Drink This!

/ Warren / 4 Comments

coverWine, of course! Actually, I’m referring to Drink This: Wine Made Simple by Dara Moskowitz Grumdahl. Grumdahl’s purpose for writing Drink This is to bring the potentially bewildering (and pretentious) experience of wine tasting to a very basic level. Written for both the novice oenophile and the experienced sommelier and everyone else in between, Drink This offers wine tasting and pairing tips, debunks myths and mistakes about wine, and presents easy-to-understand facts about wine regions and varietals. Wondering what kind of wine to bring to a dinner party? Want to splurge on bubbly for a special event but your wallet has the recession flu? Drink This offers practical advice for these circumstances and many others. Grumdahl’s wise words for the budget weary allow the consumer to buy quality wines at value prices; at the same time, she offers savvy selections that present creative alternatives to California Chardonnay or French Champagnes.

Order Ambien Online I also appreciate Grumdahl’s no-nonsense approach to the wine experience. Her clever style and straight-forward approach disarms the wine snob and puts the beginner at ease. So you like Merlot? So does Grumdahl! No Sideways poseurs allowed in her book; however, if Merlot is not your thing, Grumdahl has a suggestion for you. Don’t know the difference between Bordeaux, Burgundy or any other wine region? Dara is glad you asked. Structured in a concise, clearly organized yet complete fashion, your questions are answered.

Buy Ativan Online Without Prescription With the holiday season upon us, consider giving Dara Moskowitz Grumdahl’s Drink This: Wine Made Simple as a gift for that favorite wine collector or budding aficionado on your list. Should anyone wonder where you heard of this excellent wine source, mention that you read about it on Virginia Wine Time.

Wine Tasting Roundup

/ Warren / 2 Comments

https://www.centroindependencia.com/halloween-2021/ Our last post featured the elegant Reserve Cabernet release party at Gray Ghost Vineyards; however, we also got to enjoy tastings at other wineries that weekend.  These included Philip Carter Winery of Virginia, Marterella Winery, and Mediterranean Cellars.  We also got to sample wines at a new winery, Molon Lave Vineyards.

We were eager to sample the latest releases at Philip Carter Winery of Virginia.  We previously posted about the renaissance taking place under the direction of Philip Carter Strother, and we are pleased to report that the rebirth continues in the right direction.  Of the white wines, I favored the 2008 Chardonnay with its apple/pear flavors and pleasant nutty finish.  Easy to sip or pair with a favorite poultry dish, I really enjoyed this one.  Paul’s favorite was the recently released Governor Fauquier made from Vidal Blanc grapes but presents Riesling characteristics.  Fruity with a vibrant acidity, this one will replace the Falconwood, a pleasant sipper that is a blend of white wine grapes.  Gold star for the reds?  No doubt, it was the 2008 Cabernet Franc with its abundant dark berry flavors and peppery finish.  We tasted this one out of the barrel, and we were not surprised that this one earned our gold star award.

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It had been a while since our last visit to Marterella Vineyards, so we were determined to sample the latest offerings at this popular winery.   The white wines were all very solid, and my own favorite was the 2007 Barrel Select Chardonnay.  It was described as a “classic”, and I could not agree more with this descriptor. Barrel fermented and aged on the lees in French oak barrels, this Chardonnay would partner nicely with a dish that featured cream sauces or rich gravies—poultry, lobster, pork, etc.,  We both enjoyed the Merlot-based 2008 Heritage Dry Rose, a Provence-style rose that rewards with bright strawberry and melon characteristics.  A versatile pour that will please picnics, dinner parties, or upcoming holiday feasts, this dry rose must not be confused with sweeter White Zinfandels that seem more appropriate for a hot tub party.  Red wine winner?  It was hard to deny the 2006 Meritage our gold star.  Rich dark fruit dominated the nose and mouth with an earthy component that begged for a bold roasted meat such as beef or venison (poor Bambi, but I did see a nice venison tenderloin with this one.)

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So across the street from Marterlla Winery is Mediterranean Cellars.  How could we refuse?  We were warmly greeted by Matina Papadopoulos who guided our tasting which also included the reserve wines.  Our favorites included the rich 2007 Viognier Reserve with its floral/apricot nose and tropical fruit flavors. It rewards on the finish with a nice honeyed texture.  For lovers of real Greek wine, the 2005 Rechina is now available, and Matina recommends serving this one with grilled seafood; I have my eye on a grilled chop, though!  Of the red wines, the Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon was the winner with its blackberry and dark cherry aromas and flavors. 

