The 2008 Viognier’s pale straw color in the glass leads to aromas of honeysuckle, white peaches, and thoughts of the tropics. On the palate, summer fruit flavors mingle - notably with peaches, pineapple, lemon zest, mango, and candied violets. The bright finish evokes the poolside warmth of summer sunshine. We enjoyed this wine with Red Snapper in Ginger Sauce.
Fermentation and Aging
Picked by hand and whole cluster pressed a few hours later. The juice was settled overnight, racked to a single stainless steel tank for a cool (60 degree) fermentation, then to neutral French oak for 10 months of aging. 180 cases were bottled in July 2009.
Vineyard
Two acres of Viognier planted in our Finley Vineyard in 1999. Finely, named after early settlers, is a 7-acre vineyard in the eastern slopes of the Santa Cruz Mountains. The unirrigated, south-facing vineyard is on a knoll with soils that change from gravel to shallow clay as the vineyard descends from 800 to 750 feet.
The 2007/2008 rainy season started early, with over an inch before all the fruit was in, but no damage done. Subsequent rains were light through January: one-third of normal. February dumped 15 inches, almost half our annual average. Add 5 more in March, and we finished the season with 25 inches, 4 less than average. Temperature-wise, spring was a few degrees warmer than normal, giving the grapes a nice start. In a pleasant reversal, July and August were noticeably cooler than normal, which set the stage for a wonderfully long growing season.