2022 Estate Viognier

100% Estate Viognier

• Varieties:
  100% Viognier
• Appellation:
  Paso Robles - Templeton Gap District
• Average brix at harvest:
  23.2
• Vineyard:
  Estate
• Alcohol:
  13.5%
• Acidity:
  0.68 g/100ml
• pH:
  3.41
• Residual sugar:
  0.01 g/100ml
• Date bottled:
  January 26, 2023
• Cases produced:
  253
• Retail Price:
  $ 26.00

Growing conditions:
Another drought year with our total rainfall reaching only 50% of normal. The moderate crop coupled with an extreme warm spell in the last half of August led to a divided harvest, some in early September with the balance in late October & early November yielding an average harvest with excellent quality.

Winemaking:
The grapes were hand harvested, then whole cluster pressed while still cool. Barrel fermented in 25% new and 75% seasoned French oak barrels. The wine was aged on its lees passively for 3 months.
This process produced a richer mouthfeel and allowed the wine to be bottled with minimal filtration.

Tasting notes:
Aromas of honeysuckle and ripe apricots are intertwined with elusive hints of almond blossom in the background. Rich, silky mouth feel from fermentation plus 5 months of passive lees contact in Hungarian oak barrels culminates with a long, rich finish.

Cellaring:
Drink now!! This Viognier will continue to improve with proper cellaring for another 12-24 months, but why wait??

Food selection:
This Viognier will enhance soft ripe cheeses, spicy Asian cuisine as well as richer ocean selections such as scallops, oysters, and lobster.