Solstice Paired With Virginia Wines

/ Warren / 1 Comment

Paul and I made our annual summer trek to the Charlottesville area, and this year it coincided with summer solstice, the official start of the summer season. These longer days allowed us to enjoy late dinners and wine on the porch at our favorite Stay cottage located on the Afton Mountain Vineyards property. In this post, I offer a review of favored wine varieties, blends, and sparkling wines that we sampled from various wineries in the Charlottesville area. Notice a special focus on summer wines since stocking up on these was our mission; however, any wine can be enjoyed in all seasons, and we do note some wines that some may find to be more appropriate for cooler weather.

White Wines/Rose/ White Blends/Sparkling:
Albarino: Pay attention to this grape in Virginia because it shows promise. Afton Mountain’s 2021 release features classic citrus notes and a leaner palate. A different twist will be offered by Jake Bushing’s 2021 Albarino that saw some time in oak barrels and thus presents a fuller-bodied palate.

Chardonnay: Always my favorite. Full-bodied treatments of this grape can be enjoyed at Septenary (2019), King Family Vineyards (2020) and Hazy Mountain (2019). Sippers who prefer a medium to lighter-bodied style may want to consider the releases from Pollak (2019) and Keswick (LVA 2021).

Sauvignon Blanc: This is another grape that has potential in Virginia. The 2021 offering from Septenary captures classic notes of boxwood and citrus with a refreshing acidity. Similar characteristics were noted in the current 2021 release from Jake Busching Wines. Sauvignon Blanc is also the key component in two white blends from Blenheim Vineyards. 2020 On The Line also includes Rkatsiteli, Chardonnay, and Petit Manseng while the 2018 Painted White incorporates Chardonnay and Petit Manseng. I will add that these two blends convinced me that Petit Manseng with its tropical fruit notes, acidity and texture brings much more to the table (or the bottle) as a blender than a stand alone.

Rose: Dry rose for us, please. Thankfully, Virginia wineries can deliver here too. We can recommend current releases now offered at Blenheim Vineyards (2020) King Family Vineyards (2021), Hark Vineyards (2021) and Septenary (2020). While rose conjures images of beaches or picnics, be sure to have Rose on hand for all seasons—-rose is versatile and can pair with almost anything.

Sparkling Wine: Any occasion or no occasion at all calls for sparkling wine. Try the 2018 Brut from King Family Vineyards produced from 100% Chardonnay, the Sparkling Amelie Blanc de Noir from Keswick Vineyards and/or the Sparkling Rose from Septenary.

Vidal Blanc: Once a driver at most Virginia wineries, Vidal Blanc seems be less common these days. Fortunately, the 2020 Virginia Verde from Hark Vineyards keeps Vidal Blanc alive, and it screams summer.

Red Wines: Cabernet Franc: This is probably the one red wine that is another all season gift. Enjoy it with light grilled fare in summer or with Thanksgiving turkey in the fall. I tend to prefer lighter style Cabernet Franc that presents juicy red berries with little interference from extensive use of oak or blends with other varieties. Blenheim’s 2020 release fits that bill. Pollak Vineyards’ 2019 bottling sees a bit more time on oak with a noted presence of black pepper; however, it too can be served on its own or with food. Septenary’s Cloverplains 2017 is a blend that leads with Cabernet France but includes Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Petit Verdot. Bright seed berries, sweet tobacco and subtle black pepper nuances offers a complex wine that can be enjoyed now or later.

Petit Verdot: This is another winning grape for Virginia. However, there are those who prefer this one on its own, while others would rather enjoy it as part of a blend. (Review my Petit Manseng comment). The 2018 vintage from Pollak Vineyards was surprisingly juicy and rich given the rather wet 2018 growing season. Hark Vineyards’ 2017 release is dark and brooding—-decant now or hold for a bit longer. Don’t ignore the 2019 vintage from DuCard Vineyards, especially if you are tracking down the gold medal winners from 2022 Virginia Governor’s Cup. Looking for a Petit Verdot-dominant blend? Give 2018 Blended Red from Blenheim Vineyards a try. It includes an equal part of Merlot followed by Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon.

Others: We always grab a bottle (or two, three) of Bacco from Afton Mountain Vineyards. This one always includes Sangiovese, and the 2017 is delicious. If your library includes the 2016 Meritage from Pollak Vineyards, it is still showing quite well. Drink or hold. I bought a bottle to join its sibling on our wine rack. One will be enjoyed soon and the other will be poured in another year or so. Our 2013 Merlot from King Family Vineyards has definitely gathered dust, so it was a treat to try a sample of this one at the winery. I would put this one in the drink now category but made sure to purchase another one. Can it hold on for another year or two? We’ll find out.

