Standing over the smoldering detritus of 2014, we are filled with tenuous optimism. Maybe this is THE year that solutions manifest, pieces fall into place, and everything just CLICKS. Wow. We're swept away by a great swell of confidence and hope and nausea. Maybe we shouldn't have set fire to that lacquered cabinet after all.
2012 Praxis Viognier, Sonoma County 750ml 6-Pack
We have been making Viognier for more than a decade. Bill loves the body and flavors of this white wine varietal – and prefers to make it in a European style. This is our second Best of Class award in two years on our Viognier; this time in an international field.
Our Viognier is crisp, dry and full bodied with a lingering finish of ripe fruit. To retain the purest expression of the grapes, the wine was fermented in stainless steel with no oak contact. The color is pale straw with hints of green. Delicate floral and citrus scents are followed by guava, jasmine and white pear notes with a hint of ginger. Rich flavors of white peach and apricot are present immediately, while tropical fruits are more apparent on the palate as the wine opens. The round smooth body of the wine is accented by crisp acidity and a clean finish. We love to pair this with shellfish, but it’s great with pork, chicken – and it’s always our Thanksgiving white wine.
In 2000, Bill Arbios created Praxis Cellars to broaden the scope of the wines he produced. Arbios is our “serious” wine: 100% Cabernet, 14K gold label, etc. so Bill wanted to create a distinct label for our other wines. Praxis is derived from the Greek word for practice as a doctor or lawyer practices their craft. Praxis was also a pre-Arts and Crafts philosophy in Europe espousing the importance of striving for perfection while knowing that it will never be fully achieved. Since launching our second label, we have also found that it is a moon of the Klingon home planet in Star Trek and a verb for domination in an on-line vampire game.
In the Praxis wines, Bill can practice his craft with different wine varietals from various wine regions of California. Although Bill’s winemaking reputation was built upon his blended meritage wines at Lyeth, our Arbios and Praxis wines varietals are not blended at all. The wines are all 100% of their grape varietal and most are from a single vineyard, so Bill can play with the expression of the fruit in a number of ways such as the amount and type of oak he uses. The Praxis wines are priced about half that of the Arbios Cabernet in the hopes that you will enjoy them with every day dinners as well as special occasions. Bill meant these wines to be enjoyed with food – the supporting cast to enhance a meal – though I must say I love a glass of the Sauvignon Blanc before dinner.
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