Et Fille Yamhill-Carlton District Deux Vert Vineyard Viognier 2009
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Oregon's Willamette Valley is comprised of American Viticultural Areas that represent different soil types and microclimates impacting the profile of wines from those sites. The wines are grown in four of Oregon's distinct viticultural areas, or wine regions. We have a small test vineyard on Parrett Mountain, but also manage long-term contracts for blocks at six vineyards located throughout the Willamette Valley. We think that this creates diversity between our single vineyard designate Pinot Noir and adds complexity to our Willamette Valley and Heredity blends of Pinot Noir.
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.
Yamhill-Carlton, characterized by pastoral, rolling hills composed of shallow, quick-draining, ancient marine soil, is ideal for Pinot noir and other cool-climate-loving varieties. It is in the rain shadow of the Coast Range to its west, whose highest point climbs to an altitude of 3,500 feet. Yamhill-Carlton is actually surrounded by mountains on three sides: Chehalem Mountains to the north, the Dundee Hills to the east and the western Coast Range to its west, which, when it lets Pacific air through, serves to cool the region.
Vineyards grow on the ridges surrounding the two small communities of Yamhill and Carlton and cover about 1,200 acres of this 60,000 acre region, which roughly makes a horse-shoe shape on a map.