The WineThose familiar with Viognier, with its heady aromatics and broad mouthfeel, will do a double take when tasting this wine. Sure, the aromas will be familiar (floral, tropical fruits, honey), but the broad mouthfeel is lighter here, balanced by a mouth-watering freshness that triggers the appetite and sets one to foraging in the snack drawer.
80% Viognier/20% Roussanne. Fermented in Stainless Steel and aged in oak for 9 months (only 10% new, to avoid an overly-oaked experience). 14.2% Alcohol, pairs well with slightly spicey foods (Cajun!), Paella, pasta, roast chicken/turkey/duck and richer fish dishes.
The Winery
'Line Shack' was the term used by the cowboy ranchers of yore. It referred to a shack, a place to stay overnight when working the ranch and far from home. They were little more than four walls and a roof ("One star, would not visit again unless stranded!"), but a welcome protection from the elements. When the Balentine family bought a small ranch in Southern Monterey County, it had one tiny structure on it, nicknamed "The Line Shack". Renovated and expanded multiple times, it is not the barrel room, winery and hospitality space for this family winery.
Located at 1,200 feet elevation in the Santa Lucia range in the new San Antonio Valley AVA, Line Shack is known for producing wines that punch well above their weight. This wine is ready to drink now - go get a corkscrew and bring us some glasses!
