So back on the Loudon County Trail, Tarara Winery offers much to please the palate. We recently found ourselves back on the Loudon County Trail, and Tarara was on our list of wineries to visit. Of course, we were in pursuit of summer wines, and we concluded that Tarara had several releases to fit the bill.

On a very warm summer afternoon, we visited Tarara Winery with lunch relaxing in the cooler. We opted for the full tasting which included the reserve wines (Remember, it’s okay to dump in the bucket when being aggressive at the tasting bar!) Double gold stars went to the 2006 Viognier, a star varietal in Virginia and one that does quite well at Tarara. Aged in stainless steel, the 2006 Viognier presented a floral nose with pear, citrus, and melon flavors in the mouth. Exotic and seductive might describe the 2006 Viognier at Tarara. For those who prefer a zestier wine, the 2006 Pinot Gris would be an option. We tend to remember certain friends on our winery visits, and readers may recall our guest reviewer, Michael Tyler. Warren marked “MT” next to the 2006 Charval, a slightly sweeter offering that is also aged in stainless steel. Michael often trends toward the semi-sweet wines, and the Charval has his name all over it! The ultimate patio sipper, the Charval is a blend of Chardonnay, Seyval Blanc, and Vidal Blanc.

Did we ignore the reds? Of course not! Paul’s favorite was the 2004 Merlot, and for the price, it was the bargain of the day. Nice cherry flavors and satiny tanning drive this easy-to-drink wine. Close behind was the 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon; slightly bolder, this Cab can be enjoyed with a grilled steak and roasted veggies. However, don’t be afraid to sip a glass of this one while dinner is one the grill. Double stars, however, went to the 2003 Meritage. Dark fruit and tobacco were the notes that we scribbled on the tasting sheet. Very dry with a lengthy finish, drink the 2003 Meritage now but think about the aging potential first.

So what was for lunch? Herbed turkey filets with a honey-mustard sauce, jasmine rice, and a fruit salad. What wine did we select? The 2006 Viognier was our choice, and enjoyed our lunch and wine on Tarara’s deck that overlooks it wooded landscape. We found the shadiest table on the deck to enjoy food, wine and scenery.

So you all know the routine—tasting, then food/wine, then purchases and farewells until next time. We know that we will attend at least one of Tarara’s summer concerts. However, we know that readers will want to visit Tarara soon; so, tell them that Virginia Wine Time sent you!

Our focus continues to be refreshing Virginia wines that can soothe in the midst of summer’s warmth. At the end of our visit to Monticello Trail wineries, we visited Horton Cellars and Barboursville Vineyards.

First stop was Horton Cellars. With our agenda in mind, we checked off the wines on Horton’s extensive tasting sheet hat we wanted to try, and away we tasted. Double stars went next to the 2006 Viognier. Paul already knew this one was a winner; he recently poured a bottle with a seafood dinner and raved about this one before we walked into the tasting room. Citrusy aromas and flavors dominate with a texture that is slightly honeyed. Don’t think twice about sipping this one on its own.. Perfect for watching spectacular sunsets with sliced tropical fruit! For those who appreciate a semi-dry white wine, the Stonecastle White may fit the bill. Viognier and Marsanne provide fruit and spice characteristics typical of Rhone varietals. The Stonecastle White offers yet another picnic/summer concert wine option but can be appreciated on its own.

We each purchased a bottle of the 2006 Viognier and then moved on to Barboursville. (Identifying summer quaffs is such a chore, but someone has to do it!) Remember to bring your Barboursville glasses to the tasting room—it waives the tasting fee, and we certainly had our glasses in hand. Paul took charge here since he had an upcoming dinner party and wanted to offer a variety of white wines. His personal faves were the 2006 Sauvignon Blanc, the 2006 Chardonnay, and the 2006 Riesling. All three choices can best be described as “clean” with vibrant flavors. Appetizers that feature summer fruits and light cheeses would pair wonderfully with the Riesling, (So would the stainless-steel fermented 2006 Chardonnay for that matter.) Crab cakes or Cuban chicken beg to be partnered with the 2006 Sauvignon Blanc. Don’t forget about the 2006 Rose! Soft finish with lively fruit, this Rose is yet another versatile wine for summer.

