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Viader 2006 DARE Tempranillo

Viader 2006 DARE Tempranillo

What We Say 2006 DARE Tempranillo

SUPERIOR WINERY EXCLUSIVE ALERT:

Today’s selection is not only an exceptional example of Tempranillo it is also exclusive to the winery and wine club. Today only, get your hands on this delicious wine.

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Mission Codename: El Pájaro Mas Temprano Gana

Operative: Agent White

Objective: Acquire the winery exclusive Tempranillo from our inside asset at Napa Valley’s Viader

Mission Status: Accomplished!

Current Winery: Viader

Wine Subject: 2006 DARE Tempranillo

Winemaker: Alan Viader & Delia Viader

Backgrounder: Native to Spain, Tempranillo is a black grape that is most commonly found in Rioja. It gets its name as Tempranillo ripens several weeks earlier (mas temprano) than the other red grapes native to the region. Although not true, many believe this grape to be related to Pinot Noir. With its rich and full-bodied character and crowd pleasing aromas and flavors of dark berries, plum, vanilla, herbs and a touch of leather, Tempranillo is now widely planted all around the globe.

Wine Spies Tasting Profile:

Look -Dark purple and violet with ruby red streaks that shine through its dense but clear core. Along the edges the color remains dark and when swirled, legs of random speeds and thicknesses descend to the wine below.

Smell – Rich in intensity with aromas of softly spiced dark fruit including red plum and and black cherry. Notes of sweet cigar tobacco, soft earthy aromas, mild wild anise and subtle violets and vanilla toasted oak makes this wine complex but also very approachable on the nose.

Feel – Soft, smooth and rich, this dry full-bodied wine has well developed and mouth-coating tannins that are well developed but still firm in structure. Softer acidity and texture dark minerality add to the expansive mouth feel of this wine.

Taste – Plump and plush flavors of rich dark berries, cherry, ripe plum and blueberry are layered over subtle vanilla toasted oak, smokey and sweet cigar tobacco and a hint of herbal and floral flavors.

Finish – Long and rich with its broad fruit flavors lingering and gently fading as the soft but well structured tannins linger and make the mouth water and beg for another sip.

Conclusion – The 2006 Viader DARE Tempranillo is an absolutely delightful wine. A perfect blend of rich and expansive fruit on both the nose and the palate with a soft but well defined structure Extremely easy to drink and food friendly to boot. If you buy only one Tempranillo this year, then make this the one.

Mission Report:


WINEMAKER INTEL BRIEFING DOSSIER

SUBJECT: Delia Viader, PhD

WINE EDUCATION: European upbringing made wine part of the everyday experience since a very early age. Completed a Masters at the School of Fermentation Sciences at UC Davis.

CALIFORNIA WINE JOB BRIEF: “Winemother” for VIADER wine and present winemaker, my son Alan Viader

WINEMAKING PHILOSOPHY: Allow the vineyard terroir to express itself naturally in every glass

WINEMAKER QUOTE: When you taste wine from a great vineyard it has a distinct personality: a taste, a feel, a look; something that makes it different from any vineyard in the world. This distinct personality, however, is the sum of a variety of personalities within the vineyard itself. Understanding and interpreting those personalities is the greatest challenge in the evolution of a great vineyard and the wine produced from it.

FIRST COMMERCIAL WINE RELEASE: Fall 2001 – 1989 VIADER proprietary Cabernet blend


WINEMAKER INTERVIEW

AGENT RED: Greetings, Delia Viader. We are thrilled to be showing your 2006 DARE Tempranillo today. Thanks so much for taking some time to answer questions for our Operatives today.

DELIA: You’re very welcome. Fire away!

RED: Was there a specific experience in your life that inspired your love of wine?

DELIA: When I was about 12 years old, my father passed me a taste from his glass and asked for my opinion. I thought it was the nicest wine I had ever tasted. It turned out to be a 1970 Petrus! It was his favorite “Merlotte” (he would pronounce the “t”) that he would bring out for special occasions.

RED: What wine or winemaker has most influenced your winemaking style?

