Everyone who knows me knows I’ve never read “The Art of Saying No.” It can get me in some sticky situations, but it’s also the reason I end up making wines that surprise our members (and the rest of the Levo team). For instance, you might remember the 2019 Spot, Petit Verdot, that we made from Law Estate. It’s not a wine we’d ever made before and probably won’t again, but when incredible fruit gets offered to me, I have a hard time saying my least favorite word: “No.” In Paso wine country, I’m like a kid in a candy shop.

So when the owner of Caliza Vineyard, Carl Bowker, offered me one ton of his Viognier, I immediately jumped at the opportunity. Since 2018, we’ve been purchasing Syrah from Carl, and his fruit has always stood out in our cellar. The vineyard itself is extreme; located in the heart of Willow Creek, it is surrounded by an oak forest on a steep south-facing hillside littered with calcareous shale and limestone (not more than a mile from Levo Vineyard). This terroir produces very small clusters that are packed with flavor and intense acidity - just the way we like it!

On September 14th, the grapes were handpicked and then meticulously sorted at the winery. I personally foot-stomped the Viognier and let the cold juice macerate on the skins overnight. The following day, we gently pressed the grapes directly to a once-used 600 Liter Demi Muid. As the wine ticked through fermentation, it slowly emerged as one of our favorite lots in the cellar. Rich and ripe but also great tension with nice acidity and freshness. Please note there is some sediment in this white wine as it went straight from the barrel to the bottle and no filters in between. Don’t worry, just unadulterated, honest winemaking at work!

This wine was barrel fermented and aged for 9 months in a once-used 600L Demi-Muid, and the result is everything I love about the varietal: pear skin, apricot, jasmine, and honeysuckle on the nose, rich and zesty on the pallet. It’s the kind of wine that I make for the love of the craft, experimentation, and, most importantly, “fun” (which is what Levo is all about).

As you might expect, it’s a super small lot and likely won’t last long. We only made 600 bottles. Grab some through the website for a limited time.

As always call the tasting room at 805-400-5994 or email [email protected] with any questions. We appreciate your continued support in the small but mighty Levo Winery. We make these wines just for you!

Cheers,

Bret and the Team at Levo

Questions or customization of your order please call (805) 400-5994 or e-mail [email protected]. Wine orders require the signature of an adult 21 years or older.