Our front porch dinners paired with a perfect Virginia wine were lit with late sunsets followed by starry skies and dancing fireflies. Another treat was the cooler than usual night temperatures that allowed us to open the windows to enjoy cool nighttime breezes. If Mother Nature was treating us to a solstice concert, then she put on a stellar performance.

Plan to visit the wineries mentioned in this post to sample these well-crafted wines for yourself this summer. Let us know if you find others that you enjoyed but not described here. Of course, please mention that Virginia Wine Time sent you!

Virginia Wines Shine on a Rainy Day

/ Warren / 1 Comment

We braved a recent chilly weekend to join wine friends for wine tasting and lunch at Stone Tower Winery and Fleetwood Farms Winery. Read on to learn more about our experiences.

Our first stop at Stone Tower Winery required us to brave pelting rain drops and gusty winds. It did not seem like a spring afternoon despite what the calendar told us, and we were fooled into thinking that it was early May. However, our tasting at Stone Tower Winery was worth braving the elements. Our wine friends are members at Stone Tower, and we were treated to an estate wine tasting experience that was expertly guided by the sharp-witted Joe. Of course, white wines were tasted first, and the 2019 Chardonnays hit all the right notes. The 2019 Chardonnay Reserve presented notes of wet stone and fresh pear; its acidity made for an elegant wine that would pair well with poultry or seafood dishes. The 2019 Kristi Chardonnay was crafted from a designated lots on the vineyard site and is named after founder Kristi Huber. Thirty percent of the Kristi Chardonnay is done in concrete eggs to allow for micro-oxygenation of the wine without the impact on its flavors and aromas that would be expected from an oak barrel. The result is a fuller bodied wine that is better able to express terroir.

We transitioned to red wines, and Joe treated us to a comparative tasting of the 2015 Hogback Mountain and the 2015 Wind Swept Hill; the former is a left bank Bordeaux-style blend with Cabernet Sauvignon taking the lead, and the latter is a right bank blend spearheaded by Merlot. The 2015 Hogback has transitioned to more savory elements associated with an aging red, so collectors with this one on the wine rack may want to consider drinking it soon. However, its right bank sibling still held on top its fruitier profile to suggest further aging potential. The 2019 Cabernet Franc was also excellent with dark berry notes and a juicy palate. Our tasting experience ended with the 2021 Rose that was crafted from all Merlot grapes. Bright strawberry notes and a fruity yet dry palate made for a versatile wine that plays well in all seasons.

We lunched on handmade pizzas, olives and cheeses while sipping a bottle of the 2019 Hogback Mountain. The comfy members tasting room allowed us to enjoy our food and wine experience as the weather continued its tantrum!

A subsequent tasting at Fleetwood Farm Winery signaled an upcoming milestone for Virginia Wine Time—-it was winery number 199 on our list of Virginia wineries visited. The 2019 Tempete Blanche, a blend of Sauvignon Blanc, Semillion, and Muscadelle grown by Chateau Kalian in France, should prove to be popular in the summer with its fresh floral aromas and refreshing palate. Tasters looking for an easy summer sipper to pair with grilled fare should be please with the fruity 2019 Ellzey Red, a juicy blend that fills the palate with fresh berry flavors. Virginia wine aficionados may recognize the mention of Chateau Kalian—-it is the home of co-winemaker at Fleetwood Farms, Katell Griaud. Katell is also the winemaker of Slater Run Vineyards. It is she, along with Ashton Lew, who craft the wines at Fleetwood Farm Winery.

We look forward to winery number 200, wherever it may be. Summer warmth seems to be upon us now, so we are certain that our goal will be met sooner rather than later. In the meantime, visit the Virginia wineries mentioned in this post; of course, please mention that Virginia Wine Time sent you!

Monticello Cup Winners

/ Paul / 1 Comment

This evening I attended the Monticello Cup Wine Competition Awards ceremony in Charlottesville. It was held at the Common House. Laura and Jason Lavallee of Wisdom Oak Winery won the 2022 Monticello Cup for their NINETEEN, a Bordeaux-style red blend. I was able to taste the winning wine. It’s a nice red blend but will benefit from some time in the bottle.

Frank Morgan of Drink What You Like, organized the event and was on hand to announce the winners. He announced the top 3 red and white wines of the Monticello Wine Cup Competition as well as the cup winner.

The top 3 reds were the Wisdom Oak 2019 NINETEEN, the Cardinal Point Vineyard and Winery 2019 Clay Hill Cabernet Franc and the Jefferson Vineyards 2019 Merlot Reserve. The top 3 whites were the Michael Shaps Wineworks 2019 Petit Manseng, the Jefferson Vineyards 2019 Chardonnay Reserve and the Trump Winery 2017 Blanc de Blanc.

