Cristom Estate Viognier 2019, Eola-Amity Hills, Willamette Valley, Oregon

Cristom Vineyards has played a unique role in the pioneering of Viognier in the Willamette Valley. “We were among the first to grow the varietal with our original estate plantings in 1993, and the first winery to produce an estate bottling of Viognier with our 1996 vintage release.” Additionally, Cristom winemaker Steve Doerner previously produced the varietal during his 14 year tenure with California’s legendary Calera Wine Company; making him America’s longest running winemaker of Viognier, having produced the varietal for nearly all 40 vintages of his winemaking career. 100% hand-harvested and hand-sorted fruit. Gently pressed in a pneumatic bladder press and moved to barrel by gravity. Barrel-fermented in a combination of neutral oak barrels and stainless steel barrels. The wine ages on its lees in barrel, after malolactic fermentation, for 9 months. Fined with Bentonite and filtered. The Cristom Estate Viognier exhibits the pure, nearly textbook characteristics of this varietal, with floral aromas of orange blossoms, honeysuckle, clover and anise, as well as ripe fruit aromas of peach, apricot, and lychee. Slightly viscous on the palate, with bright and mouth-watering acidity that support the fruit structure of the wine, it is well integrated and perfectly balanced.