SkinnerEl Dorado Viognier 2020

We love this Viognier from Skinner Vineyards. Refreshing and vibrant, this 2020 Viognier was cold-pressed as individual lots. The juice saw no sulfur to allow for a “brown-out” process of the juice over the course of several days. This along with the subsequent racking off of gross lees offers an opportunity for any harsh, bitter phenolics to drop out, yielding softer, clarified juice for a gentle but highly reductive native fermentation. True to Viognier form, this wine covers familiar territory of honeysuckle and summer melon. But due to the finesse this wine displays, much more complexity steps forward. The nose, superbly vibrant, with notes of flint, tomato leaf, marmalade and valerian root. The palate is loaded with brightness but bolstered with silky texture and shimmering tones of nectarine and lemon curd. Skinner Vineyards is comprised of their estate vineyard, Stoney Creek Vineyard, which is in the newer Fair Play AVA and surrounding neighboring vineyards in the El Dorado AVA. Their elevations range from 1400-2740 feet. For the grapes, that means that they see temperatures about 2-5 degrees cooler than other Foothills regions, with moderating breezes that upslope from the delta as temperatures rise throughout the day. In the evenings, cool air drains down from the Sierra, creating a terroir that is unique to Skinner. 200 cases were produced.