Of course, we did not skip the reds, and we will give brief mention of them here since summer cannot last forever. Before long it will be time to think about sweaters, autumn leaves, and heavier meat dishes that require bolder reds. Meat lovers may want to sample Horton’s 2001 Tannat, a Governor’s Cup winner. Intense is the word that comes to mind. Can be appreciated with a huge steak or with a cigar but should be aged for a bit longer. Warren’s gold star went to the complex 2003 Nebbiolo Reserve at Barboursville. Another one for the wine rack, the 2003 Nebbiolo Reserve can only get better with age. In fact, a bottle of the 2003 Nebbiolo Reserve is now aging quite nicely on Warren’s own wine rack.

We hope our readers are enjoying the summer with their favorite Virginia wines. Put Horton Cellars and Barboursville Vineyards on your wineries to visit, and let them know that Virginia Wine Time sent you!

We ended things last time with our visit to Delfosse, however, we mentioned a plan to also visit White Hall Vineyards. And indeed we did. It had been a year since our last visit to White Hall, and we raved about the 2005 Petit Verdot and 2005 Touriga. So what did we discover this time around? Let’s find out!

On this particular day, White Hall offered a vertical tasting of Chardonnays, and these included the 2004, 2005, and 2006 vintages. The tasting sheet was entitled, “Weather Changes Everything”, and indeed it does. The chance to compare Chardonnays over the years was irresistible, and we opted for the vertical tasting, Of course, we began with the earliest available vintage, the 2004 Chardonnay. A rainier 2004 increased the size of the fruit clusters and this led to an earlier ripening of the Chardonnay grapes. The result was a lighter wine with lots of apple flavors. Not a bad pour at all, but the 2004 may not be for those who prefer a fuller-bodied Chardonnay. The 2005 and 2006 Chardonnays were quite similar as both were harvested after a dry, hot summer. The grapes were therefore able to hang on the vine for a longer period of time. Both vintages proved to be crisper with lengthier finishes. Pear and apple prevailed with subtle hints of toasted nuts that suggested some oak tre atment. The obvious difference between the 2005 and 2006 vintages was age—the 2005 had been in the bottle for over a year; the 2006, for two weeks. Both were classic, elegant Chardonnays.

We were also able to sample the Reserve Chardonnays for 2004, 2005, and 2006. These were obviously oaked and fuller-bodied with the creamy, buttery texture associated with a bolder Chardonnay. Warren’s personal favorite was the Chardonnay Reserve, 2005; however, Paul wisely held his gold star for the end of the vertical tasting. He is usually more partial to the stainless steel Chardonnays, and his own favorite was the 2005 Steel Chardonnay. Lemony flavors shined brightly here with a crisp finish. Perfect for sipping while watching a long summer sunset on the deck!

Reds were also tasted, and those who like red wines even in the heat of summer may like the Breakheart Red 2005. Easy to sip or to enjoy with barbeque, we noted Breakheart Red’s bright red fruit characteristics. The deal of the day had to be the Vin Gris 2006. At $10/bottle, this dry rose cannot be beat. In fact, we grabbed a bottle to take home!

Our vertical tasting confirmed what we already knew—weather does indeed influence what happens in the vineyard, and skilled winemakers know how to produce quality wine even when weather conditions are not optimal. Such was the case at White Hall. Our tasting associate was very informative, and we found out that 85% of grapes used at White Hall Vineyards are grown on the estate. This includes 37 acres of planted vines which encompass 16 varietals. The other 15% are purchased from the renowned Mt Juliet Vineyards.

We wound up our tasting and made our purchases just as White Hall was beginning to close up for the day.

We know that we will return to White Hall Vineyards in the future; in the meantime, pay White Hall Vineyards a visit, and mention that Virginia Wine Time sent you!

With our Loudon County Trail weekend complete, we decided it was time to pursue another wine trail. This time, we decided to take a ride on the Monticello Wine Trail. We wanted to visit a few wineries we had not been to in some time and planned to visit Kluge, DelFosse, and White Hall on the first day and Horton and Barboursville on the second day.

