On another weekday outing, we visited Pearmund Cellars for a tasting. It’s remarkable how quieter things are in the tasting rooms during the weekday! For those who wish to avoid the buzz and crowds and enjoy a more intimate afternoon of wine, conversation and food, a mid-week visit to a local winery may just fit the bill.

Since our last write up about Pearmund Cellars, several new releases have been added to the tasting menu. In fact, most of the white wines were indeed new to us. Our friend and fellow blogger, Dezel, recently raved about Pearmund’s Sauvignon Blanc, and we concurred with his stellar review. In fact, it earned Paul’s gold star. Lemon and grass notes observed here with similar flavors and a nice acidity. Sublte tropical undertones might be noted as well and may be attributed to the 15% blending of Viognier with this Sauvignon Blanc. For those on the prowl for nice summer wines, the 2006 Riesling may be in order. Clear in color with citrus aromas, the 2006 Riesling is perfect for sipping with light cheeses and fresh melon.

We moved on to the red wines, and the 2005 Malbec was a new experience for us. A garnet colored gem, the 2005 Malbec presented a bright red berry bouquet with softer hints of spice. Here was a more fruit-forward wine with a softer finish that can certainly be enjoyed with grilled chops yet can also be enjoyed on its own. However, the other red wines were just as satisfying. Paul’s personal favorite is always Lisa’s Merlot with its deep cherry profile. However, Warren still had a gold star to issue, and his was presented to the 2004 Ameritage. This Bourdeaux blend is a classic with more complexity and nuances. It presented a longer finish and is destined to age well on the wine rack.

Winery outings for us usually means lunch and a decision to make about which wine to enjoy with our meal. We brought along herbed chicken, Manchego cheese, fresh berries and crusty bread; the cheese drove our decision. Manchego benefits from pairing with fruit-driven red wines, and we decided that Pearmund’s 2005 Malbec would do quite nicely. Once out on the front patio, we lingered over lunch and wine while watching butterflies flutter to and fro.

Alas, time seemed to fly by as quickly as our brightly winged friends, and it was time to depart. However, we did relieve Pearmund Cellars of at least one bottle of 2006 Sauvignon Blanc. Of course, we will return to sample Pearmund’s futures releases; however, readers will want to visit Pearmund even sooner. Remember to let them know that Virginia Wine Time sent you!

August, 2007 is an important month for a pioneer winery in Virginia. Oasis Winery turns 30! We recently visited Oasis Winery and caught up with Michaele Salahi; of course, we tasted the wines there and brought along some lunch–no surprises there, right?

As many readers may know, Oasis Winery is usually mobbed on the weekends; so, we decided to visit on a week day when things were more sedate. This was a great decision—we arrived in the early afternoon and got to chat with Michaele and then received a very informative tasting from Lori, our tasting associate. On top of that, we were able to enjoy the breath-taking mountain view that Oasis offers from its outdoor patio all to ourselves!

Now on to the wines. With gold stars in hand, we sipped and savored. Of the whites, we both agreed that the favorite was the Barrel Select Chardonnay. With its enticing pale straw color, this oak-aged Chardonnay presented scents and flavors of apple and pear with a nice vanilla/buttery accent on the finish. Friendly with poultry or shellfish, the Barrel Select Chardonnay is done in the classic French style (which in American means not overly oaked). Though this was the favorite, don’t rule out the Dogwood Flower Chardonnay, a non-oaked option that is semi-dry yet refreshing on a warm day. In fact, Paul checked this one as a bottle to bring home!

So what about the reds? The unanimous choice was the limited-production American Tribute. Though not part of the regular tasting, this one can be sample for a $10.00 fee; it’s worth the splurge. The American Tribute was produced to commemorate Virginia’s 400th anniversary and was poured for Queen Elizabeth II when she recently visited the former colony now premier wine-producing state in America. American Tribute represents a cooperative project between Oasis Winery and Hewitson Wines of Barossa Valley in Australia. It is a blend of 95% Shiraz and 5% Viognier, and the result is described in the tasting notes—intense. Very bold and full-bodied, the American Tribute presented dry fruit, leather and spice in the mouth. The ultimate cigar wine but must be enjoyed on a special occasion with leg of lamb, the American Tribute can be enjoyed now but will benefit from some aging. (Paul favored this one with grilled veggies!) For those who prefer a less assertive yet elegant red wine, try the 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve. Aged in French oak, this Bourdeaux-style red wine is softer and easy to enjoy even in the midst of summer either on its own or with a favorite grilled beef dish.

