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Wine Details
Price:
$24.95 per bottle
Description:
This dessert wine is made in the “vin de paille” style. Loosely translated, it is called “straw wine” because the classic method relies on drying clusters of grapes on mats of straw in the sun. Today, straw has been replaced with modern racks and they are dried inside under fans. The blend of 50% Viognier/50% Petit Manseng was fermented and aged in new oak barrels. There is candied fruit, orange peel and flowers on the nose and mouth. The mouth is balanced with bright citrus fruits, toast, and a hint of spice. Pair with cheese or fresh fruit, cheese cake, ice cream, or foie gras. Drink now through 2016. 300 cases produced. 375mL. 10% residual sugar.
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Varietal Definition
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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Petit Manseng:
This white wine-producing grape is being grown on small acreages in Virginia, notably by Chrysallis Vineyards. The vine originates in the Jurancon region of southwestern France, where it is highly regarded. Wines made from this variety in the Jurancon are typically of exceptionally high quality and can be very aromatic. Aromas of the wines are suggestive of cinnamon, peaches and pineapple. The best and most famous wines from the region are the Jurancon Moelleux. These are sweet wines, which are made from the small thick grapes that have been left on the vine well into November in order to concentrate natural sugars. This coupled with the grapes' natural high acidity, creates the ideal combination for great dessert wine production. The vine's loose clusters, and the high pergola training it receives in the Jurancon, limits Petit Manseng's susceptibility to rot. This is ideal for production in the humid conditions of Virginia. Unfortunately, the vine also requires an extended growing season. Only areas where e
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