Virginia Wine Showcase

Posted on Thursday, February 23, 2012 by Paul

On Saturday we went to the Virginia Wine Showcase held at the Crystal Gateway Marriott in Arlington. There were lots of wineries in attendance pouring many wines. It was great to see some old wine friends, catch up and taste wines we’ve had before. While it was great to visit many of the wineries we’ve visited in the past, it was also fun trying some new wines that we haven’t experienced in the past. While moving from booth to booth tasting wines, I kept track of a few wines of note. I thought they stood out enough to mention here.

Some of the wines I felt worth noting from the showcase are:

Rosemont of Virginia Pinot Grigio
Rosemont of Virginia Kilravock
Cobbler Mountain Cellars 2010 Petit Verdot
Well Hung Vineyards 2010 Everyday Chardonnay
Well Hung Vineyards 2010 Viognier
Well Hung Vineyards 2010 Merlot-Verdot
Savoy-Lee Winery 2006 Cabernet Franc
Annefield Vineyards 2008 Red (my favorite of the day)

Here are some pictures from the event. I did not have my best camera with me so these aren’t the best pictures I could have taken. But you get the idea.

Rose Tasting at Philip Carter Winery

Posted on Tuesday, February 21, 2012 by Warren

Valentine’s Day is now a fading memory, but we hope that love for Virginia is still in the air as we head toward spring. A recent visit to Philip Carter Winery found us participating in a blind tasting of roses from Virginia. The event was held on the snowy weekend before Valentine’s Day, and it featured four rose wines from across Virginia including Philip Carter’s 2011 Rose.

Tasters were asked to evaluate the wines based on color, aroma and taste. The blind tasting included the following wines: 2011 Danielle’s Rose from Philip Carter Winery, 2010 Make Me Blush from Naked Mountain Winery, 2010 Rose from Veritas Vineyards, and the 2010 Fiore from CrossKeys Vineyards. (For novices, blind means that although we knew which wines were being poured, we did not know one wine from the other when they were poured into our glasses. The labels were hidden from view.) Our panel of four tasters judged wine #4 to be the best in all categories. Its salmon-pink hue and strawberry/melon aromas were classic characteristics of Old World rose wines. In the taste category, it again earned the unanimous “best in show” award. Crisp and bone dry, it presented flavors that mirrored the enticing aromas that wowed the small group of tasters. Wine #3 likewise earned praise from the group with some banter between Paul and another taster about the possibility of Wine @2 scoring higher in the aroma category. In the end, though, it was #3 that won second place. Like wine #4, it was crisp and dry, but its tone was a much fainter pink; the aromas and flavors were likewise quite similar but less vibrant.

Wine #2 did induce conversation. Paul and another taster really liked the more fruit forward aromas with this one; however, a sip revealed a sweeter wine that, while refreshing, put it at odds with Wines #3 and #4. Its color was also the darkest of the four wines and on par with some Spanish roses that are popular during the summer. However, I do tend to tire of these sweeter rose wines rather quickly unless paired with really hot, 5-alarm barbeque sauces served with grilled fare on a 105-degree day in August. After some discussion, we all concurred that while wine #2 had its place, a winter’s afternoon (though a warm one by Virginia standards) was not one of them. That meant wine #2 placed third in the pecking order. Unfortunately, one of the rose wines had to finish last, and that was wine #1. Its color was somewhat similar to wine #3, but its nose suggested very sweet. And a taste revealed that it was sweetest of the contenders. I jotted down, “strawberry short cake in a glass.” Paul drew a frown face next to it. I do believe that this rose wine can be best appreciated in the summer and like wine #3 is best suited for a hot day; in fact, I’d serve this as a dessert wine with cheesecake. However, next to the drier rose wines that were poured, it did seem less elegant and sophisticated.

Okay—so which wines were which? Here they are:

1. Wine #4—2010 Rose from Veritas Vineyards
2. Wine #3—2011 Danielle’s Rose from Philip Carter Winery
3. Wine #2—2010 Fiore from CrossKeys Vineyards
4. Wine #1—2010 Make Me Blush from Naked Mountain Winery

Rose wines have made a comeback in recent years, and we hope that the sickly sweet White Zinfandel craze that tarnished the reputation of rose is well behind us. As this tasting proved, Virginia wineries can produce some excellent rose wines. Before we left Philip Carter Winery, we made sure to purchase a bottle of the 2011 Danielle’s Rose made from the Tinta Cao grape. I also made a note to procure a bottle (or two) of the 2010 Rose from Veritas Vineyards.

Whether your tastes for rose wines are dry or sweet, Virginia wineries are certain to have a rose or blush wine to please. Of course, you need to get on the wine trails to find out where your favorites are being produced. Visit the wineries mentioned in the post to conduct your own comparison but mention that Virginia Wine Time sent you.

MS Fundraiser at Vinifera Wine Bar

Posted on Wednesday, February 15, 2012 by Warren and Paul

Allan Liska of Cellarblog organizes an annual wine tasting fundraiser to help in the fight against multiple schlerosis. This year the event was held at Vinifera Wine Bar in Reston, and since it took place on February 12, just two days before Valentine’s Day, chocolates from a local chocolatier called MC2 Confections were also served. Loudoun County wineries poured their wines at the event, and these included 8 Chains North, Fabbioli Cellars, Loudoun Valley Vineyards, Notaviva Vineyards, and Tarara Winery.

