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Violetta,

Violetta, Late Harvest Wine Details
Price: $80.00 per bottle

Description: In 2002, Mother Nature cooperated with us and we are pleased to release our fourth vintage of "Violetta." This late-harvest, botrytis-affected dessert wine is a blend of sixty percent Chardonnay and forty percent Riesling. The wine is fragrant and a lovely deep golden color. The nose explodes with rich honey, vanilla, butterscotch and toasted almonds, yet there are hints of springtime flowers. The luscious mouthfeel is balanced by crisp acidity that creates a lingering finish on the palate that is especially pleasing and refreshing, not cloying. There is an intriguing effervescent but soothing sensation that is seems to coat the throat as one savors the long, pleasant almond-honey finish. The 2002 "Violetta" is a seductive wine, delicate yet bold, making it the perfect finale to a meal, either on its own or accompanying dessert or cheese.

Varietal Definition
Chardonnay:
Chardonnay is by far the most widely planted grape crop in California and dominates California’s cooler, coastal, quality wine regions. The natural varietal ‘taste and smell’ of Chardonnay is surprisingly unfamiliar to many wine drinkers, as its true character is often guised with dominating winemaking signatures. Chardonnay’s rather subdued primary fruit characteristics lean toward the crisp fruitiness of apples, pears and lemon, but the variety’s full body is capable of supporting a host of complementary characteristics, such as oak, butter and vanilla. Regardless of what is the appropriate style for Chardonnay, the varietal continues to dominate vineyard plantings in every corner of the world. Close attention to clonal selection has made this broad geographic and climactic range of Chardonnay viable in thoughtful viticultural hands.
Riesling:
On the sweeter end of the spectrum, some of the best dessert wines should give thanks to the Riesling varietal. Riesling is known for its complementary nature of combining balanced acidity with sugar. Rieslings are made dry to sweet, but it is the sweet style Riesling that brought about its popularity in the United States. With the rise of spicy sauces, marinades and dips to flavor our meal, Riesling plays a part in taking off the edge of the heat. Riesling is known for a number of signature characteristics: floral, citrus and pear. Riesling has peaked in California with 11,000 acres planted. Today, Monterey County’s cool-climate areas and its long growing season produce good amounts of character for the Riesling grape. Outside of


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