GOOD WORDS:Connoisseurs' Guide March 2009 - 92 POINTS, 2 PUFFS
The Miner 2007 Viognier ranked 2nd in the March issue out of the 30 plus tasted, including Phelps, DuMol, Pride Viognier. "Sweetly spiced peaches merge with touches of honey, anise and kiwi in the deep, impressively filled aromas of this well-focused youngster, and the equally rich flavors that follow show lots of fruity substance and no let-up in depth. Full-bodied and quite well-balanced with Chardonnay-like richness and weight, it is a wine of considerable potential and should grow better with a year or two of quiet time in your cellar. Good Value."
San Francisco Chronicle Wine Section's Top Pick Viognier
"Winemaker Gary Brookman used fruit from John Simpson's vineyard in Madera, located in the Central Valley near Fresno, for this wine. In its 10th vintage, it has always has been 100 percent Viognier. Rich pear, citrus and floral aromas with hints of Galia melon lead to a full-flavored palate and slight oily mouthfeel, as befits Viognier."
Aromas: citrus, honeysuckle, peach
Body: medium
Color: yellow
From their website: SIMPSON VINEYARD, MADERA - From famed grower and vintner John Simpson we receive our heady and intoxicatingly delicious Viognier berries. This little known area in California's Central Valley near Fresno, is not typically thought of as a primary source of fine wine grapes by the powers that be. To this we say, the proof will always be found in the bottle folks. The hedonistic nature of this particular varietal is heightened by the passionately farmed, low-yielding vines that produce grapes of unusual concentration, purity of flavor and electrifying vibrancy. (Viognier)
Gary Brookman, winemaker, originally cut his teeth making wine in 1980 at Joseph Phelps Vineyards. It was there he worked with a myriad of varietals, constantly refining his skills with each passing harvest. From there he spent two years at Franciscan Estates garnering an obvious love for wild yeast fermentation. He's been at Miner from day one crafting wines and stalking vineyards in critical pursuit of bottled harmony while capturing the essence of the land.
Tasting Notes: Aromatically complex with citrus and honeysuckle notes on the nose and a plush feel on the palate, the Miner Viognier consistently displays a fine balance of natural acidity and intense concentration. Sourced from John Simpson's low-yielding vineyards in Madera, this quintessential food wine was whole cluster pressed and stainless steel fermented to allow the vibrant, tropical and stone fruit characteristics of this varietal to shine.
Eat with: sautéed Alaskan halibut, yukon potato purée, leek confit & crawfish-brandy reduction
website: www.minerwines.com
