A Tiny Vineyard With a Bold Voice
Estate Viognier
2 vintages available
Dovecote Estate Viognier is produced from our single-acre vineyard planted on rocky alluvial soil in 1998 within a relatively cool area of the Los Olivos District AVA. Today we lovingly hand-farm it without any machinery or power equipment.
When we acquired the vineyard in 2014, it had been ignored for years by its prior owners who had lost interest in the finicky tedium of viticulture. We believed in the potential of the site which lies in a narrow valley that permits enough warmth to ripen the fruit slowly and retain acidity, while also limiting harsh sun exposure that can mute Viognier’s beautiful aromatics.
Over the next three years we worked to revive the spirit of our Quail Valley Vineyard, and in 2017 it rewarded us with our first vintage of perfect fruit, with successive vintages equally enjoyable.
Our Estate Viognier is made in a fresh, acid-driven style inspired by the classic Northern Rhone whites. It is sensually expressive and perfumed, yet gracefully sculpted by a skeleton of minerality and delicate floral aromatics. On the table, it serves as a wonderful companion to rich flavors and spiced dishes. Dovecote Viognier is fermented in stainless steel with no secondary fermentation. It is bottled fresh and ready to enjoy over the next 5-7 years.
