2009 Makena's Vineyard Viognier
Vintage
2009 was cooler than most at Skipstone. Lack of heat made for a cool and even growing season and allowed the Viognier to develop at a slow and steady pace creating perfectly ripe and complex fruit to work with. In Makena’s Vineyard, the growing cycle was like clockwork with budbreak for Viognier occurring right on schedule in late March followed by ideal weather for flowering in June. Berry softening began in late July and by September we were excited to see we had exceptional fruit on the vine. Viognier was harvested at daybreak on September 4th, 2009 under perfect conditions.
Harvest
The goal for our Viognier is to have the wine taste much like the fruit does on the day of harvest. Picking begins at first light so as to have the fruit delivered and processed in the winery as coldas possible thus preserving its character and integrity. The whole clustersof Viognier are loaded into the press and a very gentle ‘cremant’ cycle is applied while Winemaker Philippe Melka tastes the juice as it leaves the press. When the first signs of coarsenessare noted, pressing is complete. This keeps the juice yield low, but delivers the finest quality ‘free-run’ to ferment. To preserve the freshness of the Viognier, we believe the best approach is to avoid oak usage. Fermentation, both primary and malolactic, and aging is done in 75 gallon stainlesssteel “barrels” or casks. The fermentation period for this wine was very controlled and long, lasting six months.Once the wine began to clear, lees stirring, or batônnage, was used to further develop creaminess andtexture.
Wine
This wine has an elegant and seductive aroma that creates an instantaneous connection. Immediately harkening to summer days, a gorgeous bouquet of quince, white currents and honeysuckle makes the wine’s introduction. A complete and balanced experience on the palate is created through a ballet of stone fruits like juicy white peaches and apricots, mandarin and naval orange citrus then augmented with a hint of wet stone minerality. The winedisplays a rich, round and vivacious mouthfeel achieved through sur lees aging and thefruit intensity inherently found in this special portion of the Skipstone Vineyard. This wine is named for our oldest daughter and embodies carefree summer days and her lovely youthful enthusiasm.
Harvest Date: September 4, 2009
Aging: Aged for 17 months in stainless steel “barrels”
Varietal Composition: 100% Viognier
Production: 150 cases
Release Date: April 4, 2011
Makena's Vineyard Viognier is sold to mailing list members only. Please sign up to be notified of its availability.
2009 Makena's Vineyard Viognier is sold out.
