> Venge Vineyards 2008 Champ Des Fleurs Proprietary White
Venge Vineyards 2008 Champ Des Fleurs Proprietary White
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This release is another fine example of how some of the world's most popular white varietals can combine to make a beautiful arrangement of floral , lychee, lemon and tropical citrus aromas and flavors. The nose of this wine is driven by the fresh lemon and grass scents of the Sauvignon Blanc, followed with passion fruit, lemon drop and hints of white peach aromas of Chardonnay and Viognier. The Palate is crisp and delicate and has a considerable amount of body for having so much Sauvignon Blanc in the blend. The outcome of this wine is a bit of an unknown when we begin with the individual grapes but it is always so enjoyable to see come to fruition.
- Kirk Venge, Proprietor & Winemaker
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Detailed Wine Information
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| Alcohol: | 14.5% |
| Appellation: | Napa Valley |
| Bottling Date: | May 04, 2009 |
| Harvest Date: | September 2008 |
| Harvest Notes: | Harvest took place during the month of September, 2008. The Chardonnay fruit is sourced from a tightly spaced, Dijon Clone vineyard owned by the renowned Maldonado family in the very cool, marine influenced Napa-Carneros appellation. The Sauvignon Blanc component is sourced from the old-vine Yountmill Vineyard in Yountville. Our Viognier is from the Baranek Vineyard in Clarksburg where the warm days and cool Delta evenings ripens the skin of this Rhone Valley varietal to perfection.
The grapes are all hand harvested in the cool early morning, whole cluster pressed, and the juice settled in stainless steel tanks. Fermentation of each varietal is separate and started in stainless steel and then carefully moved to neutral, French oak casks to finish fermentation. The wines are sur-lies aged for 8 months until bottling. Batonage, or the gentle stirring of the lees, is employed in the early stages of ageing to further develop richness and length of body in the wine’s midpalate all the while remaining clean and fresh. The varietals were blended just prior to bottling. The wine sees approximately 50% native yeast fermentation and just 25% malolactic fermentation for a touch of roundness, complexity and enhanced mouthfeel. |
| Varietal: | 60% Sauvignon Blanc, 30% Chardonnay, 10% Viognier |
| Winemakers Notes: | Veteran patrons of our wines will recognize this blend as it was once named Bianco Spettro, “The White Ghost,” after our previous 1891 Italian Crafted Ghost Winery. At our new Calistoga property, the Venge Bone Ash Vineyard, the spring months greeted us with the most beautiful stands of native mustard that we have ever seen, inspiring the new name of this wine. Due to the tropical and floral aroma of this blend, we would often describe the Bianco Spettro as a “field of flowers,” or as the French would say, Champs des Fleurs. The unique combination of these varietals makes for a very entertaining experience. |
| Year: | 2008 |
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