Chester Gap Cellars

We visited Chester Gap Cellars more than a year ago, and we decided that it was time to find out about the new wines at Chester Gap. Chester Gap is the northern most vineyard in Rappahannock County with beautiful views of the Blue Ridge mountains. In the process, we were able to catch up with Bernd Jung, owner of Chester Gap Cellars.

Bernd has plans to build a tasting room right near the vineyards but for the time being he is tasting his wines on the patio just outside his barrel room. He’s got tables set up and often on weekends he has a tent set up for the comfort of his visitors.


We began our tasting with the the 2005 Viognier. Lush fruity aromas will make this one an instant hit; blended with a small amount of Petit Manseng, grapefruit characteristics shine in the mouth. Nice with seafood but lovely on its own, this Viognier is excellent. Our next sample was the 2005 Rose which is a blend of 64% merlot, 31% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Viognier. Next up was the 2004 and the 2005 Merlot. Warren favored the 2005 Merlot with its cherry notes and spicy finish. We then finished our tasting with the 2005 Cabernet Franc which is actually a combination of 92% Cabernet Franc, 4% Merlot and 4% Petit Verdot. Lots of bright berries here with pepper/spice evident—a food friendly wine that would complement beef or pasta dishes.


As we concluded our tasting, we decided to enjoy a glass of the 2004 Merlot. Paul is a big merlot fan and found this one to be quite enjoyable. He noticed lots of dark cherry with hints of caramel and coffee. It had a beautiful amethyst color and smooth finish. We were also able to gaze upon lovely mountain scenery that decorated a gorgeous spring afternoon.


We always enjoy talking with Bernd. Though a relative newcomer to the Virginia wine industry, Bernd has extensive experience as a winemaker. This expertise was evident to us as we sampled nothing but top-quality wines.. Before leaving the beautiful scenery of the Blue Ridge Mountains, we secured one bottle each of the 2005 Rose, the 2005 Viognier, the 2005 Cabernet Franc, and the 2004 Merlot. We plan to return to Chester Gap in the near future to sample new releases and to chat with Bernd. If you happen to find yourself at Chester Gap, be sure to tell Bernd that we said hello and tell him you read about Chester Gap Cellars on Virginia Wine Time.

Changes Coming To Linden

Once a year Linden Vineyards conducts its only event—a barrel tasting that is held in the winery’s barrel room/cellar. Linden’s wines are internationally renowned for its excellent wines, and winemaker/owner Jim Law is the guru for winemaking in Virginia. We had anticipated this event since last year and took advantage of a lovely spring afternoon to enjoy lunch and wine after the barrel tasting. In particular, we looked forward to experiencing the 2004 Boisseau Red which recently scored 88 points in Wine Spectator.

This year’s barrel tasting turned out to be a very popular event. The barrel room was full of patrons ready to taste the upcoming vintages. With our glasses in hand we entered the barrel room, and we were greeted by Jim Law himself. He fill us in on the process and suggested that we start with the special release tasting that was being conducted near the crush pad. Since the crowd had not made its way to this particular tasting, we did indeed start there.

At the special release tasting we were able to to taste three wines. We began with the 2004 Boisseau Viognier which was Linden’s first Viognier offering. The 2004 Boisseau was truly outstanding with lush tropical fruit notes with some mineral characteristics. Of special note was the 2003 Bittersweet produced from 100% Petit Verdot. Still a bit tannic, the innovative Bittersweet would make an interesting after dinner drink especially with chocolates. Buy this one now and let it rest on the wine rack then open for a special occassion!Warren placed a star next to the 2004 Boisseau Viognier and knew that a bottle of this gem would be coming home.


After the special release tasting we moved on to the barrels. We began with the 2006 Boisseau. This one was 43% Petit Verdot, 29% Cabernet Franc, and 28% Merlot. Despite its relative youth, the 2006 Boisseau Red was quite vibrant with evidence that the harsh tannins associated with newly barreled wines were beginning to relax. Barrel two held the 2006 Hardscrabble, which was 61% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot, 11% Cabernet Franc, and 11% Petit Verdot. More pepper/spice noticed here, and with a slice of salami, Paul enjoyed this sample the most. On to the third barrel and the 2006 Avenius which was a blend of 79% Petit Verdot, and 21% Cabernet Sauvignon. This blend won our award for most interesting—deep color with smoky flavors that seemed an appropriate partnership between the earthiness of Petit Verdot and dark fruitiness of Cabernet Sauvignon. The final barrel housed the 2006 Petit Verdot which was 80% P etit Verdot and 20% Cabernet Franc; for the Petit Verdot fan, this one will be a winner! By this time we were thinking about lunch. However, as we milled about, we were able to get a feel for which samples seemed most popular; the answers were varied, but barrel samples one and three seemed to be front runners.


After our barrel tasting we then enjoyed a regular tasting at the tasting bar located upstairs. Here we were able to taste the 2005 Seyval, the 2006 Rose, the 2005 Cabernet Franc, the 2003 Claret, and the 2006 Vidal Riesling. Do try the 2006 Rose—its clear reddish-pink color and bright strawberry characteristics will dazzle the palate! However, we had our minds set on the 2004 Boisseau Red to see if it matched the accolades received from Wine Spectator. This we paired with Linden’s lunch offerings that included venison sa usage, derby cheese and baguettes. Plums, black cherry, and anise came to mind as we savored the 2004 Boisseau Red. Earthy/smoky qualities suggested Petit Verdot, and indeed Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Merlot are the varietals that make up this outstanding blend. The 2004 Boisseau Red was not available for tasting at the bar, but it was available for purchase. With an upcoming dinner party that will include leg of lamb, Warren secured two bottles of the 2004 Boisseau Red!

