2005 Pax Roussanne, Venus

Having augmented the Roussanne from this vineyard with several other tiny parcels in the past, the 2005 Venus comes entirely from one unique planting in the Bennett Valley. While we were concerned that the sugar content at harvest was too low to make a stand-alone wine, Mother Nature surprised us again with unbelievably ripe flavors and textures at an astonishingly low finished alcohol level. This is a ripe, full bodied California white Rhone, much more so than our previous vintages. It may be too much for the summer, unless you are having lobster, but what a winter white! This wine will drink well on release, then shut down for a little while and emerge as a beautiful wine some 3-5 years past the vintage date.

Tasting Note:
Pear, fig, honey and wet stones intermingle on the nose with their precise and direct aromas. In the mouth it rolls fat and rich with flavors of ripe pear, honeydew melon, brown fig and waxy yellow plum. Wow! This is one thick and voluptuous wine.