2021 Viognier

Heady aromas of ripe peach, lemon blossom, yellow plum, wisteria and orange blossom entice the senses. On the palate, exhilarating acidity offsets the decadent opulence that is characteristic of this incomparable grape variety. The push-and-pull between satisfaction and longing makes it hard to resist a second sip!

The warm, dry 2021 growing season ripened our viognier grapes to perfection with harvest taking place the first week of September.  Our cool afternoons impart a gorgeous acidity to the wine along with exuberant aromatics.  Once the viognier grapes arrive at the winery, we are both gentle and careful to the extreme in every step of the winemaking process, beginning with a six-hour press cycle that coaxes juice from the berries without the need for a firm squeeze.

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Appellation: 72% Sonoma/ 28% Napa
Vintage: 2021
Harvest: September 2021
Fermentation: 100% Neutral French Oak
Cooperage: 100% Neutral French Oak
Blend: 100% Viognier
Alcohol: 14.2%
Bottling: February 2022
Production: 1167 cases
Release Date: April 2022
Release Price: $48.00

Reviews

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  • Decanter: Single Tasting, 19 Jul 2023 - Rating: 95

    The 2021 Pride Mountain Vineyards Viognier blends 72% Sonoma County and 28% Napa County grapes from the Pride Mountain Vineyards Ranch, which straddles the Sonoma and Napa County line. Fragrant orange blossoms, white peach and ripe apricots with just a hint of lemon peel. A medium-bodied palate-coating richness builds with fruit intensity and nuances of crushed Marcona almonds laced with vanilla. Find wet river stones and jasmine through the long finish. Zesty acidity keeps everything fresh and lively. Just gorgeous.
    Tasted by: Jonathan Cristaldi
    (at Novato, California, 19 Jul 2023)
    Drinking Window: 2024 - 2028
  • Wine Enthusiast: October 1, 2023 - Rating: 94

    Luxurious in texture and subtle and complex in flavors, this barrel-fermented wine makes us wonder why more California wineries don't make Viognier. It has the creamy mouthfeel of a great Chardonnay with its own set of mild flavors hinting at honey, lemon blossoms and lanolin that build on the palate and linger nicely on the finish. — Jim Gordon

     

     
     
  • Vinous: From: Napa Valley: The Frantic 2020s & Stunning 2021s (Feb 2023) - Rating: 93

    The 2021 Viognier is another stellar wine in this range. Varietal floral and orchard fruit notes open first. There's terrific energy driving this taut, vibrant Viognier from the estate. Hints of apricot, ginger, peach, spice and mint linger. 

  • Robert Parker Wine Advocate: May 2023 Week 1, the Wine Advocate - Rating: 92

    For the record, Pride's 2021 Viognier is a 72-28 blend of Sonoma and Napa-grown fruit from this property that straddles the county line atop Spring Mountain. Floral and peppery on the nose, it also boasts scents of apricot and pear in a nicely balanced expression of varietal character. Medium to full-bodied, it's not a huge, viscous example of Viognier but one that balances ripeness and acidity on a fine edge, leaving behind lingering citrus notes on the finish.