Our friend and guest blogger Michael Tyler was anxious to join us for a wine tasting at Chrysalis Vineyards this past weekend. As readers may know, Michael prefers fruitier and even sweeter wines; therefore, his preferences are different than ours, and that’s just fine with us. So on a rainy afternoon, we all paid a visit to Chrysalis Vineyards to sample the latest releases.

Actually, we were due for a tasting at Chrysalis Vineyards as many new releases from the stellar 2007 vintage were on the menu. We armed Michael with his own gold stars, and we set him loose at the tasting bar. Of the white wines, Michael awarded the 2007 Viognier with his gold star award. He noted flowers on the nose and liked the melon fruit in the mouth. This is an outstanding Viognier, and we concurred with Michael’s choice. Don’t miss out on the 2007 Chardonnay—not many bottles of this one were left, and I made sure to make off with one of them. Done in the California style, this is a full-bodied, well balanced Chardonnay with a nice texture. Vanilla/nut nose with rich pear and apple flavors, it’s a must-have Chardonnay for Chardonnay lovers.

I did make a prediction before our tasting that Michael’s ultimate favorite would be the 2007 Sarah’s Patio Red, and I was not disappointed. In fact, Michael awarded two stars to the Patio Red. Between sips, Michael observed its bright ruby color and fell in love with its fruity nose. Bright berry flavors with a tart finish made this one an instant hit with Michael. The 2007 release did seem less sweet than in previous years, and the color alone makes it a stand out. I did note tart cranberry in the mouth; serve well-chilled, and this one is the ultimate deck sipper, pizza wine, or summer concert wine. However, for larger holiday gatherings when different palates have different tastes, the 2007 Patio Red might be the red wine of choice for white wine drinkers.

Now Paul was carefully reserving his gold stars for a red wine, and he found it with the 2004 Norton Estate Bottled. After a skillful swirl and sniff of this one, Paul observed notes of leather and tobacco with dry fruit flavors. Michael tended to prefer the jammier 2006 Norton Barrel Select that he likened to a Pinot Noir in character.

My own favorites? My own gold stars were awarded to the 2004 Petit Verdot and the 2004 Norton Locksley Reserve. The 2004 Petit Verdot possessed a dense cherry nose with extracted fruit flavors and a spicy edge. The 2004 Norton Locksley Reserve follows the heralded 2003 vintage in boldness and complexity. After 16months in oak and three years in the bottle, this one could still sit on the wine rack for a quite a while longer. However, it’s hard not to appreciate it now. Concentrated dark fruit flavors dominate but look for a mocha treat as it is released in the mouth.

Lunch? Of course! We brought along some spicy sausage, hummus with red peppers, a hard goat’s milk cheese, and a baguette. Considering our different palates and the spicy edge of our lunch items, we all agreed on the 2005 Rubiana. A blend of Nebbiolo, Fer Servadou, Graciano, and Tempranillo, the 2005 Rubiana was the perfect fruit-driven red wine to enjoy with lunch. We must add that tasting room manager, Ron Camp, was extremely accommodating and set us up with a table and chairs in the barrel room. It was raining quite heavily by lunch time, and the respite from the downpour was most appreciated. Get out to Chrysalis Vineyards to taste the new releases and tell Ron and the others that Virginia Wine Time sent you!

A recent trip to the Charlottesville area included a visit to Pollak Vineyards in Greenwood. We noted a nice, airy tasting room with ample space and enclosed by numerous windows that offered a panoramic view of fading fall colors. Pollak Vineyards opened its tasting room to the public in the spring of 2008, and it began with a vision by owners Margo and David Pollak. Their goal was to build upon the quality already established by pioneers in the Virginia wine industry, and they consult with renowned winemaker Michael Shaps and viticulturist Chris Hill to produce excellent wines.

Of course, we like to think that it’s our own reviews that matter most (not really), and we approached the tasting bar armed with our herald and much sought-after gold stars. Paul’s favorite white wine and a double gold award went to the 2007 Pinot Gris. He noted citrus flavors with a flinty character and suggested that a stainless-steel aging made this one a refreshing, versatile pour. Sippers who favor a stainless steel treatment should also try the 2007 Virginia Chardonnay. Nice fruity wine with a lovely citrusy nose, this one is fermented in oak but finished in stainless steel.

I reserved my own gold star for the 2006 Cabernet Franc. A dense garnet color suggested a more complex wine, and the aromatic experience included heady notes of mixed berries, cedar, and pepper. Ripe dark berries in the mouth finished with some mocha and nice tannins. (Steak was in order, but that was not available on the tasting menu!) Paul’s preference amongst the red wines was the 2005 Meritage. This blend includes Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot, and Paul jotted down, “fruity nose, pencil shavings, too”, and then “lots of cherry” after a careful sip.

After our tasting, we shared a glass of the 2006 Cabernet Franc and enjoyed the view on a chilly fall afternoon. Pollak Vineyards currently has 25 acres planted in grape vines and produces 5000 cases of wine, and we envisioned a positive future for Pollak Vineyards. Of course, we will return to Pollak to sample upcoming releases, but in the meantime be sure to visit Pollak Vineyards. Mention that Virginia Wine Time sent you!

