Nose
Aromas of pear, stone fruit and honeydew melon greet the drinker.
Palate
The flavors of peaches and tangerines are obvious, but a hint of mint gives the complexity to a nice mouthful of wine.
Growing Conditions
Le Bon Climat is truly cool climate, on the edge of the Santa Maria Valley. You can see the Pacific on a clear day 18 miles right down the Santa Maria River. The cool ocean influence moves right up the valley and keeps Le Bon Climat vineyard cool and sunny most of the growing season.
Harvest
Harvesting at the right time is particularly critical for Viognier. 2013 was a bountiful harvest with many grapes ripening in unison. The grapes were hand harvested and sorted in the vineyard.
Winemaking
Le Bon Climat is only five miles from our winery, so these freshly picked grapes were being pressed in no time. We don’t keep Viognier in the press very long since this variety has a surprising amount of tannin. The juice is settled for two days to minimize the leesy aspect of the wine. Short barrel aging and early bottling is standard for Viognier at Clendenen Family to capture the youthful juiciness of this variety.
Food Pairing
The wine, with more acid and less fruitiness than most California Viogniers, makes a more elegant statement. These qualities and the fact the wine is delicious make this wine a great match with grilled fish, quiche Lorraine or pasta with a creamy white sauce.
