Category Archives: Wines

Two New and One Revisit

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In recent weeks we’ve visited two new wineries and re-visited another one. We’re always open to visiting new wineries and revisiting others to experience improvements. If I counted correctly the two new wineries are number 139 and 140. About 60 more to go!

Cobbler Mountain Cellars opened in June. Jeff and Laura McCarthy Louden have three acres of vines planted. They have cabernet sauvignon, chardonnay, and cabernet franc in the vineyards. They make about 600 cases a year. On the day we visited they had seven wines to taste. One of these was a unique hard apple cider produced from apples grown on the property. Of the wines we tasted I thought the 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon showed promise. I noted dark cherry flavors, soft tannins, and a smooth ending. I even bought a bottle to enjoy later. Cobbler Mountain Cellars will be participating in the Virginia Wine Showcase on February 18 and 19 at the Crystal Gateway Marriott in Arlington. Plan to visit them at the showcase and taste their wines. I’ll be looking for them there because Jeff told me he’ll be releasing his Petit Verdot. I look forward to tasting it!



Little Washington Winery is located in Washington Virginia and is owned and operated by Donna and Carl Henrickson. They have 25 acres of land with a beautiful view of the mountains. Currently there are two acres of Viognier planted with plans to plant an additional four acres of Bordeaux varietals will be planted this year. Currently they have three wines on the tasting menu. The first wine we tasted was the Mesmerized which is Viognier with 8% vidal. The Solstice which is a blend of Sauvignon Blanc, Vidal Blanc, Chardonnay, and Viognier was our second wine. This one has 1.5 residual sugar. This one became our favorite. We noted lemon and apricot and enjoyed the crisp edge. The final wine was the George which is a 50/50 blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Donna and Carl are interested in producing small lot wines. They are also conducting “Dirt Road Wines” from all over Virginia and the world. These are small lot wines that tasters wouldn’t normally be introduced to. Winemaker and sommelier Andrew Stover helps select the Dirt Road Wine selections. Little Washington Winery’s winemaker is Simone who you might know from Potomac Point. We think Little Washington Winery has a unique idea with the Dirt Road Wines. We look forward to returning and checking out the latest wines on the menu.



Imagine our surprise when we recently walked into Narmada Winery for a tasting and saw Lori Corcoran behind the tasting bar. We hadn’t been to Narmada for quite awhile and it was time to see what had changed. Lori is now the tasting room consultant. We were lucky to have her conduct our tasting. Most of the wines on the list were new to us. Of the wines we tasted there were some that stood out for their improvement since our last visit. Of the white wines I enjoyed the 2009 Chardonnay and Warren enjoyed the 2010 Viognier. The 2009 Melange is a blend of 40% Cabernet Franc, 40% Merlot, 10% Tannat, and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. We noted the fruit up front and a smooth, earthy finish. We consider this one a light bodied wine. A new wine to us was the 2009 Yash-Vir. It’s a blend of 40% Merlot, 30% Petit Verdot, 20% Cabernet Franc, and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. This Bordeaux style wine presented earthy, herbal notes with a lighter finish. I think the petit verdot brings complexity to this wine.


If you haven’t been to Cobbler Mountain Cellars or Little Washington Winery yet, give them a try. We’re sure you’ll find something you enjoy. And if you haven’t been to Narmada recently, return for another try. Maybe you’ll see Lori! And if you visit any of these wineries, be sure to tell them Virginia Wine Time sent you!

Linden Cellar Tasting

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We always look forward to an afternoon at Linden, and we make certain to sign up for the cellar tasting. Linden fans know that these tasting are verticals of white, red and dessert wines, and they allow tasters to compare vineyard-specific wines from the Boisseau, Avenius, and Hardscrabble sites. On a recent occasion, we were able to sample three 2009 Chardonnays, three 2008 red blends, and one dessert wine. Our favorites are presented here.