Matina informed us that a sister winery, Molon Lave Vineyards, had recently opened, and we were graciously provided with a coupon for free tastings at the winery.  This we did on Sunday in the early afternoon.  The style of winemaking here is similar to that at Mediterranean Cellars; in fact, Louis Papadopoulos and his son are also winemakers for this new venture.  The fruit-forward  Cabernet Sauvignon was our favorite here, and we intend to return to Molon Lave Vineyards to sample other releases as the tasting menu expands.  After all, the term Molon Lave in an ancient Greek battle cry that means, “come and take it”; so, we might as well go and sample the wines at a future date!

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Planning to visit any of these wineries?  Please mention that Virginia Wine Time sent you!

Elegant Evening at Gray Ghost Vineyards

/ Warren / 1 Comment

Buy Ativan Online Without Prescription We never miss the release party for the Gray Ghost Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon; this special wine is only produced from the best vintages, and this year’s release featured the 2006 harvest. As always, the Kellerts treated guests to a fabulous evening of wine, dinner, dessert, jazz and more wine!

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https://isimylo.com/jesus_bocho/ The 2006 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon is produced from free-run juice and aged in French oak for three years. The result is a rich, complex wine that presents black berries and dark cherries to the nose and mouth; I detected a layer of dark chocolate, too. Expect a lengthy finish, too! Already awarded 13 medals including a platinum and several golds, this limited production wine will sell out quickly!

And so what sacrificial creatures were served with this opulent wine? Prime rib served with horseradish sauce, pork tenderloin, and Chesapeake crab cakes. Roasted veggies were served on the side. All that was missing were complimentary cigars and smoking jackets! For dessert? Cheesecake partnered with the much-acclaimed Adieu.

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With strains of the jazz ensemble still playing, we made certain to purchase a bottle (or two) of the 2006 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon before we bid our own adieus to Gray Ghost Vineyards. If planning a visit to Gray Ghost Vineyards, be aware that the 2006 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon will not be available for tasting, but trust us—it’s excellent. Of course, while tasting at Gray Ghost Vineyard, do mention to the Kellerts that Virginia Wine Time sent you!

Another Visit To Narmada

/ Paul / 2 Comments

Last Saturday after seeing the fall grape leaves at Gray Ghost, we stopped by Narmada to see what has been added to the tasting menu.

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Upon entering the gates we noticed they are now doing tastings in the winery among the tanks. Right away we ran into Rob Cox, the winemaker. He preceded to give us a tour of the facility. It’s just about complete. He took us to the unfinished tasting room that promises to be quite a space. We look forward to returning to see the completed tasting room.

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After our tour Rob directed us in tasting the line of Narmada wines. Many of them we tasted back in September but there were a few additions since our last visit. The three additions were the Chardonnay, the Viognier, and the Cabernet Franc.

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We enjoyed them all but the Viognier got our gold star on this visit. This viognier is steel fermented and it spends seven months on oak. I noted citrus fruit and melon. Warren noted honeysuckle and peach. We enjoyed this one so much we enjoyed a glass on the crush pad, which is set up with tables and chairs.

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While enjoying the our glass we got to chat briefly with Sudha Patil, one of the owners. She asked for any advice we might have for the winery. We informed her that they seemed to be doing everything right. We enjoy the wines, the scenery, and we’re sure we’ll enjoy the tasting room when it opens later this month. Plan a visit to Narmada soon and if you do, tell them Virginia Wine Time sent you!

Monticello Trail Roundup

/ Warren / 2 Comments

I’m going to present a general review of other wineries that we visited during our Columbus Day weekend trip to the Monticello area.  (We wrote about these wineries in August, so visit our posts from the summer to get more detail.)

Blenheim Vineyards:  Always a treat to see winemaker Kirsty Harmon.  It was near closing time when we arrived, but we were treated very well by the tasting staff.  We enjoyed a glass of the excellent 2008 Viognier, and I got to join Kirsty and the harvest crew at the sorting table to pick through Chardonnay grapes.  Since we had just harvested at Gray Ghost, I felt like a trained pro!

