We’ll be posting a couple of entries about our experiences in the Napa Valley region.  We tasted lots of wine, but we tended to stay away from the big guys like Coppola, Berenger, Sterling, etc.,  Not that we had anything against these wines, but Coppola wines can be sampled and/or purchased at any wine shop and supermarket in the country.  We decided to optimize our stay in Napa and opted to focus on small, boutique wineries that offered limited-production, quality wines (and knowledgeable staff!)  Most of the wineries that we visited tended to produce less than 5000 cases of wine; needless to say, these were not wines that could be purchased at the local wine shop or Safeway!

I’ll break up my experiences into “favorite” or “best” categories, and today I’ll feature our tasting room experiences:

Best Tasting Room Experiences:

Envy Wines: Comfortable tasting counter complete with bar stools.  Michael, our tasting assistant, expertly guided us through the full range of wine offered on the Vine Haven, Envy, and Carter labels.  The Carter wines are considered premium wines and routinely score in the 90s in Wine Spectator; they are also quite expensive so if you consider a splurge here, have a special occasion in mind.  We even got a barrel tasting of the upcoming Merlot.  The wines were also excellent.  My own favorites were the 06 Sauvignon Blanc, 05 Chardonnay, and the 06 Petit Sirah.  Paul also favored the 06 Petit Sirah as well as the 05 Merlot.

Limerick Lane:  Located in Sonoma, this winery is a must try for anyone looking for California wines that are more balanced than some of the bigger fruit/oak bombs found at other California wineries.  Only four wines on the tasting menu, but all were exceptional.  The 06 Orsi Vineyard Pinot Noir is done in a classic Burgundian style—soft, approachable and nuanced with strawberry/cherry flavors and velvety tannins.  It was my immediate favorite until I tried the 05 Zinfandel.  Lots of fruit and spice here without  a punch in the mouth—well balanced that could be sipped or enjoyed with food.  Paul starred the 06 1023, a blended red wine that offers a denser color and intensity with a long finish.  Our tasting was also accompanied by expert commentary from the associate who conducted our tasting.  We learned that the secret to Limerick Lane’s award winning wines is the complexity and intensity provided by grapes grown in various Sonoma vineyards.

Sawyer Cellars: This was actually the first winery that we visited and is located in the vaunted Rutherford Appellation.  Sawyer is a family owned operation, and we even got to meet owner Charles Sawyer.  Though three wines were listed for tasting, our tasting assistant offered two extras—a vibrant Rose and a very complex 04 Cabernet Sauvignon.   Sawyer Cellars grows all of its own grapes on 50 acres of land.  It only produces 4200 cases of wine.  Paul’s faves were the classic 06 Sauvignon Blanc with its citrus and flinty flavors and the 04 Estate merlot.  Though young, it exhibited big cherry and earthy flavors.  I tended to favor the complex 04 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon.  Dark currants and berries here with nice tannins. We learned that its complexity was the result of cabernet grapes picked from four different lots on the property.  It also earned 90 points in Wine Enthusiast and is considered a classic.

We recently visited Ingleside Vineyards to sample their latest offerings with an eye on wines more appropriate for summer menus.  These would include picnics, barbeques, deck parties, luaus—you get the idea.  Anyway, our visit was also an opportunity to visit with Bill Swain, winemaker at Ingleside Vineyards.  We did an interview with Bill a while ago, and we were looking forward to chatting with Bill about the newest and upcoming releases at Ingleside.

Actually, our visit began with a tour of the Ingleside facility by our gracious hostess, Amy Otis.  Amy is the public relations coordinator for Ingleside, and she guided us through a tour of the tasting rooms and barrel room.  Along the way, we did run into Bill Swain and his wife and assistant winemaker, Maria.  Amy and Bill allowed us sneak barrel samples of the upcoming Petit Verdot from the 2007 vintage—knock-out was my reaction!  Keep an eye out for the release of the Reserve which should satisfy any big-red wine lover.

However, our quest was for summer sippers, and Amy coordinated a tasting of Ingleside’s wines for us including some Black Label wines!  Several offerings fit the bill for special summer wines.  The peachy 2007 Pinot Grigio was fruity yet dry and should complement salads and seafood.  Another versatile pour and my gold star winner was the Rosato di Sangiovese.  The heady bright berry nose and vibrant strawberry and cranberry flavors should make this one a perfect partner for almost any meal that would range from a picnic at a Wolf Trap concert to a dinner party that featured grilled meats flavored with an herb marinade.  This stainless-steel fermented rose is made from 100% Sangiovese grapes.

Now summer wines usually mean sweeter wines, and I always have my friend a guest blogger Michael Tyler in mind when sampling wines with a bit of residual sugar.  The Blue Crab Blanc with its citrus flavors would certainly have a place on Michael’s wine rack.  Yet another seafood friendly wine, I pictured Michael on his deck while enjoying a glass of the Blue Crab Blanc with a crab cake dinner.  Paul tended to favor the Blue Crab Red, a blend of various red varietals that include chambourcin, merlot, cabernet sauvignon, sangiovese, and petit verdot.  At 1.5% residual sugar, it is a bit sweeter and should be chilled.

Of course, some folks might want a drier red wine with their barbeque or romantic sunset on the balcony.  The lighter-bodied Chesapeake Cabernet Merlot should certainly serve the purpose with its cherry/spicy flavors.  The fruity 2005 Merlot should also be considered for any grilled meat affair but can also be appreciated on its own.  Merlot fan Paul placed a star next to this one, and he jotted down “very cherry” on his tasting sheet.  Nice, soft tannins make the 2005 Merlot food and sipping friendly.

