Fess Parker Winery
2010 Rodney's Viognier
Viognier •Rodney's Vineyard
Santa Ynez Valley
Mission Briefing
Plenty of respect
Today’s 2010 Fess Parker Rodney’s Vineyard Viognier is a delightfully refreshing and elegant wine that our tasting panel went wild for.
This wine graces the nose with a bouquet of fresh flowers and a basket of fresh fruits. On the palate, the wine is soft, elegant and simply delicious.
Decanting this wine allows it not only to breathe, but also to warm slightly. Served too cold, this wine is shy and reserved. As it warms in the decanter or the glass, it unleashes more flavor. The feel also becomes softer and more elegant.
This wonderful wine is sunshine in a bottle.
Tasting Profile
| Look: | Pale straw yellow with a viscous quality that leaves wine clinging to the edges of the glass when swirled. |
|---|---|
| Smell: | Very fresh and fragrant with lemon leaf, honeysuckle, lemon curd, softly yeasty white flower with very subtle jasmine, gardenia and subtle flint. |
| Taste: | Softly creamy, lush and bright with Meyer lemon, elegant lemon curd, lime leaf and a lovely hint of flinty mineral. |
| Finish: | Long and flavorful with prolonged citrus and nectarine flavors. A very subtle hint of flint and white pepper persists at the end. |
| Pairing: | Pair this beautiful wine with sauteed scallops with asparagus or a Waldorf salad with fresh apple, walnuts and dried cranberries with a light vinaigrette. |
What the Winery Says
- Tasting Notes
- On the nose this Viognier delivers refreshing scents of ripe peach, pink grapefruit, jasmine, honeysuckle, pear, vanilla and baking spices. Flavors of white apricot, honeydew melon and citrus combine with vanilla and a hint of oak to please the palate.
- Vineyard Notes
- 100% Viognier from Block G in Rodney’s Vineyard in the Santa Ynez Valley. Harvested at 25.1 Brix.
- Production
- 694 cases
- Vintage
- 2010
- Varietal
- Viognier
- Appellation
- Santa Barbara County
- Vineyard Designation
- Rodney’s Vineyard
- Harvest Date
- 10/8/10
- Acid
- 0.635 g/100ml
- PH
- 3.53
- Aging
- 100% barrel fermented; aged 9 months in 1 year and older French oak barrels
- Alcohol %
- 14.5
- Wine Spectator
- 89 Points
About the Winery
When Fess Parker was cast in the roll of Davy Crockett in the mid-1950’s, it caused an international sensation and changed his life forever. So too did the purchase of 714 acres in the Santa Ynez Valley change the course of the Parker family’s history.
Realizing the potential of Santa Barbara County as a premium grape-growing region, Fess and his son, Eli, originally set out in 1989 to plant a small vineyard and sell fruit to local producers. But, as Fess’ daughter, Ashley explains, “ Fess is from Texas, so he can’t do anything small. “The Fess Parker Winery and Vineyard now farms almost 700 acres on four vineyards throughout Santa Barbara County.
Working as a family has always been a great source of pride and pleasure for the Parker family. Eli Parker began in the family business as assistant winemaker in 1989. After several years of learning the craft at the side of renowned and accomplished winemakers, Eli took the reins himself as winemaker with the 1995 vintage. A leader of the winery since its inception, it was in 1996 that Eli formally assumed the title and responsibilities of President. In the early 1990’s, Ashley ran the first tastings out of the barrel room and represented the winery at trade shows. In 1998, Ashley became Eli’s partner, working on the public relations and sales and marketing teams.
Winemaker Blair Fox
Winemaker Blair Fox draws his inspiration from many Old World producers and from the experiences he had as a winemaker during a stint in Australia’s Barossa Valley as well as Haselgrove Winery – a custom-crush winery in the McLaren Vale. Their work inspires him as he continues to build a portfolio of wines that remain firmly planted in Old and New World styles of wine growing and winemaking.
Graduating from UC Davis in 1999 with a combined degree in Viticulture and Enology, Blair Fox gained winemaking experience at Sunstone Winery in the Santa Ynez Valley as well as Australia. He also traveled through France’s Rhône Valley before returning to his hometown of Santa Barbara.
At that point he joined Fess Parker Winery & Vineyard as Associate Winemaker, overseeing the Rhône varietal wines, having previously consulted in the vineyard for the winery’s 2002 harvest. Fox continues the stylistic direction set by Eli Parker when capturing the terroir of the vineyards. He aims to continue raising the bar for the award-winning Fess Parker wines.