My Mom and Dad were in town this past weekend, and we took them to Pearmund Cellars for a wine tasting. My Dad likes wine and always looks forward to sampling Virginia vintages. His favorite at Pearmund Cellars was the 2007 Viognier, and we both agreed with his selection.

We arrived at Pearmund Cellars on a very busy day, but we were promptly greeted by the tasting staff. We opted for the Reserve tasting which includes the classic tasting as well. Now this was a loaded tasting with over ten wines to taste, but we were not afraid to dump or decline along the way. However, we did compare notes and awarded gold stars accordingly. We all enjoyed the 2007 Riesling with its floral nose and peach flavors. I noted some subtle lime too. We also got to sample the recently released 2006 Lisa’s Merlot. I enjoyed this one but noted that it was a bit tight. Some earthy aromas were evident but dark cherry/berry flavors opened up with some aggressive swirling. Buy now but store for later—you won’t be disappointed.

Now onto the Reserve wines and our unanimous favorite—the 2007 Viongier. My Dad likes fuller-bodied white wines, and this quickly earned his gold-star award. We both concurred with this choice. This Viongier is done in the Condrieu style which means it is given some oak treatment as evidenced by its vanilla finish. Tropical aromas and flavors abounded with a full mouth feel. A classic! We opted to treat Dad (and ourselves) to a bottle of this one to enjoy at the winery while enjoying a late summer afternoon. Mom preferred the 2008 vintage Diet Coke, but she did sneak a few sips of our stellar Viognier.

Dad also liked the 2005 Ameritage. I documented his simple assessment, “It tastes like a licorice stick.” I had already jotted “anise” in my notes and I added “barnyard” to the list. A lighter-bodied meritage blend, this one is friendly with cheeses, pizza, and steak but can be appreciated on its own.

Planning a visit to Pearmund Cellars? Be sure to try the 2007 Viongier and mention that Virginia Wine Time (and Warren’s Dad) sent you!