On day one, our first stop was Kluge Estate Winery and Vineyard. We elected to have lunch at Kluge after we conducted a tasting. Kluge has changed the way they conduct their tastings. They now offer tastings in small plastic cups arranged in a plastic cup holder. We both thought of the science lab in high school, but we gave this approach a shot before we rendered jugdments. We tasted the Kluge SP Blanc De Blancs 2004, Albemarle Rose 2005, Albemarle Simply Red 2003, Kluge Estate 2002 New World Red, and the Kluge Estate Cru. Warren’s gold star went to the SP Blanc de Blanc 2004, a brut made from Chardonnay. Nice bubbly here with apples notes and flavors. Readers may know that the Blanc de Blanc and the Albemarle Rose 2005 have been favorably reviewed by the Washington Post. Paul’s own favorite was the Albemarle Simply Red 2003; we’ve written about this one before, and it seems to get even better each time we sample it. The New World Red offers a more complex wine; for the price, this one might be best saved for a special occasion.

For lunch we browsed the selections at the Farm Shop. Paul selected the cheese plate and Warren selected the mushroom quiche. With our meal we decided on the Albemarle Simply Red 2003, and its dark berry and anise flavors partnered nicely with our lunch menu. Over lunch, we concluded that while the tasting cups were a novel idea, we preferred tasting glasses—call us old-fashioned! However, the Kluge experience is always wonderful, and we lingered outdoors in the rustic setting as long as possible.

With our appetites satisfied, we moved on to our next winery. We got back on the trail and headed to DelFosse Vineyards and Winery. It had been more than a year since we last visited DelFosse. We were very impressed with the changes that we observed as we drove up the long driveway. They now have a very contemporary tasting room with lots of large windows to enjoy the mountainous views. At the tasting bar we tasted many of the 18 wines DelFosse offers. The white wines were very solid, and particular ones that we enjoyed were the 2006 Pinot Gris and the 2006 Viognier Reserve; the gold star went to the 2005 Reserve d’Oriane. Fans of California’s Conundrum may want to sample this one. The Reserve d’Oriane is a complex blend of Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier, and Petit Manseng. Elegant yet unpretentious came to mind as we compared our notes. Lush fruit notes and flavors that give way to a surprisingly longer finish, the Reserrve d’Oriane might pair wonderfully with shellfish or poultry prepared with creamier sauces. (Warren thought it was just fine to sip on its own, and that’s just what he did after the tasting) .

On to the reds—we favored the 2005 Cuvee Laurent, the 2005 Grand Cru Olivier, and the 2005 Cabernet Franc. Gold stars, however, went to the 2005 Merlot. Paul noted a concentration of cherry and plum notes and flavors with a hint of earthiness. Smooth tannins with this one make for a pleasurable sipper or a graceful partner at the dinner table.

We did share a glass of the Reserve d’Oriane and gazed at the mountain landscapes from the tasting room. Floor to ceiling windows allow for scenic viewing on the hottest or coldest of days. As we finished our wine, we plotted our next visit to White Hall Vineyards. Our discoverery here will have to wait until our next installment. Meanwhile, if you visit Kluge or Delfosse, let them know that Virginia Wine Time sent you!

Okay—this article completes our account of the weekend excursion on the Loudon County Wine trail. This was Day Two, and we had already planned to visit Hillsborough Vineyards for wine and lunch. We also wanted to sample the current offerings by Willowcroft Farm Vineyards. So we eased on down the road and discovered some very nice pours!

Hillsborough Vineyards is always a favorite of ours. Though nothing new had been released since our last visit in the autumn of 2006, we did not mind revisiting Hillsborough’s quality wines. We’ve already featured the Chardonnay/Rousanne blend known as Carnelian in a food and wine pairing video. Rousanne is a white varietal commonly grown in the Rhone region of France, and its fruitiness shines quite nicely in the Carnelian blend. Of course, Opal cannot be beat. This Chardonnay/Viognier blend is simply divine. A lovely straw color suggests a clean wine; notes include floral, spiced pear, and apple. Nice body here with a creamy texture yet dry finish—gold stars were placed next to this one. Paul scribbled “lunch” on his tasting sheet.

