2011 Viognier

Following what Steve Pride described as "our coldest year ever" atop Spring Mountain, 2011 was even colder until September and October. But Pride describes the newer vintage as "great up here," as there was no botrytis. "We didn't have a perfect fruit set but it wasn't bad up here, since we flower three weeks later than the valley floor. It's really another world at this altitude." Pride showed me a chart of degree days from March through October, comparing Pride Mountain Vineyard and Rutherford back to 1999. Whereas there were actually higher degree days here than in Rutherford in 2008, in 2010 and 2011 total degree days were significantly lower. Happily, the vineyards are above most of the fog, and good drainage makes it possible to harvest late without the same rot pressures that would affect lower-altitude vines or those with less air movement.

These current releases from Pride are impressive for their consistency across the board. Pride does so many things well these days. Most of the reds I tasted were 2009s, a vintage Steve Pride and winemaker Sally Johnson describe as cooler than average, but warmer than either 2010 or 2011. Most of the fruit was brought in between the end of October and early November, quite late for the year, but a great example of how fruit matures on this property, which straddles Napa and Sonoma in the heart of Spring Mountain.