Home Wine U The Buzz Wine Reviews    December '06   Review Archive   Rating System Calendar Fun Stuff About Us Key Contacts Search FAQ Links		December 2006 Wine Tasting Notes: "Do y'all have any sweet wine?" 2005 Marilyn Remark Late Harvest Viognier, Alta Loma Vineyard, Arroyo Seco. A golden honey-colored wine, this late harvest Viognier offers dominant honey backed by aromas of sweet white flowers, orange marmalade and subtle notes of apricot and tropical fruit. The more modest palate displays honey, tangerine, apricot and a vague floral afternote. The honey persists into the medium finish where the tangerine is more distinct than on mid palate and is accented by pleasantly surprising grapefruit-like note at the end. Clear and appropriately prominent minerality is expressed throughout. The alcohol plays a bit hot on the creamy, viscous mouthfeel. (Two samples tasted approximately 3 and 5 weeks after bottling, no label yet available) RWB Score: 89 breakdown 14.5% Alcohol $18.00 Retail (from winery);        300 cases produced This late harvest Viognier has a broad spectrum of delicate aromas and light flavors that make for a very nice ending to any meal without being overwhelming. It will clear and refresh the palate or pair well with sweets or cheese. The spectrum and range of subtle to more intense aromas and flavors will captivate wine geeks, it will appeal to lovers of sweet wines and it will not scare off enthusiasts of dryer wines. Enjoy through 2010.  Detail   More Marilyn Remark Winery reviews. More on Arroyo Seco AVA 100% Alta Loma Vineyard. Harvested at 31-32 degrees Brix. Steel fermented and cold stabilized. Viognier is a Rhône varietal rapidly becoming popular in California. In addition to being offered as a single varietal, it is often blended with Roussanne to make white Rhône blends and is also used in that region (and in California) to soften Syrah and Syrah-based red blends. It is being experimented with in unconventional blends with Chardonnay and Chenin Blanc. At its best, it shows perfumed floral aromas with tropical fruit flavors and a rich, almost viscous mouthfeel with a prominent mineral element. It is less apt to take on dominant oak characteristics than Chardonnay. Aromas and flavors typical of Viognier include: Acacia, Anise, Apricot, Guava, Honey, Kiwi, Mango, Mint, Orange Blossoms, Pineapple and Tangerine as well as mineral notes. As fruit hangs on the vine well into the harvest season, the vine itself may begin to shut down, physiologically, and the grapes become dehydrated from a combination of physiological shut down and late autumn warmth. Some growers attempt to keep the canopy green and physiologically active. Vines are netted to protect the fruit from birds. Late harvest wines, under unique circumstances, may develop Noble Rot which takes the wine to a whole new level, adding a 'bot profile' most commonly described as delicate smoky and creamy with a dried fig or truffle quality. This first late harvest Viognier from Remark comes from the bio-dynamically farmed Alta Loma Vineyard in he southwestern western area of the Arroyo Seco AVA, near the town of Greenfield. The 2005 year saw an increase in crops over the preceding years. The year is being compared to the acclaimed 1997 vintage because of a very long and generally cool growing season without heat spikes. This long season resulted in extended hang times in even temperatures which gave the fruit good extraction but lower sugar levels. The slow ripening of the fruit is expected to make for elegance and balance in the wines of this vintage. A couple of eleven years, Joel Burnstein and Marilyn Remark have been producing Rhône wines under Marilyn's namesake label since 2003. They work on the wines together, utilizing traditional techniques to bring out their wine's varietal character. They produce approximately 2,000 cases annually form Monterey-grown Rhône grapes: Grenache, Marsanne, Petite Syrah, Roussanne, Syrah and Viognier. As a winemaker, Joel Burnstein is a proponent of the "Wine is made in the Vineyard" philosophy and believes in minimal intervention - the "Don't screw it up" part of his wine making approach. Joel believes that a wine cannot be manufactured and manipulated into something different than what the vineyard and grapes express. He studied Enology at Fresno State University and interned at Sterling Vineyards after becoming disillusioned with the hectic lifestyle that came with the job of a stock trader. His experience at Sterling paved the road to his appointments as winemaker at Jekel and San Saba wineries where his wines earned him much recognition. Color  5 points Nose  4 points Palate  3 points Finish  3 points Astringency/Minerality  5 points Acidity  5 points Alcohol  4 points Aging potential  2 points Overall quality  8 points Back to top Rating Scale explained Search our wine reviews archive by: review date, vintage and winery.			Get the buzz: Wine reviews Great stories Interviews Wine education tools New content every month It's FREE! Click here
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