Villa Maria Single Vineyard Omahu Gravels Viognier

Wine information: Villa Maria's Single Vineyard wines are only made in small one-off parcels in exceptional vintages. They are a unique expression of the terroir and vintage characteristics of their own particular microclimates and represent the pinnacle of achievement for Villa Maria's winemakers. Located in the heart of the renowned Gimblett Gravels, the Omahu Gravels Vineyard is planted on a very stony and dry site, helping to control vine growth and crop levels. Growing Viognier is challenging as this variety responds to minimal crop levels and good canopy management. It also requires fine weather conditions throughout the vintage period to ensure full flavour ripeness. The 2007 Hawkes Bay season was regarded as a very good vintage, and was characterised by settled weather conditions during fruit ripening. A cool and dry February paved the way for extended periods of fine sunny weather, which predominated through the majority of the harvest. These conditions, in conjunction with the careful management of the Omahu site, provided for clean and perfectly ripened Viognier fruit. Following hand harvesting and a short skin soak period, the fruit was gently pressed and naturally fermented in a mixture of new and seasoned oak barriques. The resulting wine was matured on yeast lees with occasional battonage for six months. A portion of the wine underwent malolactic fermentation. Villa Maria Single Vineyard Omahu Gravels Viognier displays a tight core of complex natural ferment derived characters including flint and meal, surrounded by layers of creamy apricot and nutmeg spice. Grainy in texture, concentrated in style, the wine will develop an oily texture with bottle age.

 
     

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