In the course of our tasting, we were able to catch up with Michaele Salahi. She was very excited to see us, and she readily shared with us that Oasis plans to celebrate its 30th anniversary with a special event on August 25. This will include a winemaker’s dinner and a blessing of the vines, an ancient tradition. Michaele also shared a very interesting story. In the mid-1970s, Oasis founders Corinne and Dirgham Salahi had a vision of owning a winery in Virginia, a region thought to be unsuitable for wine-making. At the same time, the founders of the renowned Inn at Little Washington held a similar vision of opening a world-class restaurant in rural Virginia despite objections from well-meaning family and friends that such a thing was impossible. The outcome for all concerned? Both Oasis Winery and the Inn at Little Washington are long-running success stories and have earned international accolades as a result.

Our tasting completed, we only had to decide on our lunch partner. Grilled chicken with herbs, almonds, and a block of Emmental cheese waited patiently in the trunk of the car, and we went with our gold-starred favorite, the Barrel Select Chardonnay. We settled on a perfect outdoor location so as to enjoy the mountain landscape and vineyards, and Lori brought out our Chardonnay perfectly chilled and resting in an ice bucket. As we dined and sipped, Paul and I noted colorful butterflies hovering atop fragrant flowers and various species of birds that ranged from long-winged hawks to brightly hued cardinals.

Lunch came to an end, and we bid our farewells to Michaele and Lori. We do plan to return and hope to do so with our friend, Michael Tyler. Oasis Winery is his favorite, and we marked wines that we know he will enjoy. Before then, do visit Oasis Winery and let the friendly staff know that Virginia Wine Time sent you!

We recently visited Rappahannock Cellars to taste their latest offerings. It had been several months since our last outing to Rappahannock, and some changes awaited us. This time around, we were able to choose between two flights for tasting. Flight #1 featured mostly non-oaked white wines and lighter-bodied reds. Flight #2 offered fuller-bodied white wines and bolder reds. We decided to each tackle a flight; Paul opted to sample Flight #1, and Warren agreed to try Flight #2. (Of course, we knew that we would be sneaking a taste from each others’ flights.)

Of the whites, gold stars were awarded to the 2006 Meriwether Vineyard Chardonnay from Flight #1 and the 2006 Viognier from Flight #2. The 2006 Meriwether Vineyard Chardonnay offered citrus aromas and flavors with a satisfying crispness that qualified this wine for the ultimate appertif or picnic wine. The 2006 Viognier was likewise crisp with citrus characteristics. Here was yet another option for those looking either for an appertif or a pleasant wine to pack along with the picnic.

The 2006 Rose was offered on both flights, and we both enjoyed this Rose crafted from a blend of several red grapes to include Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Petit Verdot. Bright strawberry flavors were noted here with other hints of melon and raspberry. We both noted a dry finish. We’ve stated in previous posts that Virginia is producing some lovely Roses, and the 2006 Rose from Rappahannock is no exception. It’s a versatile wine destined to please any palate.

Now on to the reds. Paul’s gold star was presented to the 2005 Claret. Rustic yet smooth were words that he used to describe this lush blend of Cabernet Franc, Norton, and Petit Verdot. Paul is partial to Norton, and that may explain his descriptors. Barbeque ribs (or any barbequed item, for that matter) would partner well with the 2005 Claret. Warren placed his gold star next to the 2005 Cabernet Franc. He noted the presence of darker fruit with shades of spice and smoke. Nice acidity and a lengthier finish rounded out the experience with the 2005 Cabernet Franc. A consistent gold medal winner for Rappahannock Cellar, the 2005 Cabernet Franc is yet another food friendly wine to be enjoyed with beef, lamb, or spicy holiday fare.

We should also mention that now we are in the midst of summer’s abundant harvests of fresh fruit that the 2006 Vidal Blanc would marry quite well with any fruit-driven dessert such as cobblers. However, consider an experiment with bolder cheeses and this dessert wine.

Call it a small world, but as we made our way to the tasting bar at Rappahannock, we ran into our friends, Robin and Jason. We compared some of our notes, and they seemed to enjoy several wines on the tasting menu including the Meriwether Vineyard Chardonnay, the 2006 Rose, and the 2005 Cabernet Franc. We all made our purchases and bid our farewells to the helpful tasting staff at Rappahannock Cellars. Of course, we will return, but readers will want to visit sooner. Please mention that Virginia Wine Time sent you!

Here we will list some great Virginia wines that we have enjoyed with favorite meals. Can you add to the list? Please let us know!

1. Grilled chicken with citrus marinade and seasoned rice

Paired with: 2005 Albarino from Chrysalis Vineyards

2. Summer tomato salad with fresh basil and mozzarella drizzled with olive oil

Paired with: 2005 Rose from Barboursville Vineyards

3. Chunky chicken salad with lemon dressing and fresh cilantro

Paired with: 2005 Pinot Grigio from Prince Michel Vineyard and Winery

4. Crispy fried spicy fish with jasmine rice

Paired with: 2005 Viognier from Horton Cellars