Readers already know the differences between the three sites and the wines that they produce, so no need to repeat that information here. (See previous posts to find out more about them.) A brief summary, though, might provide some review and perspective. The Boisseau Vineyard is the warmest site with more vigorous soils; they tend to produce the most accessible wines. Avenius Vineyards are on higher elevations and features very rocky, flinty soils while the Hardscrabble site is located on rocky slopes that contain granite and clay soils. Hardscrabble wines tend to be more complex.

With that review in mind, I’ll present our favorites at the cellar tasting. Our first vertical presented three 2009 Chardonnays, one from each site. We both concurred on the 2009 Hardscrabble Chardonnay. A true Burgundian-style wine, this complex Chardonnay was truly exquisite with floral, citrus and pear aromas; a tart apple flavor component suggested a crisper wine. My second choice was the rounder Boisseau Chardonnay that seemed more New World compared to the Hardscrabble. A creamier texture and toastier edge suggested a more food-friendly wine, but I’d sip it on its own.

We reached a split decision on the red wines. I favored the complex 2008 Hardscrabble Red with its dried berry and cocoa flavors. I underlined the words firm and dusty on the tasting sheet, so I concurred with those notes. I’m a big Hardscrabble Red fan anyway, so my decision may have already been made before I tasted the 2008 vintage. Paul preferred the more fruit-forward Boisseau Red; Petit Verdot prevails here and may explain the darker fruit and spice components that he noted on the tasting sheet.

The 2006 Late Harvest Vidal concluded our tasting, and it was paired with a Gorgonzola cheese. Lovely apricot, citrus and honey elements prevailed here, and it was a decadent way to end the experience.

With our tasting done, we opted to enjoy summer sausage and cheddar cheese on the veranda while gazing upon Linden’s gorgeous mountain views. Jim Law promises a Zen experience, and he does indeed deliver. We enjoyed a glass of the featured library wine, the earthy 2003 Claret with our lunch. 2003? The year of Hurricane Isabel? Yes, it offered proof that experienced and diligent wine makers can make quality wines even in off years. Smoky aromas with dried fruit and tobacco notes were observed, and tannins were velvety smooth. It proved to be the perfect local wine to enjoy with local foods and local landscapes.

Plan a trip to Linden and be sure to participate in the cellar tasting. A knowledgeable staff member conducts these sessions, and you are sure to get an education in micro-climates, vineyard-specific sites, and the wines that are produced by the premier winemaker in Virginia. Be sure to mention that Virginia Wine Time sent you.

Swirl at Twisted Vines

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We always like to applaud local establishments that promote local wines, and Twisted Vines is just such a place. Twisted Vines is a wine bar in Arlington owned by Josh and Sybil Robinson, and they maintain a wine list that always includes at least eight Virginia wines; as an added “twist”, they also host a monthly program called Swirl. Swirl events pair local wine with local art, and we were able to attend this month’s showcase that featured wines by Annefield Vineyards and photography by artist Daniel Taylor. Annefield Vineyards owners Stephen Ballard and Michael Leary were on hand to pour their wines which included the 2010 Viognier, the 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon, and the 2008 Annefield Red.

We’ve praised the wines from Annefield Vineyards in the past, and we were excited to sample these wines again at Swirl. The fruity Viognier, earthier Cabernet Sauvignon, and complex Annefield Red continue to show well and showcase the winemaking talents of winemaker Michael Shaps. We were also able to chat with Stephen and Michael about the 2011 season and their expectations for releases from that harvest. Their part of the state, which is in the south, was spared the constant rainfall and dismal weather that plagued vineyards in the eastern part of the state. Consequently, they were fairly optimistic about the wines that will be produced. Of course, we look forward to sampling them!

As we swirled away, we also took in the photography of Daniel Taylor. His photographs captured the action at bullfights that he attended while visiting the Yucatan Peninsula. Checkout his website to find out more.

