Isenhower Cellars “i Label” Viognier
WHY WE LOVE IT
- Isenhower’s “i-Label” Viognier is sourced from their established and experienced growers in Columbia Valley:
- 56% Tudor Vineyard
- 33% Dineen Vineyard
- 11% Francisca’s Vineyard.
- The vines benefit from multiple silt and sandy loam soil types.
Variety: 100% Viognier
Elaboration: Hand picked. Whole cluster pressed and juice is pumped to tank. The juice is barreled down to 500 liter French oak puncheons and fermented with organic yeast (Saccharomyces uvarum) to dryness. Malolactic fermentation is discouraged with S02 and cold temperatures. Aged in 100% used French Oak puncheons for 4 months. Bottled and sterile filtered.
Tasting Notes: Bright yellow hue with decadent aromas of white peach, apricot, chamomile, honeysuckle, creme fraiche, light toast vanilla bean, and graham cracker. Mouthfeel is very rich and generous. The acidity supports the fruit and vibrancy in the wine. The Viognier has flavors of peach, apricot, vanilla chamomile, and creamy richness. Used French oak fermentation in 500 liter puncheons with wild S. uvarum allows the fruit and floral perfume to sing and add a touch of creaminess and texture.
PRESS
n/a
PRODUCER BACKGROUND
Isenhower Cellars was founded in 1999 by Denise and Brett Isenhower and was the 18th winery in the Walla Walla area. The Isenhower’s, both Pharmacists, chose to leave their Colorado surroundings and corporate healthcare to follow Brett’s dream of winemaking and Denise’s dream of moving back to Washington, where they first met. Today, Denise is the General Manager and Brett is the Winemaker. For Brett, Walla Walla was an easy choice because of its beauty and the wide-open, entrepreneurial nature of the wine industry there. Isenhower Cellars is one of the few medium-sized Washington wineries that is 100% husband and wife owned and operated.
The Isenhower’s built their winery in 2002 and opened the Woodinville tasting room in 2009. They source their grapes from experienced, established growers ranging from Columbia Valley, Horse Heaven Hills, Walla Walla, Yakima Valley, Red Mountain, and Oregon to the Wahluke Slope. These high-elevation farms produce beautiful juice from old vines all the way to experimental clones.
Isenhower Cellars and their growers follow a minimalist philosophy and more natural winemaking process, including low pesticides, light intervention and sustainable farming methods to achieve depth of character, lightness of touch, and an array of fresh, interesting wines.