TasteCamp 2012

/ Warren / 1 Comment

https://asesoriaarribas.com/fiscal/ TasteCamp was held this past weekend in Loudoun County. TasteCamp founder Lenn Thompson of the New York Cork Report and Frank Morgan of Drink What You Like organized the event, and it was attended by bloggers and industry representatives from as far away as Canada and Georgia. In fact, several participants also attended the bloggers conference held in Charlottesville last August. TasteCamp offered an opportunity for enthusiasts and experts to sample an array of wines from around the state; however, participants were also given vineyard tours to get a glimpse of how vineyards are managed by some of Virginia’s most highly regarded winemakers. This was a three-day event, and I will present a day-by-day summary of our experiences.

Order Soma Online Friday, May 4 (Day 1): TasteCamp was officially launched at the Boxwood Winery in Middleburg, Virginia. Rachel Martin hosted a spectacular lunch and wine tasting in the facility’s tank room, and wines poured included the 2011 Rose, 2007 Topiary, and the 2007 Boxwood. Rachel Martin also revealed at the luncheon that the Boxwood Winery will serve as the official public tasting room and will replace the current Middleburg site. This change will begin on June 8, 2012. After lunch, we were given a tour of the wine cave.




The ultimate event of the afternoon, though, was a wine tasting conducted on Boxwood Winery’s crush pad. Monticello wineries were represented by Ankida Ridge, Blenheim, White Hall, Barboursville, ; however, wineries outside of that region such as Annefield, Gadino, Hume, Rappahannock, Veritas, and Pearmund were also on hand.



The day ended with an elegant food and wine dinner hosted by Breaux Vineyards. Jen Breaux Blosser greeted guests as they arrived, and it was Jen who had prepared vibrant sunflower and daisy bouquets to decorate the tables. Before entering the tank room for dinner, guests were allowed to mingle outdoors beneath a tent while sampling Breaux wines that included the 2010 Viognier and the legendary 2002 Reserve Merlot.



The four-course dinner was prepared by Tuscarora Mill Restaurant, and each course was paired with Breaux wines. The ultimate pairing was risotto with beef tenderloin served with the 2007 Cabernet Franc Reserve; however, the cheese course partnered with a vertical tasting of Breaux Nebbiolo from the 2001, 2001, 2005 and 2007 vintages was equally decadent.


Saturday, May 5 (Day 2): Vineyard tours offered an educational experience for all of us at TasteCamp. Doug Fabbioli of Fabbioli Cellars held forth on the vineyard practices at his site and presented a hands-on demonstration of how vines are pruned and then thinned at this time of the season. Fabbiolo frequently described himself as a “bootstrapper”, and it was not wonder that he given an innovator award by Loudoun County. Pears being produced for pear wine are literally growing in ship-shaped bottles on pear trees. An new-fangled machine stands guard in the vineyard to ward away late-spring frosts, and industrial curtains line the vineyard and can be drawn at to cut down on freezing winds. Doug likes to teach and seemed in his element while instructing eager students in his outdoor classroom. I also learned that Doug has opened the Piedmont Epicurean Arts Center as part of a “farm to table” educational initiative. The Center is located in Leesburg and includes sessions on raising cattle, growing fruit, making cheese, and (of course) managing vineyards.

After our vineyard tour, we were given a tasting of Fabbioli’s wines that included Something White (a traminette and vidal blanc blend), the 2010 Chambourcin, the 2009 Cabernet Franc Reserve, and the Raspberry Merlot. A bonus pour of the 2009 Tannat was also offered.

Next stop: Tarara Winery. Winemaker Jordan Harris transported us hayride-style (without the hay) to the Tarara vineyard sites. While in route, Jordan provided samples of his 2011 Petit Manseng, 2007 Viognier, and 2007 Syrah. We also got a history of the winery and vineyard along the way, and this culminated with a tour of the vineyard itself. Jordan has certainly made changes in the vineyard since his tenure at Tarara began in 2007. He made a decision to be terrior focused; as a result, some popular (but not so good) wines at Tarara were discontinued in favor of varieties that best suited the elevated terrain rockier soils, and location-specific microclimate. These include Petit Manseng, Viognier, Chardonnay, Syrah, and Cabernet Franc. Not included? Pinot Grigio, Seyval Blanc, and Pinot Noir.



