Winemaker Notes
The 2005 release is a very youthful Viognier with a brilliant, mid-straw appearance with green tints. The lifted aroma of ginger, summer flowers, and tropical fruits is intertwined with the classic spectrums of nectarine, white peach and ripe apricot skin.
The palate is tight - initially dominated with cool mineral characters, and then you are hit with tropical fruits, stonefruits and glycerol. Acidity is low but the palate is beautifully balanced, with a long-lasting, persistent finish. A medium-weight wine offering a huge spectrum of characters, complexity and flavors. Drink now and over the next 3 to 4 years.
Full-figured and charmingly floral, Viognier is one of the most important white grapes of the northern Rhône where it is used both to produce single varietal wines and as an important blending grape. Look for great New World examples from California, Oregon, Washington and cooler parts of Australia. Somm Secret—Viognier plays a surprisingly important role in the red wines of Côte Rôtie in the northern Rhône. About 5% Viognier is typically co-fermented with the Syrah in order to stabilize the color, and as an added benefit, add a subtle perfume.
Known for opulent red wines with intense power and concentration, McLaren Vale is home to perhaps the most “classic” style of Australian Shiraz. Vinified on its own or in Rhône Blends, these hot-climate wines are deeply colored and high in extract with signature hints of dark chocolate and licorice. Cabernet Sauvignon is also produced in a similar style.
Whites, often made from Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc tend to be opulent and full of tropical, stone and citrus fruit.