Our visit to Central Virginia wineries included two other stops: Cardinal Point Vineyards and Winery and Barboursville Vineyards.
It’s always nice to run into Sarah Gorman at Cardinal Point Vineyards. Sarah is the sister of winemaker Tim Gorman, and she can usually be found in the tasting room greeting customers. We were anxious to try the latest releases at Cardinal Point and as always, we started with the white wines. My favorite was the 2006 Viognier with its peachy nose and subtle honey texture. Paul’s nod went to the 2007 A6 which is a blend of Viognier and Chardonnay and presented a nice, crisp finish. Summer sippers may want to try the 2007 Rose, a new offering from Cardinal Point. Made from Cabernet Franc, this Rose bursts with ripe strawberry flavors. Of the reds, we both tended to favor the 2006 Cabernet Franc with its smokey/herby nose and bright berry flavors.
As we sipped and chatted, we also found out that Cardinal Point is celebrating its fifth year as a winery. Of course, we offered our congrats, and then savored a glass of the Rose out on the patio after we finished our tasting. It was a perfect wine to enjoy on a bright but comfortable spring afternoon.
No visit to central Virginia wineries would be complete without a visit to Barboursville Vineyards. I’ll be brief here as we always write about Barboursville, but we did sample lots of new offerings this time around. Paul’s own faves were the 2007 Sauvignon Blanc and the 2006 Chardonnay. I preferred the 2007 Chardonnay Reserve which is barrel fermented and aged for eight months. Lovely body with this one with nice pear and vanilla flavors. Paul appreciated the vibrant citrus characteristics of the Sauvignon Blanc and noted its bright acidity. Of course, the 2006 Rose is always one to recommend for the summer.
The red wines were likewise well-crafted, and we both starred the fruity 2006 Merlot, a drink-me-now cherry/berry bomb that might win over even the most diehard Merlot critics. Paul purchased a bottle to bring to family a gathering, and it was the hit of the party. For those looking for age-worthy contenders, the 8th edition 2005 Octagon is the winner. A finely crafted blend of Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Petit Verdot, the 2005 Octagon continues the outstanding Octagon lineage. Darker fruit notes and flavors here with leather in the background will make for a fine accompaniment to a heavy beef dish, but do consider this one for a special anniversary, graduation, etc., Aging will only make this one even better! Available for purchase but not tasting is the venerated 1998 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve which took home the Governor’s Cup this year. Barboursville’s wines consistently score well in Wine Spectator, and it’s always a treat to sample their wines. And be sure to reserve for dinner at the renowned Palladio restaurant—Paul was disappointed that we had not planned a dinner there, but we’ll certainly reserve for the next time!
Be sure to plan a trip to Cardinal Point Vineyard and Winery and Barboursville Vineyards, and mention that Virginia Wine Time sent you!