Product 17/18

Pine Ridge Chenin Blanc-Viognier

larger image

$9.95

Year: 2008
Region: Clarksburg/Lodi
Country: USA - California
Wine Advocate: 88
White Wine

Add to Cart:

"A consistent winner from this Napa winery, this fragrant, stylish blend of Chenin Blanc and Viognier is the type of dry white I wish more California wineries would focus on. Moreover, there are 45,000 cases of this excellent bargain. Think of a spring flower garden oozing with melon and citrus blossom notes. Fresh, light to medium-bodied, and dry, it is a food-friendly white to enjoy as an aperitif or with food over the next year. Kudos to Pine Ridge!" (WA)

Winery Notes: ORIGIN: It is with great anticipation that we announce the 2008 Chenin Blanc - Viognier. Past releases have received wide acclaim. Robert M. Parker Jr.'s The Wine Advocate gave our 2007 vintage 90 points, and Food & Wine magazine proclaimed our 2006 vintage as one of the "25 Best Wines for the Summer." The 2008 is sure to follow in its predecessors’ footsteps. The fruity, floral signature of Chenin Blanc and the fragrant bouquet of Viognier make up this unique bottling. Pine Ridge was the first California winery to develop this original blend.

VINEYARD: The Chenin Blanc grapes were sourced from Salman Farms, the Herzog Company, Bogle Vineyards, Roger Tillis Farms and Wilson Vineyards, in the moderate river delta region of Clarksburg. Bear Creek Winery in Lodi provided the Viognier grapes this year.

WINEMAKING: Harvest is determined for the Chenin grapes when the pear and melon flavors have developed, usually around 19 to 20 degrees Brix. The Viognier ripens much later, usually around 25 to 26 degrees Brix when the pink grapefruit, lychee and tropical flavors develop. The grapes are harvested at night, and the juice is cold fermented in stanless steel tanks at 40 to 45 degrees Fahrenheit over the course of 8 to 10 weeks to enhance the natural fruity, floral aromas. A major factor in creating this wine is selecting the moment of harvest. Since the sugar is low, the danger is picking too early and getting green, unripe flavors or waiting too long and having too much alcohol. The grapes, therefore, are carefully monitored to determine the precise moment that will yield a wine with the proper balance of a fruity, refreshing character and low alcohol content. The final blend of 81% Chenin Blanc and 19% Viognier was bottled in December, 2008, and January, 2009.

TASTING NOTES: The 2008 Chenin Blanc - Viognier flaunts aromas of ruby grapefruit, pear, lychee and melon, with a delicate touch of spicy, white florals. Lively citrus and bright tropical fruit flavors are offered up alongside a supple texture. The slightly off-dry finish is clean and crisp, perfect with many dishes or on its own as an aperitif. Enjoy now or cellar for two years.

This product was added to our catalog on Friday 03 July, 2009.

Printer friendly version.

For more information, please visit this product's webpage.