After our tasting, we also chatted with Twisted Vines owner Josh Robinson. Josh is committed to a “local” philosophy that includes not only wine and art but also food. Meats and cheeses on his menu were also locally produced. Of course, we were interested in hearing how Virginia wines are received at the wine bar, and his assessment was pretty much what we expected. According to Josh, though it sometimes takes some encouragement (and educating) to convince customers to try Virginia wines, once they do, they are convinced that the state does indeed produce quality wines. He has also hosted wine dinners that feature Virginia wines; on one such occasion, Linden wines were poured with heralded winemaker Jim Law on hand to present his wines.

We completed our afternoon at Swirl by enjoying a glass of the 2008 Annefield Red with charcuterie that included mild salami and a plate of white cheddar cheese. The buzz continued to swell as customers came in to taste wine and view art. For Annefield Vineyards, an opportunity to reach new tasters was achieved.

Our afternoon of wine and art was both tasty and enlightening. We weren’t familiar with Twisted Vines before, but we now have them on our radar for future events. And getting to taste the Annefield wines with Mike and Stephan was a bonus! Be sure to check out Twisted Vines in Arlington and plan to visit Annefield Vineyards. Be sure to tell them both Virginia Wine Time sent you!

Fundraising, Fun, and Virginia Wine

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Kurt Jensen and his wife, Carol, invited us to attend a fundraiser to benefit a youth program that is sponsored by their church, the Fairfax Unitarian Universalist Church. The program is the Fairfax Unitarian Universalist Summer Experience, or FUUSE, and it allows “youth to live out their values in the larger community.” Internship positions provide interns with an opportunity to expand their knowledge of social justice and to therefore heighten their connection to their local community. Young interns are placed with such organizations as the Alzheimer’s Family Day Center, Our Daily Bread, Northern Virginia Therapeutic Riding Program, and the Herndon Senior Center. To raise funds for the program, Kurt and Carol organized a tasting of Virginia wines that featured pours from Keswick Vineyards, Chester Gap Cellars, King Family Vineyards, White Hall Vineyards, and many others.


Paul and I met a number of newbies to Virginia wines at the event, and overall, the wines were very well received. Of course, tasters brought with them their own individual palates; therefore, favorites differed. Which were our favorites? I will list the wines here and note our favorites with an asterisk.

White Wines
Viognier
*Keswick Vineyards 2010, DuCard Signature Viognier 2010, Chester Gap 2009 Reserve

Chardonnay
*King Family 2009, Rappahannock Cellars 2009, 29 Vines Reserve 2009

Vidal Blanc
Crushed Cellars 2009, Vintage Ridge 2009 Summer Night, *Catoctin Creek 2010

Rose/Blush
North Gate 2010, *Hume 2010

Red Wines
Bordeaux-style Blends
Narmada Melange 2009, *Montfair Wooloomooloo 2009, Cobbler Mountain 2009 Meritage

Cabernet Franc
*Corcoran Vineyards 2009, Miracle Valley, 2008 White Hall Vineyards, Capitol Vineyards 2009

Chambourcin blends
Gadino Cellars Imagine, Pippin Hill Farm Winemaker’s Select Red, *Delfosse 2007 Cuvee Laurent

Dessert:
*AmRhein Ruby, Corcoran Cello, Lost Creek Courtney’s Christmas

Contributing to a good cause while sipping good wines always make for an enjoyable evening. We had a wonderful time, and Kurt and Carol did an amazing job organizing the event. Kudos to them! If readers want to know more about the FUUSE program, send e-mails to uucf@uucf.org.

Of course, we know that we will be meeting Kurt and Carol Jensen on the wine trail soon. In the meantime, visit the wineries listed above to sample their latest pours. Mention that Virginia Wine Time sent you.

King Cab Served at Breaux Vineyards

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Breaux Vineyards fans may already know that each year, the winery offers a series of vertical tastings that may include a vertical flight of merlot, cabernet sauvignon, nebbiolo, meritage blends, etc. This past weekend, we attended a vertical tasting that featured the king of Bordeaux grapes, Cabernet Sauvignon, and vintages since 2005 were served. These included barrel samples from the 2009 and 2010 vintages. A three-course menu was served with the flight of wines.

