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.

This past weekend, we took advantage of a lovely early autumn weekend to visit Bluemont Vineyard. Located in Loudon County and at an elevation of 1000 feet on an eastern slope of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the winery offers one of the grandest views of mountains and sunny horizons. The facility itself is quite expansive and designed to optimize appreciation of these breathtaking landscapes. However, wine is why we decided to visit Bluemont Vineyard, and our discerning palates made their way to the tasting room for a sample of Bluemont’s current releases.

On tap for tasting were five wines including two white wines, two red wines, and one dessert wine. My immediate favorite was the 2007 Viognier dubbed, “the Goat”. (I’m not quite sure why these wines are given animal names.) This was a very nice dry wine fermented mostly in stainless steel with some time on oak. Crisp and clean, this Viognier would pair quite nicely with any seafood or poultry dishes. Paul favored the 2007 Merlot, (or The Ram) and he likened this one to a lighter-style Chianti destined for a pizza or pasta dish. However, our gold star was reserved for both the 2006 and 2007 Norton (the Pig). We were treated to a personal tasting of these releases by owner and winemaker, Bob Rupy. Like Jenni McCloud of Chrysalis, Bob is truly excited about Norton’s future as a flagship varietal for Virginia, and these offerings certainly support his cause. In particular, the 2006 Norton offered a fruity nose with lots of juicy berry fruit in the mouth. Fuller bodied than the Merlot, the 2006 Norton should pair quite well with Bambi or Lambchop. Though the 2007 offered similar characteristics, the 2006 had the benefit of an extra year in bottle and thus maturity.

After our tasting, we opted to sip a glass of the 2007 Viognier, and this we did as we enjoyed the sounds of a live band and panoramic mountain views. We also chatted further with Bob Rupy who is excited about Bluemont Vineyard’s future. Weekend entertainment, nice wine, and an eclectic offering of meats and cheeses bring in local crowds that fill the ample facility decorated in a cozy country motif. We look forward to a return to Bluemont Vineyard to sample upcoming releases. Consider a visit to Bluemont Vineyard during Virginia Wine Month, and mention that Virginia Wine Time sent you.

So here are our assessments of more California wine country experiences:

Best Big Reds: Not difficult to find monster reds in California, but here were a couple of faves:

Goosecross Cellars 2005 Syrah:  Dense, inky color with dark currant and berry flavor with dark chocolate and earth for good measure; smoke on the nose, too!  Heavy meats with this one. Not a deck sipper by any means.

Twomey Cellars 2002 Napa Valley Merlot:  Our tasting associate made us aware of the optimal weather conditions for the merlot harvested from the Soda Canyon Ranch vineyards.  Concentrated is the word here with a dense color and jammy berry flavors.  Mocha appears at the end.  Very, very long finish. Paul loves merlot, but he had to admit that this one was too big to just sip.  We love steaks, so that’s not a problem!  However, this one will be for a special occasion; at $75.00 it was my splurge purchase!

Best Approachable Reds:

A tall order in this neck of the woods; however, there were a couple of reds that I thought were ready to drink now.  (These can also be kept on the wine rack for a bit longer).

Christopher Creek 2005 Zinfandel: This winery was the closest comparison to an experience in a Virginia winery’s tasting room.  Several wines to tastes including a Viognier and a Chardonnay.  Very friendly tasting associate and a very unpretentious tasting room made us feel right at home.  The Zinfandel exhibited bright berry flavors—I noted strawberry and red currants; Paul jotted down cranberry and red currants.  We both noted spice, too.  More medium bodied than other California Zins.

Limerick Lane 2005 Pinot Noir:  Already described in the last post.  Just divine.

Summers 2006 Zinfandel:  The most full bodied of the wines in this category, but I really liked sipping this one in the tasting room.  More extracted flavors than the Christopher Creek with vanilla on the finish and a nice acidity.  I guess my thoughts were barbeque sauce and steaks on the grill or even a pasta with tomato sauce.  The alcohol content was 14%—a bit more manageable than the 15% firewater we experienced at other wineries.

Vincent Arroyo Winery 2005 Nameless:  A real gem of a winery that does tastings in its barrel room.  Only three wines to taste, but by far the easiest drinker was the Nameless.  So called because it really has no name and is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot.  Garnet color with bright red cherry flavors and spice.  Drink now—and a true sipping red from California.  However, don’t miss the 2006 Petite Sirah, my own personal favorite.  This one had much in common with a Virginia favorite, Norton.  I note d some of the grapey characteristics of the Norton grapes here with perhaps a bit more depth.  (I  have a feeling Jenni McCloud would have like this one!)

Clos Pegase Winery

Best Wines for the Price:Clos Pegase Vin Gris:  A vibrant rose made from merlot grapes.  Strawberry and watermelon characteristics makes this one a crowd pleaser.  Versatile pour.  At $14, this was a real bargain.

Clos Pegase 2004 Merlot:  From Mitsuko’s Vineyard, this was Paul’s easy drinking merlot.  Big cherry nose and flavors with some spice.  This is actually blended with  small amounts of cabernet franc and malbec.  Ready to drink now, and at $24 a bottle a good deal.  Paul made off with two bottles!

Cali 351 2006 Chardonnay:  For those who like the buttery Chardonnays but don’t like the sticker price, this Chardonnay is a winner.  Bolder bodied chardonnay here with buttery characteristics but still delivers nice pear flavors.  Visitors to the Napa area may remember this winery as Silver Rose; Silver Rose was recently sold to new managers and the wines now bear the Cali 351 label. At $27, a lovely Chardonnay without the big price tag.

We’ll post maybe two more California entries, and then it’s back to Virginia wines—we promise!  Until then, visit Virginia wineries while summer warmth still has its arms wrapped around us, and mention that Virginia Wine Time sent you!

This past weekend we decided to get back on the wine trail and taste some new finds. We made a trip to Gadino Cellars to find out what was new on the tasting menu.

Bill and Aleta conducted our tasting. We enjoyed catching up with them and talking about what’s new in the Virginia wine business. On the tasting menu we found two wines we had not tried before. The first was the 2007 Pinot Grigio. The grapes for this wine come from Tollgate farms, a local vineyard that provides the Gadino’s with quality grapes. The 2007 Pinot Grigio has a light floral nose with subtle orange notes. As the tasting notes describe, the pinot grigio has a “luscious mouth-feel” and we agree with this statement. The pinot grigio also has a nice grapefruit finish. Warren noted melon on the palette. This one would be great for sipping on a warm afternoon.

The second new wine we had not tried before was the 2007 Dolce Sofia. Named for Bill and Aleta’s granddaughter, the Dolce Sofia is a sweet desert wine created by blending late harvest petit manseng and vidal grapes. This wine has 11% residual sugar but isn’t syrupy sweet like many others. It has a light mouth feel with peaches and honey on the palate. The finish is described as macadamia nut. We noted a nutty finish but could not place the nut. We guessed maybe almond on the finish. This one would be perfect with pound cake.

Plan on visiting Gadino Cellars soon and be sure to check out the new releases and tell them Virginia Wine Time sent you. And when you visit your local wine shop and you don’t see Gadino wines on the shelves, ask for them!