The vineyard tour was followed by a pizza lunch provided by Pizzeria Moto, a private catering business that uses a mobile wood-fired oven to prepare excellent pizza. Prior to lunch, though, another wine tasting was held in the Tarara wine cave, and participating wineries included Corcoran Winery, Delaplane Cellars, Loudoun Valley, Philip Carter, General’s Ridge, Horton, Narmada, Stinson, and Zephaniah. Of course, Tarara wines were available for tasting and were also served with lunch. Tarara’s 1992 Cabernet Sauvignon was poured for the occasion as well as the 2008 Nevaeh Red, 2009 Tranquility, and a sample of the upcoming 2010 Tranquility.





Final vineyard tour: Tranquility Vineyard. Ben Renshaw, winemaker at 8 Chains North and manager at the Tranquility site hosted this tour. Here again the word “terrior” was used to describe the focus for varietal selection at the site as well as vineyard practices that include diligent canopy management. This particular site is known for its favorable ripening of tough-to-ripen grapes such as Cabernet Sauvignon, a vital component of the Tranquility blend that was sampled at Tarara Winery. As a testimony to his diligence in the vineyards, Ben was just recently married but opted to postpone the honeymoon until after harvest!

The day’s final tasting was held at newly opened Otium Cellars. It was here that Renshaw poured his 8 Chains North wines as well as the wines that he makes for Otium Cellars. 8 Chains Wines included the 2008 and 2009 Furnace Reds; Otium Cellars wines, however, offered a German twist and included a 2010 Pinot Gris made from a German clone, a 2010 Blaufraenkisch, 2009 Dornfelder, and a 2010 Dornfelder.



Yes, it was quite a day of vineyard tours and wine tasting. And yet the day was not done. TasteCamp participants were given a brief respite at their lodgings at the Loudoun Convention Center and then treated to a barbeque dinner hosted by Mark and Vicki Fedor of North Gate Vineyards. The Fedors offered a tasting of North Gate wines, but campers were also allowed to bring their own wines to share at the event. How to manage so much wine? Spit cups were provided throughout the day, and no one was offended with liberal usage of the dump buckets. Yes, wine can be tasted without actually swallowing it! And no, you do not need to drink every drop that is poured into your glass. In fact, much can be known about a wine by simply sniffing it from the glass. (Remember that, readers, when you are on the wine trails.)


Reunion of some of the Wine Mafia Members: Lenn Thompson, John Witherspoon, Frank Morgan, Swirl Sip Snark, and Warren and Paul.

So what happened on Day 3? Any reflections on what I learned from the event? Wines that generated the most buzz? Stay tuned for the next installment; I’m sure the suspense will be nerve wracking!

In the meantime, visit the wineries mentioned in this post. Mention that Virginia Wine Time sent you.

May Events

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https://mrgsl.com/ferreteria/ It’s that time of the month again….events! There are several Virginia wine events coming up soon. If you don’t have plans on any of the following dates, consider attending one of the events to enjoy some Virginia wine!

Buy Ativan Online Without Prescription May 12 – Central Virginia Wine Festival – This event will feature 15 wineries from around the state as well as live music, food and beverage concessions, beer sales, and speciality-item arts and crafts vendors. It will be held from 12:00 to 6:00 rain or shine at the SnagAJob Pavilion located in Innsbrook. Visit the website for more information and tickets.

May 12 – Wine Festival at Monticello – The third annual Wine Festival at Monticello celebrates Thomas Jefferson’s lasting influence on the Virginia wine industry—and kicks off Saturday, May 12, 2012, 6-9 p.m., on the West Lawn of Monticello. During the Wine Festival at Monticello, visitors can enjoy the splendor of spring, taste Virginia’s best selection of wines and stroll through the restored vineyards at Monticello by twilight. The event also includes tours of Jefferson’s home, live music on the West Lawn and wine tastings from local Virginia vineyards. Virginia winemaker and Monticello’s Assistant Director of Gardens and Grounds Gabriele Rausse—often referred to as the “Father of Virginia Wine”—will be on hand to answer questions about our region’s finest wines and how they compare to the vintages that Jefferson enjoyed. There will be several Virginia wineries pouring wines at the event. Check out the website for more details and tickets.

