This wine is made from 100% estate-grown, cellared, and bottled grapes. The pale straw color leads into a bouquet with pear overtones. On the palate, apple, pear, apricot and butterscotch. The easy finish lingers with creamy butterscotch and light citrus notes; 100% malolactic.
We picked in four lots in August and September for ideal ripeness, working our way down the ridge line and whole cluster pressed a few hours later. The juice was settled overnight, then transferred to French oak for fermentation and 11 months of sur lees aging. 598 cases were bottled in July 2007.
Originally planted in 1979 and 1980 on predominantly AXR rootstock, portions of this 5-acre vineyard on the eastern slope of the Santa Cruz mountains were replanted on St. George and 110R rootstock in the late-90's. The unirrigated vineyard is on an east-west ridge and the soils change from gravel to shallow clay as the vineyard descends from 1,000 to 900 feet.
The rainfall for 2005-2006 was 38.9 inches, about 34% above average. Early rain in November and December gave the plants a good start for wintering. Had a cold spell in mid-February, but the Viognier was fine. Heavy March rains continued into April, giving the vineyard a good watering up to middle spring. A 100+ heat spell in early July followed by a cooler than average summer ensured fruit ripening and long hang time before harvest.