During the evening I was able to say hello and catch up with many of the wine makers from the Monticello Wine Trail. I was also able to enjoy tastes of many of the wines submitted to the competition. The Common House provided some wonderful appetizers to enjoy with the wines.

It was a great evening to enjoy some wine and celebrate the winners of the competition. If you haven’t been on the Monticello Wine Trail lately, plan a trip soon! And when you do, tell them Virginia Wine Time sent you!

Visiting Cana and Old Farm Winery

/ Paul / 1 Comment

Shortly after the Governor’s Cup winner was announced we headed over to Cana Vineyards and Winery with some friends to taste the winning wine and the current line up of wines.

We decided to start with tasting flights of some of their wines. Jill and I selected the white wine flight which consisted of three of their current whites. We both agreed the 2021 Rhapsody in White was our favorite. We thought it was a perfect white for warm afternoons with light fair. The tropical notes were particularly delightful. I also liked the 2020 Chardonnay. I noted lemon curd, apple notes and a creamy ending. I thought it would pair nicely with some fish dishes or even oysters.

Warren and Michael picked a flight that consisted of one white wine and two reds. They both liked the zesty nature of the 2020 Albariño. Michael really enjoyed the 2019 Petit Verdot. He tends to like bigger reds and noted the cherry and chocolate notes of this one. The tasting room manager, Don treated us to a few more tastes. We tasted the 2021 Rose of Cab Franc. We enjoyed the strawberry notes. We also appreciated the dry, crisp and refreshing nature of this one. Our next taste was the 2019 Melbac. It had a nice dark color, a fresh fruity palate. Don told us it was blended with some petit verdot. Our final taste was the 2019 Le Mariage which was selected for the Governor’s Case and won a gold medal. This one is a Bordeaux blend with cabernet sauvignon making up 43% of the blend. This was the most complex red we had tasted at this point in our tasting. We noted plum, black cherry, a hint of spice and ended with some soft tannins. We saw why it was selected for a gold medal and a member of the Governor’s Case.

After our tasting we decided to splurge and share a bottle of the Governor’s Cup winning 2019 Unité Reserve with our lunch items. The 2019 Unité Reserve is a blend of 65% Petit Verdot, 29% Cabernet Franc and 6% Merlot. Dark fruit notes were present with vanilla and oak notes and moderate tannins. It paired nicely with our roast beef slices and hard cheeses. Warren thought it would pair nicely with his famous leg of lamb. What a nice bottle of wine! We added this one to our list of wines to bring home.

Since we were in Loudoun County we decided to visit a new winery after our time at Cana. We selected the Old Farm Winery at Hartland.

From their website:

Open since November 6th, 2021, Old Farm Winery at Hartland lies on 35 acres of preserved 18th century farmland and newly-planted vineyards in Aldie, Virginia, with a charming renovated 19th century farmhouse and barn, outdoor bar, and expansive outdoor seating area. We bring an authentic working farm winery experience just one hour away from the hustle and bustle of Washington, DC. Old Farm Winery at Hartland is located in the heart of historic “hunt country” of Loudoun County and is rich with colonial and Loudoun’s famous fox hunting history.

Old Farm Winery is the sister winery to the Winery at Bull Run.

Our tasting associate, Bill Ellis expertly walked us through the six wines on the tasting menu. The 2020 Rosé was our favorite of the whites side of the tasting sheet. We noted lots of berry notes and Warren picked up some mint as well. He also thought it would pair well with lamb chops. Bill also let us taste the 2021 Tally-Ho – a white blend with stone fruit notes, white pepper and ginger.

We then moved on to the reds. The 2020 Meritage is a Bordeaux blend finished in American oak barrels. We noted smoke, red fruit notes, plum, spice and medium tannins. I put a star next to this one. Bill also let us taste the 2018 Meritage – another Bordeaux blend with seed berry notes and bigger tannins. While it was very nice, we did prefer the 2020. We also enjoyed the 2020 Petit Verdot. It’s one of my favorite grapes. We noted some nice fruit up front, tart cherry and savory notes at the end. Warren wrote down sage. Another really nice red.

After our tasting we shared a bottle of the 2020 Meritage with some hard cheeses and crackers. It was nice to get to add another winery to our list of wineries visited. This is number 198. Before leaving we picked up a few bottles of our favorites and thanks Bill for a wonderful tasting experience. If you are looking for a new winery to visit, think about Old Farm Winery at Hartland. Of course plan to visit Cana and pick up a bottle of the Governor’s Cup winner while supplies last. And when you do, tell them Virginia Wine Time sent you!