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May 24 thru 26 – The Philip Carter Winery of Virginia will host a series of events in celebration of the 250th Anniversary of American Wine. The Carter family, celebrated throughout the early colony and in Virginia history, made significant achievements in commerce and industry in the 1700’s. In 1762, Charles Carter was honored and celebrated for ‘the first spirited attempt at wine in America’, receiving a gold medal from the Royal Society of Arts in London. Since 2008, Philip Carter Strother has sought to re-establish the Carter legacy and make a connection to the burgeoning wine industry in Virginia.

Events to celebrate this significant historical occasion include a cultural evening, “Of Wine & Words…the Carter Wine Legacy” at the Historic Christ Church, Lancaster County, VA (founded by the Carters) on Thursday the 24th of May 2012. Following on Friday the 25th a colonial dinner paired with Philip Carter Wines will be held in Cleve Hall at the winery in Hume. On Saturday the 26th of May, a festive celebration will conclude the Anniversary events.

The 250th Anniversary of American Wine will be celebrated in Lancaster County, VA and in Hume VA between the 24th and 26th of May 2012. For more details, call (540) 364-1203. Some events are by invitation or reservation only. Check out the website for more details.

8 Chains North

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After a recent stop at Breaux Vineyards to pick up my cellar club selections, we decided to stop at 8 Chains North to check out the latest wines. We hadn’t been there in quite some time. We needed to see what Ben Renshaw had in bottle.

It’s nice to be remembered when we head to the tasting bar. Our tasting associate remembered conducting our tasting the last time we visited 8 Chains North. She began with the white wines of course. First up was the 2011 Sauvignon Blanc. This one quickly became our favorite white. We enjoyed the citrus, pear, and grapefruit notes as well as the well balanced acidity. We can see this one being part of our summer sippers.

Next we tasted the 2011 Pink Link. Now, this isn’t a rose or a blush. It’s made from merlot and is very light. It’s almost clear. We noted some strawberry on the nose. It’s crisp and dry and very light on the tongue. We then tasted the 2010 Loco Vino. This one has always been one of our favorites. We noted lemon and pear notes. It’s very lightly sweet. This will be another one on our summer sipper list.

The reds began with the 2009 Merlot. We noted smoke, dried herb, raspberry, and cherry. It was aged for 11 months in French and American oak. The 2009 Furnace Mountain Red was next. This is a true bordeaux blend. It’s a pretty big red with firm tannins. We thought of meat while tasting this one. The final red was the 2009 Furnace Mountain Red Reserve. Yet another big wine that could benefit from food. We noted chocolate, vanilla, and ripe black cherry. Just when we thought the reds were finished, we got a taste of the 2008 Furnace Mountain Red. As I was expecting, I enjoyed the fruity smooth nature of this wine. It reminded me slightly of the reserve version which is no longer for sale. However, our tasting associate gave Ben a call and I was able to secure a bottle of the 2008 Furnace Mountain Red Reserve! I felt so special! I really enjoyed this wine when it was released and wished I had more of it on my rack. Now I do! I’ll be holding on to this one awhile longer.

After our tasting we each enjoyed a glass. Warren had a glass of the 2011 Sauvignon Blanc and I enjoyed the 2009 Merlot. It’s always fun to see what Ben Renshaw has been working on and has in the bottle. We certainly enjoyed our time at 8 Chains North. If you haven’t been to 8 Chains North lately, consider planning a trip soon. And be sure to tell them Virginia Wine Time sent you!

Delaplane Barrel Tasting

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A few weekends ago we had the chance to attend the Delaplane Cellars Winemaker’s Dozen Club Spring Barrel Tasting. Barrel tastings are a great way to see how certain vintages are developing. You can often see how they’ll turn out when they are eventually bottled. We always enjoy the opportunity to see how the wines are developing in the barrel.

The barrel tasting began with a taste of the 2011 Rose. It was paired with several cheeses and crackers. We noted spicy characteristics. It paired well with the various cheeses. While tasting the Rose we ran into some of our wine trail buddies, Susci and Rick. We decided to follow them at the barrel tasting.

