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Wine Details
Price:
$20.00 per bottle
Description:
This is the first harvest off the Luttgens Family Vineyards Block 4, and although it is the first, the fruit had wonderful character for such a young vineyard. Initially, this wine was fermented in stainless steel tanks before it was racked into fourteen year-old French oak barrels to finish fermenting. The barrels used for this wine were older, and thus fairly neutral in their ability to impart oak flavor. The desire was to give the wine only a slight nuance of oak, and not overwhelm the fruit character of the Roussanne. In the end, the alluring aroma of nectarines and herbal tea capture the senses and yield to the rich body and lingering finish. Although the easiest way to describe the character of Roussanne may be to say it’s like Viognier, yet when you taste it, you will understand that it is really different from Viognier. More subtle fruit aromas with a delicate herbal background make it much more approachable in many respects. Balanced acidity and low residual sugar make this the Chardonnay drinker’s alternative. Enjoy something different for a change and try a Roussanne.
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Varietal Definition
Roussanne:
Also known as Bergeron in the french Savoie region. Semi-classic grape grown in the Hermitage-Rhone and southern Cotes du Rhone region of France. Still occasionally incorporated into white wine blends, (e.g: with the Marsanne grape wine), because of its acidity and aroma but finding less and less favor.
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Viognier:
The most acclaimed white wine grape from France's Rhône Valley, Viognier is a highly aromatic varietal, with a flavor profile that could include peach, apricot, nectarine, lichee, musk and flower blossom. The heady perfume of this varietal is one of its trademarks, although its flavors are sometimes problematic in matching with food. However, it does well with lobster, crab and moderately flavored fish. Use it as an apéritif as an alternative to Chardonnay. The "Rhône Rangers" in California have done an excellent job promoting this varietal.
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Chardonnay:
Chardonnay is by far the most widely planted grape crop in California and dominates California’s cooler, coastal, quality wine regions. The natural varietal ‘taste and smell’ of Chardonnay is surprisingly unfamiliar to many wine drinkers, as its true character is often guised with dominating winemaking signatures. Chardonnay’s rather subdued primary fruit characteristics lean toward the crisp fruitiness of apples, pears and lemon, but the variety’s full body is capable of supporting a host of complementary characteristics, such as oak, butter and vanilla. Regardless of what is the appropriate style for Chardonnay, the varietal continues to dominate vineyard plantings in every corner of the world. Close attention to clonal selection has made this broad geographic and climactic range of Chardonnay viable in thoughtful viticultural hands.
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