About this winery

On one of California’s earliest wine estates, a unique terroir and ideal microclimate support a classical standard of viticulture, land use, and winemaking that is as relevant today as it was over a century ago. An intimate valley within the greater Napa Valley, Stags’ Leap is a place of natural beauty, storied buildings and gardens, a lively history, and a reputation for elegant wines showing finesse and intensity. Estate Founder Horace Chase partnered with his uncle, W. W. Thompson, on...

See the Stags' Leap detail page for more information on this brand

Production notes

The beauty of Viognier is captured in its freshness, and the traditional techniques used by Winemaker Christophe Paubert preserve that splendor. Harvested by hand, the fruit was wholecluster pressed and fermented in neutral French oak barrels. It was then aged on the lees and stirred every week for four months. This wine does not go through malolactic fermentation, which helped to preserve the delicate floral aromas, fruit freshness and balanced acidity.

Tasting notes

Our 2016 Viognier captures the variety’s rich stone fruit characteristics, with hints of delicate honeysuckle and white pepper. There’s a lovely ?oral and citrus blossom expression, adding to the wine’s freshness and crisp acidity. Juicy apricot, white peach, hints of guava, and passion fruit are plentiful on the palate, leading into a lingering elegant finish. Our Viognier is a balanced and refreshing warm-weather wine with ample acidity and ?avor nuances to pair nicely with a wide variety of cuisines.