Now it’s not too early to think about fall and winter menus when wine tasting, and the 2005 Syrah could easily rest on the wine rack while waiting for a feast of herb-crusted beef tenderloin; likewise, the 2002 Virginia Gold seems destined for a hearty prime rib dinner on a chilly night.

As we swirled and sipped, Bill informed us that Ingleside is currently producing about 15,000 cases of wine.  A rare production of Pinot Noir is in the pipeline, and he was very excited about upcoming releases of the 2007 vintages especially the reds.

On another note, summer vacationers looking for things to do in Virginia may want to check out Virginia Cruises.  These cruises feature tours of Tangier island, the Rappahannock River, and Fredericksburg.  The Rappahanock River tour includes a stop at Ingleside Vineyards for a tour, tasting, and lunch in a specially appointed tasting room.

With our tasting and tour completed and several bottles of wine purchased, we bid adieus to Amy and Bill.  Of course, we will be back to Ingleside Vineyards, and do place a visit to Ingleside Vineyards on your list of wineries to visit in Virginia.  Be sure to mention that Virginia Wine Time sent you.

We did ask our friend Homer from Arizona to offer his take on wines offered by two more wineries in Loudon County: Hiddencroft Vineyards and Hillsborough Vineyards.  With no arm-twisting needed, Homer agreed!

Our return to Hiddencroft Vineyards was also part of our research for an upcoming article in Edible Chesapeake on fruit wines (stay tuned!).  Homer is from Michigan and recalls picking cherries there while he was a young boy, so he was anxious to join us in our tasting/research.  Homer did enjoy the Traminette with its fruity nose and flavors; however, it was indeed the cherry wine that earned his highest praise.  He appreciated the rich cherry flavor that seemed perfectly balanced—cherry character without cloying sweetness or mouth puckering sourness.  With a chocolate treat, it became almost decadent!  I was intrigued with the blackberry wine which was also offered intense flavor.  It was billed as being slightly sweet, but its impression in the mouth was certainly drier.  We gave new homes to a bottle of each berry wine, and we also got to chat with the Housels about the production of fruit wines as well as upcoming releases that will include a Tannat.

Last up was Hillsborough.  Homer’s award for favorite white was the Opal with its fuller mouth feel.  My own nod went to the bold Bloodstone which should do just fine on the wine rack for a couple years.  A mix of dark berries and plum in the mouth with aromas of leather and violet, a heavy meat dish should do just fine with this one.  Homer did check-mark the dessert wine, Moonstone and thought it was “yummy”. We were going to treat Homer to a glass of his favorite wine at Hillsborough, but we were informed that wines could only be enjoyed by the bottle.  We weren’t really in the mood to drink a whole bottle of wine, so we left and resolved to remember this rule the next time we visit Hillsborough.

So we thank Homer for his guest commentaries, and of course, we suggest that you place visits to Hiddencroft Vineyards and Hillsborough Vineyards on your agenda.  Be sure to mention that Virginia Wine Time sent you!

We’re back!

Our friend, Homer, was in town for a visit this weekend, and we brought him along to sample some Virginia wines. Homer brought along his discerning palate and shared his notes with us to post on the blog.

Our first stop was Corcoran Vineyards, and we were guided through our tasting by owner and wine maker, Lori Corcoran. She made Homer feel at ease with the challenges of wine tasting and before long she had him swirling and sipping like a sommelier. Homer was impressed with wines, and his favorite white wines were the 2007 Viognier and the 2006 Chardonnay. In the end, Homer awarded his gold star to the 2007 Viognier. On the nose, Homer noted floral and strong peachy characteristics. “Peachy” was the adjective Homer stressed when describing its taste, and he also appreciated its smooth, clean finish. I concurred with Homer’s praise for the 2007 Viognier; in fact, more expert palates than ours also concur as Corcoran’s 2007 Viognier won gold in the Virginia State Fair wine competition.

Of the reds, Homer gave a nod to the 2006 Cabernet Franc with its peppery/smoky characteristics. I appreciated the lush berry fruits that hit the mouth. This one should compliment any grilled beef or lamb dish especially if done with spices or rubs. Paul’s own favorite was the 2006 Meritage, and no wonder—its blend includes Merlot! Other partners in the Meritage blend include Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc.

As we tasted, we were able to catch up with Lori, and she was very excited about the other 2007 vintages that will be released. We’re anxious to sample the 2007 Meritage which will feature Malbec as part of the blend. Lori was also quite pleased with current developments in the vineyards and was optimistic that the 2008 crop will produce more award winning wines.

We concluded our tasting and enjoyed a bottle of the 2007 Viognier with a picnic lunch that included chicken and pasta tossed with fresh herbs and olive oil. (A bottle of the 2006 Cabernet Franc came home for a future beef dinner!) The raindrops held off as we wined, dined, and chatted. Homer informed us that Arizona is beginning to pop with wineries especially in the Sonoita/Patagonia region of the state, and vineyards in this region tend to favor Bordeaux and Rhone varietals Though he has not visited any of the wineries in Arizona, his trip to Virginia wineries may inspire him to do so!

With lunch and tastings concluded, we bid our farewells to Lori. Place Corcoran Vineyards on your list of Virginia wineries to visit, and mention that Virginia Wine Time sent you.