The Vie Winery was started in 2004 by a longtime home winemaker and Rhone varietal enthusiast, Bryan Kane, who turned his avocation into a way of life.
The winery is just that – a winery. They do not own the land or have a vineyard per se. The grapes are sourced from several well known California wine grape-growing regions such as Sonoma, Napa, Lake, Mendocino, and Santa Barbara counties and include notable vineyards Broken Leg, Beatty Ranch, Las Madras, Round River Ranch, Eaglepoint Ranch, Teldeschi, Thompson, White Hawk, and Alta Mesa; they are then brought to a custom crush/winemaking facility. Bryan only uses varietals he is passionate about: syrah, petite sirah, grenache, mourvedre, roussanne, and zinfandel.
The winemaking motto of Vie is one of “minimal intervention” and is based on harvesting as determined by the phenolics (flavor and color) rather than brix (sugar). The winemaking process uses native yeast for fermentation, long cold soaks, hot fermentation and extended maceration toextract the unique qualities of each vineyard. The wine is aged 15 to 22 months in oak (approximately 30 percent new), then blended and further aged in the barrel for an additional 4 to 10 months, bringing out the rich, round flavors of pure fruit in the wine.
Todd Seaver, a home winemaker since 1998, joined Vie as the assistant winemaker in 2005. Scott Shapley is the consulting winemaker. His pedigree includes stints at Chapoutier, Siduri and Novy Family; and he currently is the winemaker at Roessler in Sonoma.
All of this talent adds up to a portfolio of wines that elicited animated “ooh la la’s” from several friends who attended our tasting.
Everyone in attendance consistently praised these very approachable wines for their supple textures as well as a tendency to complement a wide range of food. You can bet that Vie will be added to the Greenberg House Wine list.
Retail prices are approximate. Wines are available by shipment into D.C. and Virginia from the winery or to select wine shops in Maryland. Contact the winery (www.viewinery.com) for specific shipping information.
» 2005 Vie Roussanne, Round River Ranch, Lake County ($22)
This is the first white wine for Vie and I hope they keep making more. Roussanne is a popular white varietal in the Rhone valley and based on the intensity of this wine, I expect it will catch on here as well. It exhibits a fragrant nose of honeyed apricots, nectarines and dried pineapple leading into an elegant palate of succulent stone fruits with hints of wet stone on the lingering finish. A great match with grouper.
» 2004 Vie Zinfandel, Beatty Ranch Vineyard, Howell Mountain, Napa Valley ($29)
Made from 90-year-old head-trained vines, this wine that produces powerful scents of blackberry and raspberry fruit. These characteristics are also found on the palate and complimented by mocha, chocolate and black pepper spice throughout the multi-layered finish. Try it with turkey chili — and don’t forget the sour cream and onions.
» 2004 Vie Last Leg Cuvee (60 percent Zinfandel/35 percent Syrah/5 percent Petite Syrah), North Coast ($29)
According to Kane, “Just as in life, all good things must come to an end,” and so must the fruit that contributes the zinfandel component (2004 marked the last harvest for the Broken Leg Zinfandel of this lovely blend). But you’ll have the wonderfully balanced flavors of black raspberries, dark cherries and ripe blueberries in your glass to remember it by. The lingering finish, featuring hints of espresso, keeps the memory alive just a little bit longer. A roast duck would be a fun pairing.
» 2004 Vie Syrah, Las Madres Vineyard, Carneros, Sonoma County ($29)
Simply a gorgeous wine, with scents of vanilla, ripe black plums and hints of pepper. The richly textured mouthfeel delivers gobs of blackberry fruit supported by soft tannins and a good dose of pepper and vanilla on the smooth finish. Enjoy this with a hearty lamb stew on a cold night.
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