We have always enjoyed sitting on the deck while enjoying Linden’s quality wines and food. We should note, however, that changes are afoot at Linden. According to Linden:

“Due to increased pressures on our facilities, beginning January 2008, only Case Club members will have access to Linden’s deck, picnic areas, wine by the glass or cheeses on the weekends. To join Linden’s Case Club one only has to purchase 12 bottles of wine to take home. Membership must be renewed annually with an additional case purchase. Case Club members will also receive updates on new releases, special tastings and Vintner Dinners.”

This may be quite a change to customers who may not purchase wines by the case but do enjoy the Linden experience. We look forward to sampling more wines at Linden, and we will return to Linden to participate in their weekend cellar tastings. In the meantime, be certain to visit Linden Winery and tell the knowledgeable staff there that Virginia Wine Time sent you!

Prince Michel

Membership at Prince Michel‘s wine club has its benefits, and we took advantage of this by attending the recent barrel tasting exclusive to club members. In the process, we also met winemaker Brad Hanson. Barrel tasting provides a sneak preview of future wines, and we were eager to sample away!

We joined Brad Hansen, the winemaker, in the private tasting room located in the lower level of the tasting facility. The private tasting room is both practical and elegant. Murals depicting French rural life lined the walls. Heavy furnishings that would have been at home in a French chateau and dim lighting completed the sense of country elegance. As we secured our glasses and plates of cheeses, olives, and crackers, Brad opened the tasting with a brief history of Prince Michel Vineyard and Winery. Not surprisingly, the original owners were from France; the current owners purchased the facility and it’s vineyards in 2005. Since then, Prince Michel has adapted its vineyards located predominantly in Charlottesville; these vineyards are better situated to produce high-quality fruit, and the results are evident in Prince Michel’s award winning wines. Prince Michel currently produces 40,000 cases of wine each year.

Though this event was a barrle tasting, we actually began with the already bottled Petit Manseng. This is a new member to Prince Michel’s wine portfolio, and this first attempt was quite pleasant. Done in a dry style, the 2006 Petit Manseng presents a citrus bouquet with grapefruit and lemon flavors in the mouth. This would be rather nice with shellfish and salads. Warren placed a star next to this one and will anxiously await its release!


Now on to the barrel tasting. The one fact to remember at barrel tastings is that the wines are being tasted in their earliest stages and will not be bottle-ready. As Brad grabbed the wine thief, we moved over to the Chardonnay barrel that will become the 2006 Barrel Select Chardonnay. This had been in the barrel for only six months and thus well short of its two year process in the barrel. Oak dominated here with faint apple flavors. It was obvious that this will be a full-bodied white wine, and the fruit will develop over time as the oak resolves itself into the buttery/nutty characteristics associated with a full-bodied Chardonnay.

Next up was a Syrah. Of the wines we barrel sampled, this one was the most developed. It possessed earthy/plummy notes and provided a lingering finish. Some spice was noticed too as is characteristic of Syrah. Brad revealed that the Syrah will be blended with a small amount of Merlot to provide complexity. This one will be bottled after the summer months.


The final wine we tasted was a Cabernet Sauvignon. Tannins dominated here with peppery overtones. As we swirled it around a bit, there were some hints that dark fruit flavors were beginning to emerge, and we concluded that the tannins will begin to soften over time. Brad shared with us that this Cabernet Sauvignon will be used for blending with the Symbius, a Bourdeaux-style red that is blended with Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Petit Verdot.

With our session completed, we decided to enjoy a glass of the 2004 Barrel Select Chardonnay from the tasting bar. The expansive tasting room includes tables with checker boards, and we played a few games of checkers as we debated which wines to purchase. (A bottle of the 2004 Cabernet Franc and the 2005 Chardonnay now have new homes!) Please visit Prince Michel, and be sure to mention that Virginia Wine Time sent you.

Monticello Wine Trail

Monticello Wine & Food Festival to be held April 21st and 22nd
~ Don’t miss one of Virginia’s premier epicurean events ~


Mark your calendar for the weekend of April 21st and 22nd, when you can enjoy a rare opportunity to taste wines from 20 of Virginia’s best wineries all in one spot. In a new location this year – and on a new springtime weekend — the Monticello Wine & Food Festival promises to combine the best of years past with a few new elements to delight visitors in 2007.

This year’s 27th annual event will be held at Morris Farm, conveniently located just a mile off Route 29 on Route 33 in Stanardsville. Enjoy the beauty of the rolling countryside while sipping award-winning Virginia wines, indulging in gourmet fare, and experiencing a variety of fine art and music.

Participating wineries include: Afton Mountain, Barboursville, Burnley, Cardinal Point, DelFosse, First Colony, Gabriele Rausse, Hill Top, Horton, Jefferson, Keswick, King Family, Kluge Estate, Oakencroft, Prince Michel, Stone Mountain, Sugarleaf, Veritas, White Hall, and Wintergreen.

Advance tickets are $15 and can be obtained at any of the participating wineries or online. Tickets will be available at the gate for $20. The festival will be open Saturday, April 21st and Sunday, April 22nd from 11:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. For more information, or to purchase advance-sale tickets, visit Monticello Wine Trail.

Contact:
Liz Bryant
Alliance Group
804-225-5829
liz@alliancegroupltd.com

Article provided by Liz Bryant of the Alliance Group.