The Vice Sauvignon Blanc, 2016

2016 Vintage

Batch #4 is a 100% Sauvignon Blanc from a certified organic single vineyard in the cool sub appellation of Lovall Valley, one of the best kept secret AVA's in Napa Valley. Our Sauvignon Blanc is 100% clone 376 (French Entav clone).

Harvest & Fermentation

The wine was harvested early in the morning on September 6th, 2016. The grapes were sorted once in the field and transported to the winery where they were sorted once again, before a long gently pressing and settling in the tank for 48 hours. After 2 days, it was racked to another tank where it was inoculated with PDM yeast and distributed between a concrete egg, new Orion French Oak barrels, and new and once used "cigar" barrels. The juice was kept lees for an additional nine months in all containers, to give the wine more vibrancy and depth of flavor.

Tasting Notes

American DNA, French Elegance. The fruit of passionate labor, modern winemaking techniques and a traditional Bordeaux aging process. The fragrance is vibrant, yet complex. Floral, fruity & a hint of spice.

Technical Information

• Clone: 100% clone 376
• Elevation: 650 feet
• Yield: 3.39 tons per acre
• Brix: 23.3 on average
• pH at Harvest: 3.41
• TA at Harvest: 6.3 g/l
• Wine Alcohol: 14.1%
• Production: 200 cases
• Bottling date: December 1st, 2017

The Vice Pinot Noir Rosé, 2016

2016 Vintage

The near-perfect 2016 growing season started early, saw ideal weather conditions. Thanks to a relatively steady and mild July and August and then a series of warm days at the end of the growing season, vineyards were able to progress to perfect ripeness.

Vineyard

Unlike the previous batches, Batch #3 was sourced from a single vineyard in Carneros Napa Valley overlooking San Francisco Bay. Our Biodynamic vineyard is known for its cool microclimate which is regulated by the fog and breezes from the bay. An ideal spot for Pinot Noir.

Fermentation

65% of the grapes were direct press for this Rosé providing acidity and elegance. 35% came from the saignée Pinot Noir tank providing additional fruit and complex structure. The wine was fermented with native yeast to dryness at cold temperature (50°F) and aged on fine lees for 3 months. We designed our winemaking to craft a light, elegant and refreshing Rosé.

Tasting Notes

Pinot Noir is a diva on the grape runway. The fruit is intolerant of any type of extreme weather and is considered sensitive and temperamental, but when it’s on and at its best (as our 2016 harvest), it can make for a very sexy glass of wine. Our Pinot Noir Rose delivers bright acidity and soft, subtle aromas of watermelon, raspberries, strawberries and banana.

Technical Information

• PH: 3.6
• TA: 0.59g/100ml
• Alcohol: 12%
• Sugar: 0.3 g/L
• Calorie Tested, 99 calories per glass (5 oz.)
• Production: 768 cases

The Vice Cabernet Sauvignon, 2014

2014 Vintage

2014 was another consecutive year of record-breaking drought in California. While Napa Valley was blessed with well timed spotty rain that kept the vines growing during the spring, the summer was warm and sunny which meant ripe grapes and early harvest. This low yield harvest exhibited high quality concentrated grapes but 2014 will certainly be remembered by the earthquake that struck Napa during harvest. Even though the growing season suffered some natural challenges, 2014 will be remembered as a Dream Vintage

Vineyards

The 2014 Vice Cabernet Sauvignon is sourced from 7 vineyards in across Napa Valley. Three vineyards in Rutherford, a vineyard in each Yountville, Howell Mountain, Mount Veeder and Stags Leap.

Tasting Notes

Color: Rich ruby red
Nose: Radiant aromas dark fruits and bouquet of vanilla bean, fresh tobacco leaf and fall spices
Taste: the flavors are bright and focused with gorgeous layers of confit plum, blackberry jam and cocoa powder. The finish is long and generous with smoked cherry wood and smooth integrated tannins.

Technical Information

• PH: 3.66
• TA: 0.69/100ml
• Alcohol: 15%
• Production: 143 cases

The Vice Chardonnay, 2013

2013 Vintage

2013 is certainly known as one of the best vintages of the past decade. 2013 is a high quality and generous vintage for most of Sonoma County and Napa Valley. The growing season was off to a great start marked by healthy winter rains. Following a warm and dry spring with near ideal conditions for bringing grapes to maturity, the harvest was remarkably smooth. The handpicked grapes showed great balance of acidity and sugar, color, tannin structure and optimal flavor development. Our high quality grapes were carefully grown with a great respect to the environment and had minimal interference with the natural organic environment of the vines.

The Fermentation Process

While most wineries globally add industrial yeast to the harvested grape juice for a spontaneous fermentation, our Chardonnay juice was fermented naturally only relying on its indigenous wild yeast. This risky, slow process (that is only practiced nowadays by a few high end wineries) produces a natural wine that truly expresses its terroir.

Tasting Notes

The bouquet on this vibrant wine is so inviting, layer upon layer of tropical aromas dominated by fresh pineapples, dried peaches and zesty fresh lime. Floral notes of honeysuckle, vanilla fall spices pull you in. In the mouth, the wine profess to be so rich and full bodied. It first coats the palate with a mouthfilling creamy texture that nicely compliments the tropical bouquet. Then, the vibrant acidity leads to a long unforgettable long finish.