The first barrel was the 2010 Springlot. This taste was paired with chilled smoked bacon and potato bisque shooters. We noted smoke, raspberry, and blackberry on the nose. We noted a nice color, floral nuances, medium tannins and pepper on the finish.

The second barrel was the 2010 Delaplane. This one was paired with the world’s smallest filet mignon with horseradish cream. This is the first estate blend for Delaplane. It’s spending time in French and Virginian oak. It’s 50% merlot, 33% cabernet sauvignon, and 17% cabernet franc. We noted blackberry, raspberry, sweet tobacco, and a vanilla finish. This one quickly became our favorite. We were very impressed since this is Jim Dolphin’s first estate blend. Nice job!

Next up was the 2010 Williams Gap. It was paired with BBQ’d shrimp and grits. We noted mixed bramble berry, a smokey nose, tobacco, leather, anise, and a caramel finish.

The 2010 Syrah was the next barrel. It was paired with Delaplane risotto stuffed mushrooms. We noted coffee, vanilla, oak notes, dried herbs, a hint of sweetness, dark fruit and a caramel finish. There are six barrels of this that will be all blended together before bottling.

The final was the 2010 Tannat that was just recently bottled. This was paired with roasted Virginia lamb shoulder “Gyro” with Tzatziki. We noted smoke, anise, and dark berry fruit. It’s a bit young but it was just bottled in March. This one will benefit from some time on your rack before opening.

We thoroughly enjoyed the barrel tasting. And it was even more fun with our wine friends. The wines are developing nicely in the barrels at Delaplane. We are looking forward to the bottling of the 2010 Delaplane. It was our favorite and the one that impressed us the most. We’ll be picking up several bottles once it’s released. If you haven’t been to Delaplane lately, plane a trip and see what’s new. And tell the Virginia Wine Time sent you!

A rare treat…me in a picture on the blog! Don’t get used to it! 🙂

Friday Wines

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A few weeks ago, on a Friday evening, we enjoyed a few wines as we usually do. We’ve been busy posting about events and winery visits that we had to put this off a few weeks.

We started the evening with the 2011 Sauvignon Blanc from Glen Manor Vineyards. We are huge fans of Jeff White’s wines and this sauvignon blanc didn’t disappoint. We had it with manchego cheese and sour dough bread. While enjoying the wine we definitely noticed grassy and boxwood on the nose. On the tongue we noticed tropical fruit, minerality, and a nice crisp ending. It paired wonderfully with the cheese and bread.

For dinner we were having lasagna and selected the 2009 Private Reserve Red from Chrysalis Vineyards from the VIP Wine Club. We noted dried fruit, tobacco, anise, and a whiff of sandalwood. In the mouth we noted dried plum, dried herbs, tobacco, and a vanilla finish. We think this wine is still integrating and could benefit from more time on the rack. The acidity of the wine did a nice job of cutting the red sauce of the lasagna. Yes, it is a little young but paired well with our meal.

We’ll continue to enjoy our Friday wines and post about our impressions. If you haven’t been to Glen Manor Vineyards or Chrysalis Vineyards lately, plan a trip to visit them soon and tell them Virginia Wine Time sent you!

Linden Barrel Tasting

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The Linden Barrel Tasting is an event that we always mark on our calendars. This year’s tasting featured some white wines from the 2011 vintage, a 2011 Claret, and special releases from the 2008 and 2009 vintages. Paired with the wines were delicious treats from the Ashby Inn and Restaurant.

Our tasting started on the right note with a sample of the 2011 Avenius Sauvignon Blanc paired with mussels. We’re big fans of the Avenius Sauvignon Blanc, and we were huge fans of this 2011 vintage. Lots of citrus and soft melon notes with a nice acidity made for a refreshing wine that is destined to please summer palates. From there we proceeded to the barrel room where we tasted samples from the 2011 Avenius Chardonnay, the 2011 Hardscrabble Chardonnay, and the 2011 Boisseau Chardonnay. Each offered a unique style—the Avenius presented a Chablis-style wine while the Hardscrabble seemed reminiscent of an Old-World, Burgundian white wine. The Boisseau offering most resembled a New World Chardonnay with a heavier mouth feel and pineapple flavors. All were lovely. Favorites? That might depend on what’s for dinner. Oysters? Avenius. White fish or chicken? Hardscrabble. Anything with a cream sauce? Boisseau.


