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2016 Reserve Viognier
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Technical Details
Harvest Date 24 February 2017 | Alcohol 13.7%
Maturation
Matured in 50% new French oak and 50% 1 year old French oak for 11 months. Wine barrel fermented and lees stirred and left on lees for an extended time. The wine was bottled eleven months after harvest.
Background
The Viognier was planted in the second development of the vineyard undertaken in 2000. Two hectares of the Yalumba clone Viognier were grafted onto two different varieties of rootstock, Swartzman and Paulsen. Unfortunately the Swartzman did not survive the severity of the extended drought from 2005 – 2009. An area of 1.5 Ha remains, with a replanting program to replace the area lost undertaken during spring 2010. The vines crop at 2300kg / Ha and are spur pruned with the west side of the canopy left to sprawl and the east side lifted with wires to let the morning sun in.
Vintage
The 2016 growing season started well with good soil moisture and a very warm start to bud burst and then a relatively cool summer with well timed rain events with the vineyard looking very balanced between fruit and foliage. The ripening period was characterised by the mild nature of the ripening period from flowering to harvest , some irrigation was undertaken during the vintage and vines remained healthy and disease free.
In the end the vintage brought together a lot of varieties at the same time with overlap between the whites and reds in the region.
Wine Description
This is our third release release of the Reserve Viognier and one we are particularly proud of. The prior Reserve Viognier vintages were well received by wine commentators and sommeliers. The wine exhibits a classic Viognier nose with a flavour profile replicating some of the best French Viognier’s from Condrieu in the Rhône Valley. This wine is a wonderfully intense multi-layered wine with strong varietal characteristics. There is a aroma of floral scent, tinned peach, nectarine, and dried apricots and flavours of citrus and floral, a generous wine with length, softness, and flavour. This wine is well suited to Asian style foods and fish. Chill when serving
Cellaring Potential
A Very Good Vintage 2027