Veronica's Vineyard 2022 A Thousand Kisses Viognier

A special project from Niagara Custom Crush winemaker, Marco Piccoli. Marco had the opportunity to source some exceptional quality single vineyard Viognier from a block on the property. “The quality of this fruit from such an intense vintage was too good to pass up!”

The Vintage:
2022 got off to a very cold start, with extreme cold temperatures throughout January across the province. While the spring months were cooler than average, June was relatively warm and dry, followed by intense heat in July and August.  Conditions for harvest were quite favourable, with wineries reporting a broad window of opportunity to bring in grapes. September was dry and reasonably warm, and enthusiastic growers made quick work of the relatively light harvest. With the cold winter, crop size was the main story for 2022, but fruit quality was excellent and the grapes that were brought in had winemakers wishing for more!

Tasting Notes:
This unoaked Viognier is pale straw in colour, and showcases an upfront nose of aromatic honeysuckle, fresh peach, white cherry and tropical notes of mango, star fruit, and mandarin orange. The palate is lively and fresh, with a typically creamy and rounded midpalate. The finish on the wine is vibrant, with bright citrus acidity and rich melon flavours.

Technical Notes:
This wine hails from a small parcel of 100% hand-harvested Viognier grapes from a single vineyard in the Lincoln Lakeshore sub-appellation of the Niagara Region. The grapes achieved a ripeness of 19.5° brix with an earlier harvest to capture the lively, fresher side of Viognier. The grapes were immediately pressed and the juice transferred to a small stainless steel tank for fermentation with regular stirring of the lees for added body and complexity. A very small production of 52 cases was bottled June 2023.  

Product Description
Vintage: 2022
Varietal: 100% Viognier
Appellation: Lincoln Lakeshore, Niagara Peninsula
Alcohol: 12.2%
Residual Sugar: 2 g/L