all the perfume you’d expect, but in a lighter, fresher frame that makes it dangerously easy to drink. This 2023 Dreaded Friend Viognier is part of ChaLou’s fun, vibrant range crafted by Steve Mobbs and Nadja Wallington to show off their high‑country site.

In the glass, ChaLou Dreaded Friend Viognier 2023 offers orange blossom, white jasmine, ripe peach and honeydew melon, with hints of musk, apricot nectar, candied ginger and a twist of lime skin for lift. The palate is light and fresh rather than heavy, with juicy lychee, stonefruit and crushed flowers over crisp citrus, finishing clean and delicately perfumed instead of oily or cloying. It’s a pretty, restrained style that keeps the variety’s charm without the usual heat.

This Dreaded Friend Viognier is spot‑on with a prawn roll loaded with crème fraîche and herbs, but it’s just as happy next to grilled prawns, lightly spiced Asian salads, roast chicken or soft, creamy cheeses. Chill it properly and it becomes a cracking aperitif or by‑the‑glass option for anyone curious about aromatic whites with a bit more texture and personality.