We’ve been on a quest for summer wines, but that does not mean we ignore the reds. In fact, the 2005 Garnet could well be enjoyed on the patio on a summer’s eve with light fare or on its own. Garnet is a Bordeaux blend that packs plums and cherry flavors with a smooth finish. Destined to please red wine drinkers, Garnet may also convert the “white wine only” crowd. However, the bolder gemstone at Hillsborough has to be the 2004 Ruby. A heavier-bodied red, Ruby demands to be noticed. Tannat is at the fore here and explains the tannic presence. Touriga and Petit Verdot complete this blend. Ruby is ready to drink now but can be racked for a while longer and it will still pack a punch. Big steaks on the grill? Ruby will deliver, but save some for a chocolate desert. An even bigger heavy-weight will be Bloodstone, but this Fer Servadou/Cabernet Sauvignon/Tannat blend will not be released until September.

So guess which wine we decided to have with lunch? The gold-starred Opal, of course! We brought along lightly breaded chicken strips with a honey dipping sauce, brie, almonds, and a crusty baguette. Opal was a no-brainer here. We sat outdoors and enjoyed Hillsborough breathtaking mountain views; later, we strolled the grounds and inhaled aromas of lavender and sweet grass. Paul was a bit nervous about the bumble bees, but the lavender kept them occupied.

With wine purchases packed away in the trunk, we headed on to Willowcroft. Here we sampled six wines. The gold star winner among the whites was the 2005 Riesling Muscat-Ottonel. This award winner was made for summer picnics or spicy fare. Clean and crisp came to mind with floral, melon, and spiced pear notes dominant. In fact, we shared a glass of the Riesling after our tasting, and Paul’s one word description was “refreshing”. Those who are on the prowl for a rose may want to try the 2005 Cabernet Blanc. Of course, we always save a gold star for a favorite red while summer’s heat blazes away, and at Willowcroft, the 2004 Cabernet Franc received the honors. Another award winner for Willowcroft, this garnet-hued gem displayed cherry notes with a spicy, longer finish.

Of course, more purchases were made at Willowcroft with notes to selves to buy more wine racks. And this experience ended our weekend on the Loudon County Wine Trail!. If on said trail, please put Hillsborough and Willowcroft on your itinerary, but be sure to mention that Virginia Wine Time sent you!

So let’s continue on the Loudon County Wine Trail! We ended things with our wine and lunch at Doukenie and then suggested that we were off to Village Winery. That is indeed what we decided to do. It had been quite a while since our last visit to Village Winery, and we always look forward to our conversations with Kent Mars. With our picnic basket packed and loaded in the trunk, we made our way to Village Winery.

We discovered upon our arrival that Kent was conducting a wine tasting away from the winery that day, but we were warmly greeted by our tasting associate who effortlessly guided our through our tasting that day. We did learn that Kent has been working with Oak Spring Dairy to promote Virginia cheese and wine; given the current trend in artisanal cheese production and family-owned boutique wineries in Virginia, we applaud efforts in this area. In fact, cheeses produced from Oak Spring Dairy can be enjoyed at several Virginia wineries.

So what about the wines? Well, new to us since our last visit was the Viognier and the Rose. The Viognier is a first effort for Village Winery, and it possessed the floral and honeysuckle characteristics associated with Viognier. It was quite enjoyable, and we decided to share a glass after our tasting. The Rose is produced from the Cabernet Franc, and it offered bright berries in the mouth with a dry, spicy finish. Paul procured a bottle of the Rose to rest on the wine rack at home. (Try grilled marinated pork chops with this Rose!) If readers are still looking for bigger reds, try Kent’s Merlot/Cabernet Franc blend; of course, if roasted chicken is on the menu for Sunday dinner, the softer Elderberry wine is a must!

As we savored our glass of Viognier, our first day on the Loudon County Wine Trail came to an end. Day two was already planned—lunch at Hillsborough and a visit to Willowcroft. What did we discover? Join us for the next installment, but in the meantime, visit Kent Mars at Village Winery and mention that Virginia Wine Time sent you!

It has been a while since Virginia Wine Time has taken its show on the proverbial road—Loudoun Trail to be more exact. We therefore decided to dedicate a weekend to updating ourselves on the latest offerings on the Loudoun Trail. On Day 1, we visited Breaux Vineyards, Doukenie Winery (formerly known as Windham), and Village Winery. And the Gold Stars went to—–. Well, read on to find out!

