Another stunning white is the 2012 Viognier, which has malolactic fermentation blocked, and is fermented and aged six months in both neutral French oak and stainless steel. It is a big, sexy fruit bomb offering lots of honeysuckle, apricot marmalade, and tropical fruits. What makes it so successful is that it possesses terrific acidity and a hint of wet stones/minerality, which is unusual for a California Viognier. No doubt their mountain top site helped promote this characteristic. These wines rarely age well, so drink it over the next several years. As always, this winery situated at the crest of Spring Mountain on both sides of the Napa/Sonoma counties boundary, has turned out a portfolio of interesting as well as satisfying wines. Amazingly, Pride Mountain Vineyards now owns over 85 acres at high elevation sites spread over the top of Spring Mountain. Pride Mountain’s two flagship offerings are much more limited in availability, with only 569 cases of the 2010 Claret Reserve and 1,365 cases of the 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve. Tel. (707) 963-4949