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Jefferson Vineyards: Looking for fall/ winter pours?  You can’t go wrong with the 2008 Chardonnay Reserve and the 2008 Viognier.  Prefer reds?  Give the 2007 Cabernet Franc and the 2007 Meritage a try. We noted that guest critic Michael Tyler would like the semi-dry Vin Blanc with its 1.5% residual sugar and Riesling-like profile.

Pollak Vineyards:  See the video posted earlier!  We always enjoy a trip to Pollak Vineyards.  This time we got to meet with winemaker Jake Bushing who gave us a tour of the barrel room.  Paul ended up purchasing a case of white wine, and these included five bottles each of the 2008 Durant White and the 2008 Viognier.  A bottle each of the 2007 merlot and 2007 Cabernet Franc were tossed in the case, too. 

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Virginia Wineworks: We just had to have second sample of the superb 2007 Michael Shaps Viognier.  I also enjoyed the 2007 Michael Shaps Chardonnay.  The 2007 Michael Shaps Cabernet Franc should be considered for the holidays, and the seductive Michael Shaps Merlot just begs for a warm fire place, a romantic steak dinner, and a special someone!

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As fall colors begin to fade and nature takes on the winter landscape, consider a wine tasting trip to the Monticello trail.  If you visit any of the wineries listed in this post, be sure to mention that Virginia Wine Time sent you.

An Autumn Trip To Keswick Vineyards

/ Warren / 1 Comment

Two weekends ago, we made a quick trip to Monticello wineries to take in the fall colors and to sample latest releases at the wineries. It had been quite a while since our last visit to Keswick Vineyards, and this time around, we were determined to pay a call; so, on a crisp fall day we made our way to Keswick Vineyards.

On tap were six wines to taste. Armed with gold stars, we seated ourselves at the tasting bar and sipped away. I thought all three of the white wines were very solid. Two white wine offerings were produced from Viognier—the 2008 Viognier and the 2008 Les Vent D’Anges; the other was a 2008 Chardonnay. When forced to decide the “one”, I settled on the French oak-fermented 2008 Viognier. It presented lovely aromas of honeysuckle and peaches with a honeyed texture in the mouth. Rich and full-bodied, it should pair quite well with any dish that featured a cream sauce. Paul favored the 2008 Les Vent d’Anges which is stainless steel fermented. At 1.3% residual sugar, it’s considered an off-dry wine and exhibits the same characteristics as its oak fermented sibling but without the full mouth feel. My close second place was the classic 2008 Chardonnay with its toasty nose and pear flavors. I also liked its buttery feel and full finish—I’m a sucker for this kind of Chardonnay.

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So on to the red wines. It was here that we reached a unanimous decision. The gold star went to the 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon. What a treat it was to taste this Governor’s Cup winner! “Dense” was Paul’s descriptor the rich garnet color, and we both noted blackberries and dark cherries on the nose with similar flavors in the mouth. I noted mocha at the end. This Cabernet is blended with 25% Merlot and aged in French and American oak barrels. One inhibiting factors? The price. At $60 a bottle, this Cabernet Sauvignon is well worth its hefty price tag, but tasters may want to reserve this one for a special occasion. For an everyday wine, try the fruity 2008 Touriga which is blended with 20% Chambourcin. Medium bodied and easy to drink, the 2008 Touriga was chock full of mixed berry flavors with a smoky edge to boot. Buy now and drink now with—might be a nice alternative for the holidays, too.

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Of course, with tasting done, we were hungry. We brought along grilled chicken breasts, white cheeses and baguette. Our wine of choice? I let Paul prevail and we selected the 2008 Les Vent d’Anges to enjoy with lunch and fall scenery. We marveled at the different shades of fall that included gold, rust, orange and red. In the process, we also nibbled and sipped.

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We made off with several bottles of wine that included a bottle each of the white wines. We also know that we will return to Keswick Vineyards to sample upcoming releases. Planning a visit to Keswick Vineyards? Be sure to mention that Virginia Wine Time sent you!

Extra Pour

/ Warren / 1 Comment

ExtraPour01Welcome to a new feature at Virginia Wine Time. The Extra Pour will be a quarterly addition to Virginia Wine Time. The Extra Pour will allow us to spend more time and space on a particular topic that is too long for a blog post. You can download the Extra Pour to read at a later time. Click on the picture to download the first Extra Pour. In the future you’ll be able to click on the menu at the top of the page to take you directly to the Extra Pour page.