Our first stop was at Breaux Vineyards now celebrating its tenth year of wine making. The tasting room was quite busy on a beautiful late spring afternoon, and ten wines were offered for sampling. As we’ve mentioned in previous posts, summer quaffers are on our agenda now that the hot weather has descended upon us, and Breaux Vineyards had several options in that department. Easy sippers would include the stainless steel fermented 2005 Madeleine’s Chardonnay, the 2006 Syrah Rose, and the sweeter 2004 Chere Marie made from the Vidal Blanc. Shellfish lovers will enjoy the 2002 Jolie Blanc, a Seyval Blanc that is a dead ringer for Sauvignon Blanc. Now for the gold star designation—we both agreed that the 2005 Viognier was the winner. Loaded with lush tropical fruit and fermented in stainless steel, the 2005 Viognier could either be enjoyed on its own or with a favorite seafood dish. For those looking for a lighter-bodied red for the summer, try the 2002 Lafayette. A blend of Cabernet Franc and Merlot, the 2002 Lafayette can be enjoyed with summer sausage and cheese.

As we finished our tasting at Breaux, we were mindful of our appetites and our plan to visit three wineries on that day. For that purpose, food is always in the car. (Do remember that when visiting wineries, do not feel obligated to taste everything or to finish all that is poured in your glass. Dump freely, bring food and snack often!) With our selections made at Breaux, we decided to travel on to the winery formerly known as Windham now doing business as Doukenie. The original owner of the Windham farm was Greek, and Doukenie is Greek for Duchess hence the name change. Other things have stayed the same—Doug Fabbioli is still the wine maker, and Windham/Doukenie still offers quality wines. Paul was charged with selecting the lunch wine, and he took his task very seriously. Of course, we began with a tasting of wine currently being sampled, and Paul realized the daunting nature of his assignment as he enjoyed all of the wines poured. Warren’s personal gold star went to the 2006 Riesling with its citrus aromas and flavors. Nice mineral characteristics here with a crisp finish—lovely for summer, fall, winter, or spring! The slightly sweet Mandolin blended from Traminette, Vidal Blanc, and Chardonnay would be another picnic favorite but can be reserved for Thanksgiving fare.

Now what about Paul’s selection for lunch? Well, he saw Merlot on the tasting sheet and decided to wait until he sampled all wines to decide. (I think he already had his mind made up when he saw that sheet!). Anyway, his favorite was the 2005 Merlot. An easy sipper, the 2005 Merlot packed lots of cherry flavors with a lingering finish. Paul described the tannins as velvety, and he awarded this one his gold star. Guess which wine we had with lunch? Warren did not object; with deli meats, red cherries, and Emmental cheese in the picnic basket, the 2005 Merlot was a true match. However, be sure to try the 2004 Vintner’s Reserve—much bolder, this blend was created based on the input from Case Club members.

As we enjoyed lunch on the back deck, we noticed the many varieties of birds on the property. In fact, the word Merlot is French for young black bird, and we certainly observed lots of those. Bird watchers would have quite a time documenting the many varieties that flutter about the Doukenie grounds; of course, no visit to Doukenie would be complete without a visit from the sweetest winery dog around, Lucie! She would love to join in for lunch, but she kindly accepts hugs as an alternative.

We certainly lingered over our Merlot and lunch at Doukenie, but we were aware of our commitment to the Loudoun Trail. Next up was Village Winery, and that is where we will pick up with our next installment. In the meantime, visit BreauxVineyards and Doukenie Winery and mention that Virginia Wine Time sent you.

Fans of wine and murder mysteries will find both offerings at Swedenburg Estate Vineyard. On a recent visit to Swedenburg, we also noticed new developments; outdoor tables and chairs now welcome visitors to stay a while and enjoy Swedenburg’s award winning wines. Of course, we were interested in the wines, but we were also curious about The Merlot Murders and The Chardonnay Charade.

