Upper Ojai, Ventura County

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Pale yellow. Intensely perfumed scents of lime, white peach, jasmine and anise—very viognier, and yet quite unlike any other California offering of the varietal. Bright and sharply focused, offering tangy citrus and pit fruit flavors complimented by dusty mineral and floral notes. Finishes with a lively bite of lime zest and excellent tangy persistence.

Viognier, an obscure grape variety from the northern Rhone in France almost disappeared in the 1970’s, but somehow its distinctiveness captivated the attention of wine lovers and suddenly in the nineties there was an explosion of planting in the southern Rhone and everywhere else in the world including California. The results were, as usual, highly variable and the varietal quickly fell out of favor. Today it’s great to craft this wine the way we do as people are genuinely surprised by its liveliness. It is a varietal that wants to be rounder and richer than it can really handle, and that is why we seek out structure and freshness, all the while preserving those exotic fragrances it naturally has. To be served cool with pungent cheeses, oysters or pasta carbonara.

Press Reviews
Antonio Galloni’s Vinous

“The 2014 Viognier Roll Ranch is another delicious white from Ojai. The floral, honeyed notes typical of Viognier open up nicely, but the fruit here is picked just before the more tropical side of the grape develops. Beams of supporting salinity give the wine notable brightness to complement the creamy, layered finish.” – AG 91 Points

Robert Parkers Wine Advocate

“While a rock solid white with its clean, crisp notes of peach, citrus and mint, the 2014 Viognier Roll Ranch lacks any true Viognier character. Nevertheless, it’s a high quality, classy white to drink over the coming couple of years.” – JR