91 points, James Suckling
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Crisp, bright, and vivacious! The Chenin aromatics bring citrus characters of lime, orange blossom, honey suckle, ginger, and melon. The viognier aromatics tend to be a little heavier on stone fruit of nectarine and peach with hints of floral characters. The mouthfeel is clean, crisp with no oak or malolactic fermentation. The slight residual sugar and acid are in balance to add some mouthfeel but still create a crisp finish.
This versatile wine pairs well with a number of dishes, from light salads to seafood, and most notably with foods with a hint of spiciness – its subtle sweetness provides balance alongside a touch of heat. It’s the perfect pour for the start of an evening with appetizers such as goat cheese, radishes, and olives. Also try with a flavorful Thai curry, a frittata with sweet onions and ricotta, or a shrimp and avocado tostada.
This vintage is a blend that is comprised of 80% Chenin Blanc and 20% Viognier. The Chenin Blanc grapes were harvested at low sugar levels to ensure bright fruit character and low alcohol in the finished wine. In contrast, the Viognier from Lodi was picked at 24 degrees Brix to capture the floral and spicy nature as well as the viscosity.
Grapes for our Chenin Blanc are sourced from the Clarksburg appellation, referred to as the “Gem of the Delta.” It is an appellation that is showing a great affinity for Chenin Blanc. The climate has a moderately long growing season and benefits from the maritime influence of the Sacramento River. The Viognier is sourced from Lodi, which has a classic Mediterranean climate, with warm days and cool nights. Natural air-conditioning is provided by the San Joaquin/Sacramento River Delta breezes and produces grapes with natural acidity. Rhône varieties like Viognier adapt well to this exciting appellation.
After the grapes were crushed, the press wine was blended with the free run juice to increase palate weight. The juice was inoculated with two special yeast strains to maintain the fruity characters and then was fermented cold. To retain and highlight the fruit freshness of CB+V, the wine was fermented and aged in 100 percent stainless steel.
