Small Lots Viognier 2010

FLAVOUR PROFILE
Pale lemon colour with a wonderful aroma of melon, pineapple, exotic floral, lilac and Bartlett pear. This medium-bodied, ever-so-slightly off-dry wine has a rich mouth-feel and flavours of juicy tropical fruit, apple and tangerine. The finish lingers with an almost oily richness and flavours of lemon, apple and pear. Serve not overly chilled at 12 to 14ºC and enjoy with cheese tortellini in a cream sauce; garlic butter shrimp skewers and wild rice; creamy clam chowder; veal in a cream sauce; barbecued turkey on a crusty bun with garlic mayonnaise; chicken pot pies; and baked squash.

GROWING CONDITIONS
A later than usual bud break and slightly cooler temperatures greeted the 2010 growing season.  Once summer finally arrived in mid-July, four weeks of fabulous heat and sunshine filled the "valley".  This wonderful weather lasted until mid-August, and through the important beginning stage of ripening called 'veraison'.  A gift from above came in late September with a spell of great weather, and October was drier than usual, which assisted in ending the vintage on a high note.  The grapes were left hanging about two weeks longer than usual to allow for complete ripeness.  Although grape tonnage was down, this enhanced the concentration of flavours.    The last day of harvest, November 8, arrived with great promise for fresh and vibrant whites, and fruit-forward reds.

WINEMAKER NOTES
“The soil at Osprey Ridge Vineyard has a higher pebble and gravel content than the pure sand of our vineyards to the south.  This seems to allow Viognier to hang on the vine longer, for more intense floral perfumed characteristics and more fruit intensity.  The 2008 vintage of Viognier was chosen in the 2009 Canadian Wine Awards as the White Wine of the Year.”