Virginia Wine Expo 2010 in Review
Posted on March 3, 2010 - Filed Under American Wine, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chambourcin, Chardonnay, Dry Wines, Full Bodied Wines, Light Wines, Meritage, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Pinot Grigio, Red Wine, Riesling, Virginia Wine, Virginia Wine Expo, White Wine, Wine Reviews, white table wine | 1 Comment
Well, the 3rd Annual Virginia Wine Expo has come and gone. I found some new vineyards and visited some old favorites. Here’s the long and short of my experience.
Athena Vineyards (http://www.athenavineyards.com)
Athena Vineyards is worth going to just to check out their unique bottle designs. Owned by former nurses, Athena Vineyards offers a great deck wine [...]
Santa Cristina Sangiovese 2007
Posted on February 17, 2010 - Filed Under Dry Wines, Italian Wine, Merlot, Red Wine, Wine Reviews, Wine's Under $20, blended red wine, sangiovese | Leave a Comment
Varietal: Sangiovese (90% Sangiovese; 10% Merlot)
Region: Italy
Cost: $14
Ruby red with hints of purple color featuring aromas of ripe fruit with floral hints. Fruit on the palate with soft tannins on the finish. Pairs well with meat, roast beef, white meat, or medium-aged cheeses.
Recommendations: If you haven’t figured it out by now, I’m a fan of [...]
Root:1 Carmenere 2007
Posted on February 16, 2010 - Filed Under Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenere, Chilean Wine, Dry Wines, Full Bodied Wines, Red Wine, South American Wine, Syrah, Wine Reviews, Wine's Under $20, blended red wine | Leave a Comment
Varietal: Carmenere (75% Carmenere; 15% Cabernet Sauvignon; 10% Syrah)
Region: Chile
Cost: $13
Deep red in color with gentle and silky tannins and rich flavors of ripe plum, blackberry, vanilla and spice. Pair with pasta, grilled meats, spicy entrees, eggplant, or bell peppers.
Recommendations: I’ve been a fan of Root:1 wines for a while, regularly keeping their Sauvignon Blanc [...]
Il Valore Sangiovese 2008
Posted on February 10, 2010 - Filed Under Dry Wines, Italian Wine, Light Wines, Medium Bodied Wines, Red Wine, Wine Reviews, Wine's Under $10, red table wine, sangiovese | 1 Comment
Varietal: Sangiovese
Region: Italy
Cost: $6
Garnet colored in the glass with aromas of cherry and crushed fruit on the nose. Cherry, crushed fruit and a spice finish in the mouth. Pair with pasta or meat.
Recommendations: Given that my wife and I have been snowed in for the better part of two weeks, our supplies of wine are [...]
Di Majo Norante Sangiovese 2008
Posted on January 28, 2010 - Filed Under Dry Wines, Italian Wine, Medium Bodied Wines, Red Wine, Wine Reviews, Wine's Under $10, Wine's Under $20, red table wine, sangiovese | 3 Comments
Varietal: Sanviovese
Region: Italy
Cost: $10
Violets, berries, spices and leather on the nose of this garnet colored wine with flavors of ripe fruit that pair with pizza, pasta, and grilled meats.
Recommendations: I grabbed this bottle of wine at a local store because, quite frankly, the price point was too good to pass on for a Sangiovese that [...]
Montes Cabernet Sauvignon 2008
Posted on January 26, 2010 - Filed Under Cabernet Sauvignon, Chilean Wine, Dry Wines, Full Bodied Wines, Red Wine, Wine Reviews, Wine's Under $10, Wine's Under $20 | Leave a Comment
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
Region: Chile
Cost: $10
Garnet color with flavors of cherry and bold tannins. Pair this wine with red meat or a boldly flavored meal.
Recommendations: For a dinner alone, I swung by my local Fresh Market (which if you have one you should visit often) and picked up a steak and this bottle of wine, partially for [...]
Vignali Roccamora ‘Carlo Alfano’ Nero d’Avola Merlot
Posted on January 22, 2010 - Filed Under Dry Wines, Italian Wine, Merlot, Red Wine, Wine Reviews, Wine's Under $20, Wine's Under $30, blended red wine, nero d'avola, red table wine | Leave a Comment
Varietal: Blended Red Wine (50% Nero d’Avola; 50% Merlot)
Region: Italy – Sicily
Cost: $14
Intense red colors with hints of purple featuring aromas of cherry, sweet spices and tobacco with balanced tannins on the palate. Pairs well with pasta with meat sauce, braised beef, juicy steak.
Recommendations: When this wine showed up for me I instantly started thinking [...]
Angoves Nine Vines Rose
Posted on January 8, 2010 - Filed Under Australian Wine, Dry Wines, Grenache, Shiraz, Wine Reviews, Wine's Under $20 | Leave a Comment
Varietal: Rose (70% Grenache; 30% Shiraz)
Region: South Australia
Cost: $15
Deep pink color with aromas of fresh berries and strawberries. Berry on the palate, notably raspberry, with a crisp finish.
Recommendations: I have officially consumed more pink wines in 2009 than in the previous 3 years combined – and that’s ok. My experience with pink wines started with [...]
Monte Antico Toscana
Posted on December 28, 2009 - Filed Under Cabernet Sauvignon, Dry Wines, Italian Wine, Merlot, Red Wine, Wine Reviews, Wine's Under $10, Wine's Under $20, blended red wine, red table wine, sangiovese | 2 Comments
Varietal: Blended Red Wine (85% Sangiovese; 10% Cabernet Sauvignon; 5% Merlot)
Region: Italy
Cost: $10
Dark garnet color with rich flavors of fruit balanced by robust tannins on the finish. Pair with red meats, pasta with red sauce, or sharp cheeses.
Recommendations: I’ve always been a sucker for Italian wine – Chianti will always hold a special place in [...]
Canneto Rosso di Montepulciano 2007
Posted on December 16, 2009 - Filed Under Dry Wines, Full Bodied Wines, Italian Wine, Red Wine, Wine Reviews, Wine's Under $20, Wine's Under $30, blended red wine, red table wine | Leave a Comment
Varietal: Red Blend
Region: Italy
Cost: $20
Deep purple coloring with aromas of roses, violets, and woodlands. Red and black fruits on the palate, with hints of truffle and chocolate. Pair with veal, hearty soups, hard cheeses such as Parmesan or Pecorino, lamb, Osso Bucco.
Recommendations: I’ve been sitting on this bottle for a few weeks since receiving it [...]
