Lively aromatic notes of apricot, tropical fruit, and honey provide the sensory gateway to the 2021 Francis Coppola Reserve Viognier. Elegant flavors of orange blossom, musk, and honey tantalize the palate, with a nice acid backbone. Mid-palate is round and bold, leading to a long, lingering finish.

Several years back we discovered a bit of magic in the Viognier from this renowned Russian River Valley vineyard and have been sourcing fruit from it ever since. Catie’s Corner Vineyard experiences a unique diurnal pattern, where there is often a 50-degree difference between daytime and nighttime temperatures. This climate condition allows the fruit to ripen slowly and retain crisp, natural acidity. The contrast also creates an expressive, multi-dimensional wine.

The 2021 vintage was a cool growing season. The drought and an early frost caused some challenges in terms of yield. The smaller-than-average crop reached full maturity and was harvested earlier in the season. The fruit was a nice characteristic bronze color at harvest and handpicked early in the morning. The wine was aged on fine clean lees.