The 2011 Claret was enjoyed with a sample of specialty sausages from Croftburn Market in Culpeper. Was 2011 the year of dismay for Virginia red wines? This Claret would answer, “No.” Fruity and light bodied, its mix included Merlot (44%), Cabernet Sauvignon (36%), and Cabernet Franc (20%). I thought that it paired best with the spiciest meat sample, the pepperoni. Like other 2011 red wine samples that we have tasted, I suspect that this 2011 Claret will be enjoyed upon release rather than later.

We moved on to the special release room where we were able to compare and contrast the 2008 and 2009 red blends from the Boisseau, Hardscrabble, and Avenius vineyards. I noted a distinct difference between the vintages that suggested something other than different years or blend composites, and it was in this room that I recorded the quote of the day from Jim Law. When asked about the more fruit-forward style of the 2009 vintages by another taster in the room, Law responded, “I lost the fear of my grapes.” Law explained that he learned from winemakers in Bordeaux that extraction is the ultimate key to crafting good red wine rather than intense ripening in the vineyard. With this lesson learned, Law described the 2009 season as a shift in his own winemaking style. The difference was most evident in the 2009 Hardscrabble Red. The 2008 vintage represented a style that was characteristic of the Hardscrabble wines— very structured with earthier nuances and berry flavors. The 2009 vintage, though, presented layers of fruit at the start with deep plum and dark cherry characteristics. A similar style was evident in the rounder 2009 Boisseau Red in which Merlot dominated (44%), and the Petit Verdot-led 2009 Avenius Red.

The tasting seemed to end too early; however, we took advantage of a nice spring afternoon to sit on the deck with a glass of a favorite Linden wine. Barn swallows fluttered about, and the scent of wisteria wafted from below. It could not have been a more perfect afternoon. Be sure to visit Linden for a tasting of Jim Law’s exquisite wines, and mention that Virginia Wine Time sent you.

Jefferson Vineyards Celebrates Jefferson’s B’day

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And what better way to celebrate the Founding Father of Virginia wine’s birthday than tasting the exquisite Meritage blends at Jefferson Vineyards. Winemaker Andy Reagan hosted this event; of course, we had a great time.

The oldest wine poured at this event was the 2002 Meritage; the youngest, the still evolving 2010 Meritage. We attended last year’s Meritage tasting, and as I recall my favorite was the 2007 Meritage that was a blend of Cabernet Franc (39%), Merlot (26%), Cabernet Sauvignon (18%) and Petit Verdot (17%). This year’s favorite? The complex 2007 Meritage! Brambleberry characteristics with earthy nuances and a smooth finish made for a wine that can still get better with age. Paul’s own fave was the 2004 Meritage. No surprise here—Merlot comprises 70% of the blend, and Paul is a Merlot addict. Cabernet Franc (20%), Cabernet Sauvignon (7%) and Malbec (3%) completed the mix. Paul noted cherry flavors and a whiff of dried herbs.

Andy also offered samples of his Meritage Reserve wines. These are his special blends. One reserve was a blend of the 07, 08, 09 vintages; the other, a mix of the 08, 09 and 10 vintages. Each vintage was aged separately in new French oak puncheons for 48 months, 36 months and 24 months respectively. Of these, my preference was the first blend—dark fruit elements with aromas of sweet tobacco suggested a complex, heavy pour. Meat and cigars are mandatory partners with this one!

The tasting stations offered foods to pair with each Meritage. Grilled beef, duck, and an assortment of cheeses added to the tasting experience. Of course, Paul gravitated to the sliced duck breast, but he does enjoy duck with complex wines. Now if only he would eat asparagus!

Other distinguished guests included the dynamic duo who write Swirl, Sip, Snark. We enjoyed comparing notes and chatting about wine. Andy was a generous host who answered all of our questions and engaged us in all sorts of banter. Of course, we wondered when Paul would stop eating all of the duck!

Be sure to pay Andy Reagan a visit at Jefferson Vineyards, and mention that Virginia Wine Time sent you.