With summer nearly upon us, our interest was in summer sippers, and we were not disappointed with Swedenburg’s offerings. Spicy grilled sausages on the grill? Try the dry Riesling, but you may want to enjoy a glass while dinner is still sizzling away. Summer is crab season in this area, and Chantilly would pair wonderfully with crab cakes; in fact, Chantilly earned Warren’s gold star. Lemon/citrus flavors with mineral undertones give way to a crisp, tart finish. We found this one to be refreshing on its own, and we shared a glass of Chantilly after out tasting!

Now we’ve been declaring 2007 to be the year of the rose since last year, and Swedenburg delivers with it own C’est La Vie. This dry rose should be at any picnic or summer concert, and with our Wolftrap schedule in mind, Paul picked up a bottle of C’est La Vie. (The label’s lively design was created by Juanita Swedenburg’s granddaughter.) We finished our tasting with a sampling of the 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon. If grilled steak is on the menu, then this fuller-bodied red must be on the table.

So what’s up with Merlot Murders and Chardonnay Charade? Local author Ellen Crosby penned these murder mysteries with help from owner Juanita Swedenburg. The novels are set in Virginia’s horse and wine country and both promise to be page-turners with unexpected twists and turns. Warren snatched a copy of Merlot Murders for summer reading, and we will return on August 11 to sample Swedenburg’s release of its Chardonnay; author Ellen Crosby and partner-in -crime Juanita Swedenburg will be on hand to autograph copies of Chardonnay Charade.

As we finished our glass of Chantilly, we noted the attractive new landscaping near the tasting room’s entrance, and we were both pleased with these new developments at Swedenburg Estate Vineyard. We’ve put August 11 and Chardonnay Charade on our calendars, but in the meantime, visit Swedenburg Estate Vineyard and mention that Virginia Wine Time sent you.

Our Memorial Day Weekend ended up being quite hectic, and we could only afford enough time to visit a more local winery. Piedmont Vineyards fit the bill. Located less than an hour away from DC, Piedmont is located in the horse country of Virginia and just outside of Middleburg proper. Of course, Piedmont offers quality wines and idyllic views. Readers may recall that our last visit there was in the midst of winter’s freeze, and our guest reviewer, Michael Tyler, provided the commentary. This latest visit allowed us to enjoy warmer weather, and it also gave us the opportunity to sample new pours as well as older releases.

When we arrived at Piedmont we were lucky enough to among only two customers there for a tasting. We like it this way as we get more time to talk with the winemaker, John Fitter. In fact, John conducted our tasting. Fans of the Native Yeast Chardonnay may want to visit Piedmont soon as this limited production wine is almost sold out. However, Chardonnay fans need not despair as Piedmont will be offering the 2005 Chardonnay from DelFosse until the release of their next Chardonnay. The DelFosse 2005 Chardonnay is actually a blend of Chardonnay and Viognier, and this blend seems to work well. It offers the firm backbone of an oak-aged Chardonnay with the fruitiness of the Viognier. Those who hope to get in on the Rose revival recently discussed in Wine Spectator will be pleased with Michael Tyler’s favorite, the Little River Rose. Dry with bright fruit characteristics, the Little River Rose is destined for the pic nic or the summer concert but would also be at home on the dinner table.

We were both anxious to see how the reds were evolving in the bottle, and Paul, the Merlot fan, was more than eager to sample the 2004 Merlot and the 2005 Merlot. His gold star favorite was the 2005 Merlot. More bold than its 2004 sibling, the 2005 Merlot packs lots of dark cherry and mocha flavors. However, don’t discount the 2004 Merlot. It’s lighter-bodied and easy to drink. For those who have purchased the 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon, this one is evolving quite nicely. Warren plans to keep his bottle on the rack for a while longer as it is indeed aging very well.

We did bring along some lunch; this was courtesy of Balduccis since we only had time to grab some ready-made sandwiches to bring along. We selected a bottle of the 2005 Merlot to accompany our roastbeef sandwiches. We also grabbed some dark chocolate bars; so, we had already set ourselves up for a red wine! The 2005 Merlot proved to be the perfect choice.

After lunch we decided to purchase some wines to bring home and to thank John for conducting our tasting. If you visit Piedmont anytime soon, and we suggest that you do, tell John Fitter that you heard about Piedmont Winery from Virginia Wine Time.