Napa Valley Viognier Eagle & Rose Viognier 2003 is a delightful wine. The Viognier 2003 vintage was remarkable for the early harvest of the estate fruit. The unusually warm spring allowed the fruit to set and ripen ahead of the normal Napa Valley harvests. This produced a delicate fruit that resulted in a crisp, medium to lean style of Viognier. While there are the layers of floral and peach undertones that one expects in a Viognier, this clean, bright version also contains the essence of lemon-drops and vanilla. The juice fermented in stainless steel tanks until it reached 15 degrees of Brix. At that point, 45% of the juice moved to one-year-old French oak barrels to complete the fermentation. The barrel lot aged on light lees for ten months before the final blending back with the stainless steel aged wine. This is a fine example of terroir at work, seeing that the soil of Pope Valley will yield with a shortened growing season. There is a lush, viscous mouth feel to this wine, a great little surprise in a bottle. The austere finish on this wine yields just the slightest old-style of winemaking with just a touch of sweetness. Serve this wine lightly chilled for a perfect refreshing wine. It also works well with a wide variety of fish dishes and appetizers.

"Anything worth doing is worth doing well." His grandmother's words have inspired Eagle & Rose Estate founder Norman Alumbaugh for a lifetime. Norman has been pursuing his passion for crafting exceptional wines. His goals are lofty and his commitment to the very best enduring wines. Eagle & Rose Estate is in Pope Valley, tucked in the Napa Valley's legendary eastern hills. When Alumbaugh first discovered the picturesque valley in 1981, he knew it suited his dreams perfectly. The winery was built, extensive caves dug and the first vines were planted in 1995. Admiring the eagles which soared above their wild rose-covered valley, Alumbaugh's wife, Evonne, suggested the name Eagle & Rose Estate.

RATINGS: Due to the small production, this wine was not submitted for rating & review.