Palate
For the Austral this year, we co-fermented a blend of Roussanne, Marsanne, and Viognier together in a barrel. The result is a seamless, rich wine. On top of that, we layered tank fermented Grenache Blanc and Roussanne for brightness while a touch more of Viognier from barrel brought ripe stone fruit and texture.
Growing Conditions
The 2017 growing season was cooler and crop yields were significantly lower in comparison to the past two vintages.
The lower temperatures delayed ripening and helped to retain fresh fruit aromatics and mouthwatering acidity.
Despite cold winter conditions, 2017 gave us concentrated wines with classic Washington state character.
Columbia Valley vineyards lie in the rain shadow of the Cascade Mountains and receive just 6-8 inches of rainfall annually.
Warm, sunny days and cool evening temperatures create ideal conditions for intense aroma and flavor development in the ripening grapes.
Sandy soils with low fertility and low water-holding capacity enable precise control of vine growth.
A northerly latitude gives the Columbia Valley roughly two more hours of sunlight daily during the peak-growing season than California, increasing the region’s ability to ripen fruit.
Winemaking
Ripe grapes were destemmed and inoculated with various strains of yeast to maximize complexity.
Grenache Blanc and Rousanne were aged in stainless steel to highlight the bright fruit flavors, with a touch of Viogner from the barrel.
Roussanne, Marsanne, and Viognier were co-fermented in neutral oak barrels and aged sur lie for 6 months.