The bar was absolutely packed when we arrived as attendees lined up at tasting tables to enjoy tasting samples of Virginia wines. We also made certain to enjoy the chocolates. A favorite wine and dark chocolate pairing is always the Raspberry Merlot from Fabbioli Cellars. White wines were also poured, though, and I did enjoy a fume-style Sauvignon Blanc poured by Jordan Harris of Tarara Winery.

We also ran into the dynamic duo who write Swirl, Sip, Snark. We compared tasting notes and caught up with our travels on the wine trails.

Wine and chocolates are always a great way to celebrate Valentine’s Day. It’s even better when the wine and chocolates are locally produced and then team up for a good cause. Allan Liska’s goal was to raise $4000 from the event, and we hear they surpassed $7000! That’s great!

Vinefera was so packed for the successful event, it was difficult to take some decent photos. Even without the photos, we had a great time enjoying the wines and chocolates. If you visit any of the wineries mentioned or even MC2 Confections, let them know Virginia Wine Time sent you!

Cabernet and Chocolates

Posted on Monday, February 13, 2012 by Paul

On Saturday we attended the annual Cabernet and Chocolates event at Gray Ghost. We always have a great time enjoying the chocolates and red wines. This year Gray Ghost released the Vidal Blanc on this chocolate filled weekend. We enjoyed the new Vidal with it’s melon and crisp fruity flavors. Of course we enjoyed the red wines as well. The merlot was my favorite paired with the chocolates. Here are some pictures from the event:

Loudoun Sweep

Posted on Friday, February 10, 2012 by Warren

Our crazy winter weather continues to unfold; last week, I was able to jog outdoors wearing shorts and a t-shirt. However, a colder weekend at the end of January did bring the threat of snow and ice. The snow event never happened, and that gave us the chance to visit Swedenburg Estate Vineyard and Chrysalis Vineyards without worries about slick roads. (It also gave me a chance to wear my new sweater!)

Swedenburg Estate Vineyard: Curtis Vincent has assumed command of the winemaking at Swedenburg, and the white wines that we tasted were of his creation. The 2010 Chantilly made from Seyval Blanc was very crisp with citrus and mineral characteristics. Lean and clean indeed! This one should pair quite nicely with shellfish. I also enjoyed the 2010 Chardonnay that was fermented in French oak barrels. A fuller mouth feel and creamier texture suggested some malolactic fermentation. It presented pear and apple notes with hints of cedar to boot.

Although we missed Curtis on the particular visit, we did note improvements in the quality of the wines under his craftsmanship. We also learned that winery is up for sale, and we hope that any potential buyer will continue Swedenburg’s winemaking legacy that began with Wayne and Juanita Swedenburg over 25 years ago.

Chrysalis Vineyards: Our visit here was actually part of a VIP pick up party that featured wine tastings and food. Chrysalis fans may know that renowned chef Hump Astorga has left Chrysalis; however, there is no need to despair. VIP events will still include gourmet treats that will be prepared by guest chefs.

Of course, wine was our primary interest, and the current offerings were the creations of winemaker Alan Kinne. “Elegant” and “polished” were the words that I used to describe Kinne’s wines. The 2010 Chardonnay, done in stainless steel, was crisp and lean with apple notes and a no-holds-barred minerality. Of course, Viognier is the flagship white wine here, and the 2010 bottling presented the rich stone fruit flavors and luxurious mouth feel that defines Chrysalis’ Viognier. Kinne’s expertise, though, shined brightly with the 2009 Norton Estate Bottled and the complex 2009 Norton Locksley Reserve. Norton and its acidic nature can be difficult to tame, but Kinne accomplished the task and more with these world-class wines. The former was blended with some Petit Verdot while the latter usually includes Petit Verdot and other varietals; however, both were rich with dark fruit and spicy aromas and flavors. In the end, I leaned heavily toward the 2009 Locksley Reserve; earthy elements and a lengthier finish complemented a full-fruit presence in the mouth. Both are sitting on my wine rack, but I think the Locksley Reserve will be napping for quite a while.

We ran in to owner Jenni McCloud, and she updated us on her renovation plans. The new tasting room is on target to proceed, and current plans will provide for a versatile, taster-friendly facility. Tasters can opt for either a personally guided tasting of wines with a tasting associate or conduct a self-guided tour at a tasting station. The self-guided tastings will resemble the enomatic stations at a tasting bar, and tasters would use debit-type cards to sample Chrysalis wines. We will be sure to chart the progress of this development!

And so food and wine—Asparagus tarts and clam chowder were served at the tasting event, and I enjoyed both with the 2010 Chardonnay. In fact, I pleaded for a second serving of the clam chowder; it was the perfect comfort food on a very cold day.

Whether it’s warm or cold outside, a visit to Virginia wineries is sure to please. Visit Swedenburg Estate Vineyard and Chrysalis Vineyards to sample their latest pours. Be sure to mention that Virginia Wine Time sent you.