The end of summer is upon us now, and it finishes with quite a bang as the area finally gets its own dose of excessive heat. Paul and I visited a few wineries instead of a real vacation, and I recap some of our favorite wines of the 2023 summer.
Glen Manor always tops our list of wineries to visit, and I was particularly interested in sampling its 2022 Vin Blanc, a blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Petit Manseng. Its fruity aromas and bright, fresh palate paired well with a warm summer day and dragonflies that flitted about outside. The Sauvignon Blanc consistently earns my top marks, and the 2022 vintage was no exception. This vintage presented tropical fruit notes and seemed destined to be enjoyed with shellfish. We frequently attend concerts at Wolf Trap and, several days later, brought along a bottle of Glen Manor’s 2022 Morales Rose to sip as the sultry vocals of pianist Diana Krall serenaded us.
Another day, we completed a club member pick-up at Delaplane Cellars; of course, we tasted the current releases offered at the winery. The non-oaked 2022 Chardonnay offered a light touch on the palate with pear and citrus flavors. It was perfect with light cheeses that we brought along for the afternoon tasting. The 2020 reds in Virginia seem fruity and accessible, and this was the case for the 2020 Rusticity. Buy this one now to enjoy with grilled fare and an al fresco dinner.
Finally, Paul and I journeyed to Capstone Vineyards, and we restocked on its sparkling wine and the 2022 C2 blend of Chardonnay and Chenin Blanc. We also purchased a bottle of the 2022 Vintner’s Blend, a wine that unleashes a pleasant fruity, berry assault in the mouth—-buy to enjoy now or savor in the fall. However, with the Capstone Sparkling Wine, we officially said our goodbyes to summer on Labor Day, and I made one final toast to my retirement, which formally began on July 1 of this year. Our last clink of the flutes signaled a new beginning for me!
What were some of your favorite Virginia wines this summer? Let us know. Plan a visit to the wineries mentioned here; of course, tell them Virginia Wine Time sent you!
The wine paired nicely with the filets. We noted dark seed berries, cedar, spice, a whiff of dried herbs and a hint of sandalwood. We thought it was a wonderfully smooth and elegant wine. It’s always fun to pull an older bottle wine from the rack to see how it’s progressing in the bottle. We think the 2012 could last a few more years on the rack. If you have it, consider enjoying it now or holding on to it for another few years.
