Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
A collaboration between Jeff Cohn and the Northern Rhone's Yves Gangloff, the 2012 Viognier 2 Guys 2 Barrels is 100% Viognier from the Stagecoach Vineyard in Napa Valley. It's a stunning Viognier that shows the richer, more hedonistic end of the spectrum with caramelized peach, pineapple, orange blossom and honeysuckle aromas and flavors. Full-bodied, rich, unctuous and layered, yet still focused, lively and precise, it's a beautiful white that deserves a classy meal. Drink it anytime over the coming couple of years.
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Wine Spectator
Peach, pear and yellow apple flavors are ripe and rich, with a soft acidity and accents of coconut water and baking spices imparting warmth. This is appealing for the smooth texture and peach cobbler—accented finish.
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.
Just northeast of Napa city, Atlas Peak boasts some of Napa Valley’s highest elevation vineyards. Here the intense sunlight coupled with cool, nighttime temperatures produce grapes that are perfectly ripe, balanced and concentrated. The appellation is rich in volcanic soils and excels in the production of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.