Winemaker Notes
To accentuate its more delicate aromas, this cool-climate Viognier was fermented entirely in concrete, resulting in fragrances of apricot, summer hay, honeysuckle, Meyer lemon and Mandarin orange. The first sip is supple and viscous, and as it unfurls a current of bright acid emerges, framing the flavors and driving the wine to a tantalizing peaches and cream finish.
Production
The quality of the 2018 growing season on Mt. Harlan was fantastic. After warm early spring weather led to an early budbreak, the temperatures cooled in latespring, followed by sunny days with moderate temperatures throughout the summer. This provided us with long hangtimes, which resulted in exceptional ripeness, while preserving excellent natural acidity in the grapes. The one negative was that the cool early weather during bloom caused a bit of shatter and reduced yields. While the crops were small, the quality was outstanding, producing beautifully complex wines, with lovely structure, and pure, varietal flavors.