During a recent visit to wineries in the Charlottesville area, we decided to pay a visit to Veritas Vineyard and Winery. “Spacious” and “palatial” might be apt descriptors for the Veritas grounds and facility, and on a fall afternoon, the view can be described as stunning. However, we were interested in wine, and we sidled up to the tasting bar to record our critiques of current pours.

It had been quite a while since we visited Veritas, so we were anxious to sample all of Veritas’ current releases. As always, lunch was in the car, so an appropriate wine pairing was also in the back of our minds. Fourteen wines were up for tasting—as this can be quite daunting, we decided to share tastings. Paul skillfully reviewed the white wines, and he sometimes offered me a sip from his glass. We do tend to have different tastes in white wines; I like full-bodied whites, but Paul likes fruity sippers. Therefore, I was not shocked to see him place a “star” next to the 2007 Chardonnay. Why? It was done in stainless steel (a Paul favorite), and of fered citrusy flavors with a crisp, clean finish that would win over any Chardonnay hater. However, we both concurred on the 2007 Viognier. A sniff of this one conjures images of Hawaii and other tropical destinations—floral nose with ripe tropical fruit flavors were accompanied by a lovely honeyed texture. Not surprisingly, this Viognier spends 2/3 of its rest period on French oak with the remainder in stainless steel. This one seemed to satisfy both of our preferences—a full bodied wine packed with fruit flavors. Pay attention to the 2006 Petit Manseng, too. Petit Manseng is becoming the Petit Verdot of white wines in Virginia. Petit Manseng is a little-known varietal grown in France but is fast becoming a flagship varietal in Virginia. The Veritas offering presents a coconut nose and flavors with a creamy mouth feel; this lush offering is destined to be a crowd pleaser.

So on to the reds, and it was my turn to do the tasting. (I did offer short sips to Paul when I wanted his input!) By far, the gold star favorite was the 2006 Cabernet Franc Reserve. A seductive dark berry nose then gave way to a presentation of cherries and black currants in the mouth. I also observed some peppery characteristics with a lengthier finish. Paul’s own favorite was the 2006 Vintner’s Reserve. He appreciated its garnet color and spicy/caramel nose. He noted mixed berry flavors and silky tannins that made this one an easy wine to drink.

So what did we pair with lunch? With honeyed ham and fruit salad in the cooler, we went with the 2007 Viognier. Adirondack chairs offered comfortable seating to enjoy fall colors and a comfortable breeze. Shutterbug Paul captured many photographs of the scenery, and the wine and food provided a perfect accompaniment to a natural fall symphony of sight and sound.

On the wine trail in October? Remember, October is Virginia Wine Month. Visit Veritas Vineyard and Winery and mention that Virginia Wine Time sent you!

This past weekend we took advantage of a long weekend to visit Oakencroft Winery. As readers may know, Oakencroft Winery will close its doors on December 31, and the Virginia wine community will lose yet another pioneer in the Virginia wine making industry. For us, Oakencroft was always on the “must visit” list while visiting the Charlottesville area. In fact, Oakencroft was our “eat lunch” winery, and we looked forward to sharing a bottle of award-wining wine and relaxing beside the pond filled with ducks and geese. We repeated this ritual one last time.

With gold stars in hand, we entered the busy tasting room to sample the current releases. Of the whites, Paul favored the 2006 Seyval Blanc with its citrusy nose and flavors. I detected a subtle flinty characteristic too. Crisp with a bright acidity, the 2006 Seyval Blanc is always an Oakencroft favorite and wines numerous awards. My own gold-star favorite was the 2007 Viognier with its floral and peach notes; I noted some toasted nuts on the nose as well. Fuller bodied, this one offered rewards of tropical fruit flavors with some mineral on the finish. Not to be outdone was the 2007 Chardonnay—aged mostly in stainless steel, this crisp wine delivers a vibrant acidity that would pair quite well with cheese, picnic fare, a simple chicken dinner but can also be appreciated on its own.

Of the reds, the 2006 Petit Verdot still earns gold for me. Dark fruit and violets on the nose with plum and spice in the mouth make this one a natural with a favorite meat dish but be sure to add a side of roasted veggies! Paul’s own favorite was the 2006 Merlot Reserve. Dense color suggested a full-bodied wine. Paul, ever the Merlot fan, noted that the 2006 Merlot Reserve favored plum and raspberry characteristics.

So for lunch we decided to share a bottle of the 2007 Viognier with honey ham and soft cheeses. We lingered over the pond teeming with friendly ducks and geese, and we toasted Felicia Rogan who, as Virginia first female winery owner, produced memorable wines and moments at Oakencroft.

We will fondly remember Oakencroft Winery, and we made sure to purchase several age-worthy wines so that we can enjoy Oakencroft’s wines long after their doors close. Be sure to visit Oakencroft Winery before the end of the year, and do mention that Virginia Wine Time sent you.