GRILLET
Viognier is one of the most misunderstood grapes. Unfortunately, there are many terrible examples of it. But, when it is done well, the wine can be extraordinary. We are obsessed with the grape and have been true believers since we first tasted the 2010 ‘Mineral Selection’ from Fausse Piste. From there we became exposed to examples from the Cote du Rhone, most notably Chateauneuf-du-Pape Blanc and Condrieu.
Grillet
2018
We set out to create two different styles of Viognier in 2018. The first was a hard pressed white wine that was fermented in neutral French oak barrels. After a 2 month elevage, the wine was racked out and moved to Acacia wood puncheons. Those puncheons had lees from our ‘Peach Skin” orange Viognier. The resulting wine has both French oak and Acacia wood influences. The Acacia helps to highlight the peach blossom aromatics of Viognier without the perfume notes that can be too off putting.
2019
With the success of our partial Acacia wood elevage from the 2018 vintage we decided to ferment and age in Acacia puncheons. The power, the acidity, the aromatics are a dance. This wine needs decanting and it needs to be served at cellar temperature. Only then will this wine show it’s brilliant self.