TASTING NOTES
"The 2011 Austral White Wine is a Rhone-style blend made predominately of Viognier with a bit of Roussanne and Marsanne. On the palate, flavors of apricots and dried fruits blend with a light spice and ends with a complex, lingering finish. Try this wine with antipasto!" - David Rosenthal, Winemaker

• Cool temperatures during spring delayed bud break and bloom by three to four weeks.
• Consistently warm summer temperatures lengthened the ripening period resulting in harvest starting three weeks later than normal.
• Without the growing season’s typical temperature spikes that surpass 100° F, grapes ripened very evenly with the required sugar levels and ideal physiological maturity.
  

•  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.
  

• Ripe grapes were destemmed and inoculated with various strains of yeast to maximize complexity.
• Aged sur lie for five months in our large oak oval barrel for added layers.

• Alcohol: 13%
• Total Acidity: 0.62g /100ml
• pH: 3.01
• Blend: 92% Viognier, 5% Roussane, 3% Marsanne