DELIA: In terms of shining the light on aspiring towards elegance in wine, I would say Emile Peynaud.

RED: Who do you make wine for?

DELIA: I make wine for people to enjoy with food and to encourage conviviality.

RED: Please tell me a little bit about the wine we are featuring today.

DELIA: My son Alan and I came across some Tempranillo vines when touring a friend’s vineyard in the Chiles Valley district of Napa Valley. I noticed the grapes and leaves were not from any Bordeaux varietals, and when I learned it was Tempranillo, I was really excited. I immediately thought, "What if we “dared” to present a Spanish varietal to our customers, in homage to our Spanish roots?" (The Viader family name originated just outside of Barcelona.) This clone of Tempranillo comes from the Ribera del Duero region, which unlike Rioja, is more full-bodied, fruit-forward and structured with a nice minerality in the finish.

RED: What is your favorite pairing with today’s wine?

DELIA: Mildly spiced tapas or pasta dishes and of course, try it with jamon iberico if you can find it.

RED: In your opinion, what makes the Napa Valley so special?

DELIA: The perfect combination of soil, climate – and the “woman’s touch.”

RED: What is occupying your time at the winery these days?

DELIA: We have just finished our second round of blending for the 2008 vintage wines, and we are getting an early start with the 2009’s. Everything is on track and looking good!

RED: How would you recommend people approach your wines and wine in general?

DELIA: Expect to be pleasantly surprised by the approachability, the purity of the fruit, and the elegance of structure.

RED: Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?

DELIA: Do your heart a favor, drink a glass of wine with your meal!

RED: Thank you so much for your time. We learned a lot about you – and your wine. Keep up the great work, we are big fans!

Wine Spies Vineyard Check:

The location of the Viader in Napa Valley can be seen in this satellite photo.

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What the Winery Says Viader

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About This Wine:

The DARE Tempranillo comes from a small 1.5 acre lot on the Somerston Ranch Vineyard on the northeast side of the Napa Valley. The Somerston Ranch has the ideal climate and terroir for growing Tempranillo. The vineyard was planted using a clone selection from Ribera del Duero, the famous winegrowing region of Spain specializing in Tempranillo. Temperatures at the Somerston Ranch Vineyard tend to be cooler as they are in the northern winemaking regions of Spain. The cooler climate gives floral notes, a softer mineral to earthy edge and more fruit concentration, as the grapes tend to ripen later and at a much slower pace. Sustainable farming practices are closely monitored by Alan Viader to ensure only the top quality fruit is produced.

Winemaker Notes:

Tempranillo is a very distinct grape variety. Good-sized and thick-skinned berries give rich color, solid tannin structure and ability to age. Aged in French oak barrels, the wines produced from this variety are full to medium-bodied, yet elegant and smooth.

The 2006 DARE Tempranillo has a beautiful bouquet of violets on the nose amid layers of spice, dark fruit, bitter chocolate, tobacco, rich caramel, cigar wrap and hints of leather on the firm and powerful finish. Our Tempranillo would easily pair well with an array of grilled vegetables, luscious meats, game or even mildly spiced tapas.

Winemaking:

The Tempranillo receives extended cold soaking, warm fermentation in cement tank, manual punchdowns, and extended maceration up to 38 days on the skins. Once in barrel, the wine undergoes Malolactic fermentation. The wine spends 6 months sur less to add to its structure and help broaden the mid-palate. The wine ages up to 12 months in French oak barrels tucked away in our underground caves. Our 100% Tempranillo is then hand bottled and hand labeled.

Growing Season:

The 2006 harvest finished in early November and will go down as a ’grower’s year’ as we were faced with a variety of challenges. Wet weather continued late into spring delaying budbreak. Mid-July presented a record-setting ten day heat wave. Somewhat cooler weather arrived in August and continued throughout harvest, allowing for moderately paced and deliberate ripening and a long harvest period. Cool weather dominated early October, with a light rain in the first week. Harvest numbers (yields) were down a bit from 2005 but the long growing season helped with tannin maturity and flavor concentration delivering one of the best vintages of Tempranillo we’ve seen from this vineyard.

