BABICH HAWKE'S BAY VIOGNIER 2008

 
Grapes:
100% Viognier (pronounced Vee-ohn-yay)

Region:
Hawke`s Bay - Fernhill Vineyard

Winemaker:
Adam Hazeldine

Recommended Food:
This full-bodied wine with nicely balanced acidity is an ideal partner to a wide variety of dishes. Try it with a summery ham salad, or pan-fried chicken breasts with a mustard/cream sauce.

Recommended Cellaring:
1-4 years

Production Notes: 
The grapes were picked in early April at 24.1 Brix. The wine was fermented in old French oak, (20%), and the balance in tank. After a little over 4 months on lees, the wine was moved to tank for blending. Bottling took place in late September 2008.

Tasting Notes:
The lifted aromas of peach blossom, honey and biscuit lift appealingly from the glass. The entry is an explosion of apricot and succulent white stone fruits, with delicate rose, glazed pear and spice adding to the depth of the mid palate. Fruit sweetness is well balanced with lively acidity and a full oily palate. This is a nicely focused wine and a beautiful example of a Hawke’s Bay Viognier.

Awards:
SILVER MEDAL
-Hawke's Bay Wine Awards 2009

Reviews:
"The 2008 is an enjoyable, drink-young style - mouthfilling, fruity, lemony, slightly spicy and crisp."
-Micheal Cooper's Wine Buyer's Guide to New Zealand Wines 2010

"Delicate peaches and honey on the nose are followed by apricots in the mouth. Finish is clean and dry."
-TizWine.com, Aromatics Tasting, June, 2010

"The nose is textbook Viognier displaying apricot, floral and subtle spice characters. It's well fruited on the palate with rich texture and modest acidity. A nicely expressed wine with a slightly warm finish, even though it's part of the varietal expression."
86 POINTS
4 STARS
-Sam Kim, Wine Orbit, Aug 2010