Tasters were greeted to the event with a tank sample of the 2011 Cabernet Rose, a very dry rose that already presented a nose of fresh strawberries. This Old World rose was an instant hit for me; it also called to attention the winemaking style of new winemaker David Castano. I expect that Castano’s wines will be more European with a focus on full fruit expression and nuanced earthy elements that make for elegant and food-friendly wines. Keep in mind that the difficult 2011 vintage will be Castano’s first as winemaker at Breaux, so this rose provided early signs of success.

So on to the Cabernets now and food course #1: jumbo prawn over thyme and Parmesan grits topped with wilted frisse and tomato oil. These were paired with the 2005 and 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon. Of the two, I preferred the muscular, earthy 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon with its dark fruit characteristics and tobacco nuances. (However, I must admit that I enjoyed the prawn even more with the rose.) The 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon was lighter bodied compared to its younger sibling; Paul seemed to appreciate this one more than the 2006 and observed violet notes with cherry flavors and a smooth finish.

Course #2: grilled free-range chicken over cappellini spun with truffle cream and crimin mushrooms tossed with goddess coulis. My favorite dish of the evening! And it was paired with my favorite wine of the evening—the 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon. It was presented next to the 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon, and the contrasts were obvious. The 2007 growing season was stellar in Virginia thus producing outstanding red wines. The Breaux Vineyards 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon lived up to the lofty expectations. Complex yet elegant, it delivered aromas and flavors of dark cherry, plum, cassis, and black pepper. I caught a whiff of pencil shavings; Paul described it as cedar. On the other hand, the 2008 presented a fruitier, riper profile with oaky elements that suggested it needed a bit more time to integrate more fully. The finish on this one seemed a bit shorter than the 2007. The 2008 growing season was a more classic one for Virginia that included a visit from hurricanes hence more rainfall.

And now course #3: grassfed beef braised with mushrooms over garlic croustade and wilted watercress. Barrel samples of the 2009 and 2010 vintages were partnered with this dish. Again, the contrasts were notable. The 2009 sample finished last on my list of wine preferences for the evening. “Green” was the word that I jotted down as I observed more vegetal aromas. Still young to be sure, I will be interested to taste this one down the road. The 2010, however, had potential written all over it. I would consider this one to be on par with the 2007 vintage. Though extremely young, dark fruit components were on full display as was a noted vanilla finish to suggest oak aging. This youthful kid was more than a match for the slow-cooked beef, earthy mushrooms, and stick-to-your ribs sauce.

As a New Orleans native, I appreciate lagniappe (or “something extra”), and the 2006 Late Harvest Breaux Soleil was our bonus pour of the evening. This blend of late harvest Vidal, Viognier, Semillion and Sauvignon Blanc exhibited a heady floral nose along with aromas of apricots, citrus and honey. It was certainly a lovely bonus and a nice way to finish the evening.

As we sipped and dined, winemaker David Castano introduced himself and explained that he hails from a family of winemakers in Spain. He expertly presented the wines and entertained questions from the crowd of tasters. In the process, we learned that all Cabernets at Breaux are blends from both American and French oak barrels, and Castano intends to continue this practice so as to maximize the benefits to the aging process offered by both types of barrels. As a side note, we also learned that Breaux neighbors, Grandale Farms Restaurant, will begin their own vineyard to be called Silhouette Vineyards. Details about this development were indeed scarce; needless to say, check in with Virginia Wine Time to keep abreast of the developing story.

We always enjoy wine and chatter with our fellow bloggers, and joining us for the evening were Allan Liska and Erika Johannsen from Cellarblog. I think that we all concurred on a decision that the 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon was the evening’s winner. The next vertical tasting will take place in March and feature Merlot, and we will certainly check our calendars for that event. In the meantime, plan a visit to Breaux Vineyards or perhaps even reserve a seat at the next vertical tasting in March. Please mention that Virginia Wine Time sent you.