About The Winery:

Founded in 1986 by Delia Viader, VIADER is located 1200 feet above the Napa Valley floor just northeast of St. Helena on the steep, rocky slopes of Howell Mountain. Emulating a European design quite rare in California, the vines are oriented up and down the steep hillsides, a planting method that optimizes sun exposure, vine density and erosion control. Planting on such a steep grade of 32 % is a challenge and requires meticulous hand farming.

The first VIADER wine was produced in 1989 and with that vintage a proprietary estate blend was established that features Cabernet Franc with Cabernet Sauvignon as its base element. At the time, this blend was a daring diversion from other Cabernet-based wines being made in Napa Valley. This blend has come to be the signature wine from VIADER.

Over the years, the product line has grown to include Syrah under the VIADER label and two additional brands: The “V” is a reserve Bordeaux-style blend featuring Petit Verdot. The DARE line features two distinct wines – a Cabernet Franc and a Tempranillo – made from selected vineyards. Born in Argentina, Proprietor Delia Viader spent much of her formative years in Europe and especially in France. She developed an international approach to business and a long range vision of success. Delia came to the United States as a post-graduate student and earned her PhD. While raising four children on her own, Delia forged the vision and design for this unique estate vineyard property, wine blend and brand.

Because of Delia’s dedication, persistence and attention to high ideals, VIADER was recognized early on as a first growth property and the wines have been highly coveted since inception. In the last few years, Delia’s children have come back to help manage and operate the business making this a true family concern. Alan Viader is Direction of Operations and Winemaking, Janet Viader is Director of Marketing and Sales. Mariela Viader (married to Alan) is in charge of the Culinary Program. In the winter of 2006, Michel Rolland, the world-renowned enologist, and family friend, was brought on as a winemaking consultant.

Delia has earned the reputation as a pioneer for planting the vines running directly down the mountain, in a style normally found in Bordeaux. After receiving initial cirticism, eventually Delia’s vineyards on Howell Mountain were regarded as an ideal model for growing super-premium quality grapes. The original focus on Cabernet Franc as the main blending component, thought to be radical upon release, was a natural harkening back to Delia’s European roots and her love of Cheval Blanc. The idea of a single woman running a successful winery business while raising a family of four children on her own was a rare happening in Napa Valley’s developing fine wine business in the late ‘80’s.

Over the years, Delia has remained true to her vision. Today Viader Vineyards is a thriving family business producing world-class wines from a magnificent, mature estate vineyard property complete with small bonded winery, underground caves, and a Hospitality Center which offers tours and tastings by appointment and a sophisticated wine and food pairing Culinary Program.

About The Winemaker:

Delia Viader, Owner/Winemaker – Argentine-born Delia Viader came to the United States as a post-graduate college student in the 1980s. She holds a doctorate in Philosophy from the Sorbonne University in Paris, France and pursued advanced business Studies at three American universities. At the Sloan School of Management at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Delia studied Executive Programs in Financial Management, Corporate Strategy and Negotiation. She then moved to California and at the University of California Berkeley studied Financial Management, Corporate Market-Focused Organizations and Masters Program in Business Administration. Delia has four children ranging in age from 13 to 28 year of age, and even with the great feat of raising a family, has also managed to create a successful vineyard and winery. Delia’s family and fascination with fine wines has been her primary motivation for starting her beautiful winery overlooking the Napa Valley. After founding VIADER in 1986, Delia pursued programs in Enology and Viticulture offered at University of California Davis to better learn the practical theory behind making fine wine.

Technical Analysis:

RELEASE DATE: Summer 2009

WINEMAKER: Alan Viader (son) & Delia Viader

APPELLATION: Napa Valley

HARVEST DATE: October 1, 2006

BRIX AT HARVEST: 23.8º

PH: 4.03

PRODUCTION: 350 cases

Viader 2006 DARE Tempranillo 750ml Wine Bottle
Offer Expired May 26, 2010 at 11:59 pm
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Viader 2006 DARE Tempranillo 750ml Wine Bottle
Offer Expired May 26, 2010 at 11:59 pm
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