2021 Artakama Roussanne/Viognier

artakama Roussanne viognier in 7 words

Apricots, Herbal, Spicy, Earthy, Nutty, Grippy Balanced

winemaking notes

The fruit came in from the La Feuille d'Or vineyard  (Golden Mile sub GI) on September 6th,2021, and was very clean. Roussanne dominant this year with 74% and 16 % Viognier. Destemmed and hand-sorted in a stainless steel tank on skins. Fermentation started spontaneously on September 11th. Mild punch downs once daily till desired extraction and flavours were achieved with only the cap being wet gently for the last 5 days. Pressed off skins on September 19th to a stainless steel tank to reduce unwanted tannins and bitterness and to maintain the complex fruit flavours. Went through malo and the residual sugar is around 0.6 g/L with a PH of approximately 3.7. Racked into a 2015 500 L French oak Puncheon for a short time and battonaged regularly to allow integration and to add some complexity. Racked twice before bottling on March 2nd, 2022.

The style this year was a little hotter, fleshier, with nice complex tannins. The wine may throw a bit more sediment and is best chilled upright to settle.