so what do we know about this one!
Martian Ranch & Vineyard Viognier
$52.99 + $5 shipping
CONDITION: White
PRODUCT: 4 2009 Martian Ranch Viognier
CT link above
At first I thought this was a woot for vinegar.
I love voignier. Los Alamos wines are really siliceous forward due to high silica in the soil. Yummy, can’t wait to try with coconut shrimp and spring rolls.
Tech notes from the website: “Our 2009 Martian Ranch Viognier is made from Viognier grown in Fess Parker’s Camp 4 Vineyard in Santa Ynez and in the Estelle Vineyard in Happy Canyon. The juice is fermented 75% in barrel and 25% in stainless, allowing us to maintain its taut balance of Viognier’s either/or grape personality tendencies (“Am I zaftig or am I delicate? What day of the week is it?) We blend 10% Grenache Blanc to add some spice to the finished wine.”
This is an intriguing sale … especially right now, before it’s too hot to ship safely, and in time for summer quaffing …
But now it’s time for my “wine whine”: too bad this winery hasn’t registered to see in our state. All it takes is a nominal registration fee (doesn’t actually cover the state’s processing costs) and a couple of forms to fill out online.
sigh
got me all excited thinking it was orange wine. it’s not
It’s 22/bottle on their website so it’s around 33% off. Pretty decent deal especially since they don’t offer shipping except in California.
No stats but there is cooperage and blending info.
You lost me at “biodynamically” … BDBS
Why on Earth does Tennessee pop on and off that shipping list every other day? Are Martians interfering with shipping?
You bring up an interesting point and one which I have been curious about. I live in an area where summer temps are high. However, I live in California where, so far, all of my wine orders have shipped from. This means the actual shipping process takes one day. Is this enough heat exposure to damage the wine ?
Are some wines more susceptible to heat damage than others ?
Saved once again this week by no shipping to my state!
That’s exactly what I came here to say. It saved me from yesterday’s mixed case as well.
…honestly haven’t had a chance to try this one yet, but looking forward to it.
The fruit sources caught my eye. Much of it comes from the Camp 4 vineyard, which is known for producing quality grapes; predominately rhone varietals. Tensley in Los Olivos uses Camp 4 fruit in both reds and whites, as does our good friend Larry from Tercero Wines, who drops in on the boards from time to time. His Camp 4 Grenache is pretty delicious.
Obviously every winemaker does their own thing once the fruit gets picked, but worth mentioning nonetheless, methinks…
40, actually. So an even better deal.
Just keep it at room temp. long enough and it will be.
Looks like $22.00 per bottle. $110 for four shipped to Iowa, so the woot price is almost half off.
I can’t find anything in there store more than $24/bottle.
I found $22/bottle for the viognier as well.
This is piquing my interest due to the 75% barrel fermentation. One of my favorite winemakers (John Hawley) makes his Viognier via barrel fermentation and it gives it an awesome midweight mouth feel and full finish.
I would like to hear what the motivation for the 25% stainless fermentation was.
The tech data page lists that 10% grenache blanc was blended in to add spice (I assume at bottling and not co-fermentation). I am trying to picture spicy notes with the full tannic weight of a viognier. Interesting… Can the winery please chime in on this?
Also, if Larry is lurking maybe he can comment on if he is getting spice from his Camp 4 Grenache Blanc. I know I tasted it at D&D, but I don’t really remember there being much spice to it.