High up in the Sierra Nevada, the California Gold Country town of Auburn. lies this gem of a vineyard of Viognier, planted and managed by the father and son team of John and Joe Damiano.  When picked just a bit less ripe than many CA Viogniers, the fruit expresses lively citrus and gentle white flower aromatics, while barrel fermentation in mostly older French oak barrels leads to a wine of perfect structure and creamy-crispy balance.   
 

Winemaker Notes:

Beautiful nose of white flowers (jasmine, gardenia and honeysuckle) mingled with pretty green tea, grapefruit and orange zest aromas, only a light kiss of creamy vanilla oak toast.   Super crisp acidity without being puckery tart, just pinpoint balanced with trace of sweetness and creaminess from oak.  Juicy, mouth-watering Honey-crisp apple and citrus, green peach fruit.  Great structure to pair with lemon-butter shrimp or Thai food or even to drink solo.

Harvest Date:

August 27, 2017

Average TA/pH at Harvest:

3.90 pH

Fermentation Characteristics:

De-stemmed to press and cold settled.

Cellar Storage/Aging:

100% barrel fermented, stirred weekly sur lie. No Malo-lactic fermentation, so it is crisply finished. 100% spent 9 months sur lie in barrels 70% neutral French, 25% neutral American,5% stainless steel drums

Varietal:

95% Viognier, 2 clones:60% Entav 642 and 40% Calera 5% Marsanne

Appellation:

Damiano Vineyard (Auburn, Placer County) Sustainably farmed Located at about 1600 ft elevation in Sierra Foothills

Release Date:

July 1, 2018