2009 Viognier

Style:  White Rhone Style Varietal

Cases Produced:  125

Vineyard Sources:  100% Cooper Vineyard

Winemaker comments:   The 2009 vintage in the Sierra Foothills provided a contrast with recent years.  Temperatures were cooler throughout the growing season, with only infrequent and short-lived heat spikes.  This allowed us to achieve wonderfully ripe flavors and aromatics at much lower alcohol levels than we normally see.  The Viognier went dry with very little difficulty, even under a long, cold fermentation (which we like to do in order to retain the fresh aromatics of the wine).  The finished wine displayed its typically crisp acidity along with an underlying mineral component that we have come to love in the Viognier from this vineyard.  We added a very small amount of Marsanne to balance the Viognier’s acidity and to add complexity and roundness to the finished wine.  A light cold stabilization was done prior to bottling.

Tasting notes:  Our 2009 Viognier from the Cooper Vineyard displays its typical pale green-gold color in the glass.  On the nose, the wine is clean and fresh, exhibiting wonderful aromas of pear and honeysuckle.  The palate shows nice roundness and depth, yet it is crisp and dry, with the honey and mineral components we’ve come to love from this vineyard very much in evidence.  Hints of melon are added to the mix on the long, dry finish, with no oak evidence.

Winemaking:  The Viognier and Marsanne were fermented, settled and stabilized in separate lots, and both were allowed to undergo 100% malolactic fermentation prior to blending and bottling.

• 95% Viognier, cold fermented in stainless steel with no oak.
• 5% Marsanne, cold fermented in stainless steel with no oak.

Ageability:  Viognier, as a general rule, is not a wine intended to be aged for long periods of time.  It is best enjoyed in its exuberant youth (its first year of life, or so) while it still retains its lovely aromatics and fruit-forward qualities.This wine is ready to drink upon release.

Awards:   Prior to release, this wine was entered in the 2010 California State Fair Wine Competition in the Micro Winery Category for wineries that produce less than 2000 cases. 

• This wine was awarded a Silver medal earning 91 points
• Due to the Quality of this wine and the Vermentino the judges later awarded Casque Wines as “2010’s Best California Micro Winery for White Wines” at their grand tasting event, the Grape and Gourmet.

Harvest Date:  Sept. 7, 2009 (Viognier), Oct. 23, 2009 (Marsanne)

Bottling Date:  May 3, 2010

Release Date:  July 14, 2010

Alcohol:  14.2%