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BLEND
& GRAPE SOURCES: 100% estate-owned Viognier from our St. Helena area ranch, Yountville and Carneros. |
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WINEMAKING
DATA: Grapes were harvested between Sept. 22 - Oct. 4, 1999 at an average 25.5° Brix, barrel-fermented to 14.1% alcohol, then aged an additional six months in French oak before being bottled in June, 2000. |
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Many
vintners consider the 1999 vintage a winemaker's dream: temperatures were
mild, there was no threat of rain, and after an initial heat spike in late
September, October settled in fair and warm. Because crop yields were down 20-25%, picking proceeded at a measured pace and trucks pulled into the winery carrying bins of unusually small, mature berries, rich in flavor and aroma. The vintage was exceptional for white varietals and has produced one of the best Viogniers since the inaugural 1989 vintage. The wine displays intense aromas and flavors of peach, honeysuckle and apricot, with a rich, oily balanced texture and a finish that persists for more than 30 seconds. Production was limited to 1000 cases so the wine will be in limited distribution. |
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