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2009 Heathcote Viognier

Low yields in 2009 for the Viognier resulted in this little wine bursting with intensity. The bouquet is saturated with poached apricots and nectar. Barrel fermentation presents a silky texture and intensifies the stone fruit characters while hinting at the slightest addition of oak. Amazingly persistent, long finish that dances on the lips.
Endlessly satisfying!

VINTAGE 2009
The 2009 Viognier is the result of another warm and dry growing season, closely reflecting the climate of the variety’s original home in the Northern Rhone Valley. A complex wine with intensely aromatic stone fruit, quince and fig on the nose. The palate is generous and textured, following through with more fruit and spice.

THE VINEYARD
The fruit for this wine was grown at our Merindoc Vineyard, located at Tooborac in the southern cooler part of the Heathcote wine region, Central Victoria. The vineyard is planted on low fertility ironstone and granite soils, surrounded by spectacular granite boulders.

THE WINEMAKING
The fruit for this wine was hand-harvested in early March and whole-bunch pressed, both of these techniques were utilised to minimise the extraction of excess phenolic characters. The juice was then cold settled and racked prior to commencement of fermentation in used French oak barriques. At the completion of the primary fermentation, a portion underwent malolactic fermentation to further soften the wine and add texture. The wine was bottled under screwcap in July 2009.

TECHNICAL DATA
Alcohol: 13.5%
Standard Drinks: 8.0
pH: 3.5
TA: 6.0g/l

Bottle: $29
Case: $174

Current Vintage Reviews

Heathcote Viognier 2009
James Halliday

Shelmerdine Heathcote Viognier Wins Gold at the Le Concours des Vins du Victoria 2009 November 2009

'Most folks will enjoy drinking this. Because it’s good, 92 points '
Campbell Mattinson The Wine Front Montly August 2009

'Jeff’s pick,, Best Drink'
Jeff Collerson Daily Telegraph, September 2009.

Drink me!
Daniel Moore Who Magazine

Previous Vintage Reviews

'89 points'
James Halliday Australian Wine Companion 2009 Edition

'91 points'
James Halliday Australian Wine Companion 2008 Edition

'One of the more restrained Viogniers around'
Huon Hooke Sydney Morning Herald, City Style November 2007

'Hits the right varietal notes...'
Jane Faulkner The Age, April 2006

'Really lovely Viognier... one of the better ones
Paul Ippolito Web Wombat, December 2006

'A very satisfying wine to sip and savour'
Tony Keys The Key Review, February 2007

'Viognier also flourishes in the (Heathcote) region'
Sally Gudgeon Wine Lessons, The Age, Sunday Life Magazine, September 2005

Cambrian Granite Museum