Domaine Artefact

2016 Vin de Paille

Dessert Wine

Tasting Notes

Our extremely rare Vin de Paille (translated in French as “straw wine”) dessert wine has a beautiful nose of honeysuckle, gardenia, lemon and ginger. On the palate it is sweet and viscous with flavors of honey, ginger, and marmalade. This wine is balanced by bright acids that carry on a long citrus finish. This wine is a perfect accompaniment to a rich charcuterie platter as an aperitif, or at the end of the meal served with a rich vanilla crème brûlée or cheese course (it is exceptional with honey and blue cheese). In the summer, we serve this wine for brunch with a fine sparkling water!

This dessert wine is extremely rare because we can only make it in years when conditions are PERFECT. The grapes need hot and dry conditions in order to desiccate and 2016 provided these unique conditions. We attempted to make this wine in 2017 and in 2018 without success.

The Viognier and Grenache Blanc were picked and laid by hand on straw mats to dry and concentrate sugar (approximately 5 weeks). We then pressed and co-fermented the grapes in stainless tanks for about three weeks at 58-60 oF. The wine was left on fine lees without batonnage for ten weeks. We transferred 25% of the wine to a 2-year-old French oak puncheon and the balance of the wine to stainless steel barrels for six months of aging before bottling.

Domaine Artefact, San Diego County (California) Estate Vin de Paille 2016 ($38): Winemaker Mark Robinson names this wine for the process, where select fruit clusters are dried on a bed of straw to concentrate sugars without sacrificing acidity. A blend of Grenache Blanc and Viognier from his Highland Valley estate, it features dried apricot, peach, orange blossom, marzipan and spice on a viscous palate tempered with bright acid. The finish is clean and invites you back for more. A fine solo dessert glass.
Reviewed by: Rich Cook, Dec 26, 2017
Rating: 92

Silver medal winner in the 2018 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition.

We ship Monday through Wednesday. Sorry, delivery on weekends is generally not available. In the event of extreme temperatures your shipment may be delayed to protect it from heat and cold damage.

Bottle Price: $38.00

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Wine Specs
Vintage
2016
Varietal
50% Viognier & 50% Grenache Blanc
Appellation
San Diego County
Vineyard Designation
Domaine Artefact Willow Block
Alcohol %
14.7

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