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Stags' Leap
2021 Stags' Leap Napa Valley Viognier
Description
Description
Established in 1893, Stags’ Leap Winery is one of the oldest wine estates within the acclaimed Stags Leap district, continually producing wines expressive of its unique terroir. With an enduring winemaking philosophy that honors traditional techniques while embracing modern capabilities, and by using the finest grapes from our own 80-acre vineyard and from quality-focused growers, Stags’ Leap wines embody a natural balance, exhibiting both intensity and finesse, while bringing forth the inherent qualities of each variety.
Awards & Accolades
Awards & Accolades
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92
JamesSuckling.com
“Real viognier here with sliced green mango and a hint of bitter lemon. White blossom. Medium body. Zippy and dry at the end. Nicely crafted. No new wood. Drink now.” - James Suckling, February 22, 2023
Wine & Vintage Details
Wine & Vintage Details
Tasting Notes
The 2021 Viognier is fragrant and alluring with signature varietally-classic stone fruit characters sitting alongside a delicate floral bouquet. Layers of fresh white peach, apricot, orange blossom, zesty lime and elderflower sit alongside secondary notes of marzipan, Madagascar vanilla and lemon curd. A racy backbone of crisp acidity is supported by an earthier stony minerality, adding layered notes of honey and lanolin, which soften to a rounded, creamy texture on the lengthy finish that is mouthwatering and supple. Silky and viscous with an exotic, spiced floral character, this is the perfect al fresco white, ideally suited to lighter fare, and an elegant companion for a variety of occasions.
Vintage
The 2021 season was joyous and welcomed after the challenges of previous vintages, producing exceptionally high-quality fruit, some of the best in recent years. Rain early in the year led to almost no notable precipitation for the rest of the season, providing an ideal environment for grapes to flower, bloom, and set in early spring, with budbreak early in April, followed by flowering and bloom in May. The summer saw early and even ripening throughout the valley, with veraison appearing in early July. Low yields (in part due to drought conditions), created fruit that is intensely flavored and smaller in berry size. One of the earliest starts, harvest began with white wine grapes coming in towards late July, while red wine grapes arrived about a month later, at the end of August. With optimal ripening and taste, our winemakers took their time bringing grapes in, crafting wines of fantastic character, with amazing color extraction, aromatic intensity, tremendous balance, and structure, that are equally lush and fruity. A tremendous year to taste the nuances and terroir distinction from around the valley.
Vineyard & Winemaking Details
Vineyard & Winemaking Details
Vineyards
Our Viognier is sourced from select vineyards in the Carneros and Oak Knoll AVAs. Located in the southern part of Napa Valley, these cooler vineyards are optimal for growing Viognier, providing sufficient sun exposure for ripening and cool marine fog for maintaining natural acidity. The Viognier planted at these Carneros and Oak Knoll vineyards showcase flavor complexity and refined aromatic expression, ideal for our bottling.
Winemaking
The beauty of Viognier is captured in its freshness, and the traditional techniques used by our winemakers to preserve that splendor. Harvested by hand, the fruit was whole cluster pressed and fermented in neutral French oak barrels. It was then aged on the lees and stirred every week for five months. This wine does not go through malolactic fermentation which helps to preserve the delicate floral aromas, fruit freshness and balanced acidity.
| Alcohol % | 14.2% |
|---|---|
| Oak Treatment | Aged in 100% Neutral French Oak barrels for 5 months |
| Blend | 100% Viognier |