Varietal(s):
100% Viognier

AVA:
Middleburg Virginia AVA ☸

Vineyard:
Iron Will (Waterford Estate) ☸

Harvest Date:
September 24, 2020

Fermentation and Aging:
Fermented in steel and
aged on the lees for 6 months
in old French Oak

More Technical Stuff:

Alcohol 12.8%
pH 3.55
Brix 24.0
Residual sugar 0.0
Cases Produced 125

Label:
Front and Back Label

Background on the Wine:
We had never made a Viognier until 2019 – nor since. We had instead always focused on the Iron Will Petit Manseng on our wine releases. But as the fruit was seemingly a boom or bust in terms of yield it became quite clear as midday hit on September 24, 2020 that there would be A LOT of extra Vio that year. We moved quickly to find fermentation space for an extra couple tons and decided to spit in our hands and take the fruit for ourselves rather than the usual ‘pick but not make a wine’ approach.

The wine would go on to win accolades including a 2022 Governor’s Cup Medal and ranks as testament to quick thinking and good friends in the industry.

More details on the process:
Our favorite Viognier in the state had come from the hands of Jake Busching. We loved the soft but balanced boldness and unique nature of his single varietal. In 2019, when we hit our panic button and sought to save the fruit by making a wine – we reached out to Jake. Like a multi-generational chef pulling a cherished recipe card from a box he told us how he made his great Vio and generously shared with the steps. The wine was stirred daily through fermentation, aged on Chardonnay lees in neutral oak for 6 months. And we love everything about it.

Background on the name:
As it wasn’t something we expected, this wine bears the name “Plot Twist”. It was a surprise that was born during harvest so we said it pairs well with “Dun Dun Dunnn!!” – and it just may never happen again.