White Hall Vineyards

We started out our tasting at White Hall, partly because of the area we were looking to go tasting in, they were the first one open, but also because I we hadn’t actually been out to the tasting room in many years. On the Saturday morning we stopped in they were pouring 9 different wines and my wife and I were happy to sample them all.

We started out with two Chardonnays, the 2008 Chardonnay ($15) and the 2008 Chardonnay Reserve ($24). The stainless steel Chardonnay featured all the usual citrus and pear notes I would have expected, but had a smoother finish than I anticipated, though certainly not “oaky”. The 2008 Reserve featured a bit of oaky nuttiness on the nose and while it had the “oaked” finish I would expect, it was subtle and even my wife, who doesn’t usually care for oaked Chardonnay, preferred it to the stainless steel.

Next up was the 2009 Viognier ($17) which offered a good floral nose with rose and honeysuckle in the mouth with just a hint of sweetness on the finish. This is a great summer wine and my wife and I did actually bring a bottle of it home with us. Following the Viognier was the 2008 Pinot Gris ($17) which didn’t have much nose to it but was a nice dry wine with a good minerality on the finish. Our final white was the 2008 Petit Manseng ($16) which like the Viognier had a floral nose with tropical notes in the mouth. The best way to describe this wine is as a less floral and more sweet Viognier. A good dessert wine though.

Moving on to the reds. We started with the 2008 Merlot ($15) which had a smoky nose but was lighter in the palate with raspberry flavors. I really enjoyed this one and we made sure to grab a bottle to bring home. Following that was the 2009 Touriga ($18) with a jammy nose and soft tannins. The 2008 Petit Verdot ($20) was a stand-out for me. It was a dark reddish-purple in the glass with smoke and pepper on the nose that carried through to the palate to mix with raspberry and a nice soft tannic finish. This was arguably my favorite wine of the tasting and we made sure to grab a bottle to bring home.

We finished up the tasting with the 2007 Soliterre ($17), a dessert wine with floral and apricot notes on the nose and candied fruit on the palate. With 6% residual sugar you had better make sure to pair it with something, but I will say that had I not known how much residual sugar was in the wine I might have guessed less as it certainly wasn’t syrupy.

Our tasting complete and some wines purchased we moved on to our next stop.

Mountfair Vineyards

I’d be lying if I didn’t mention that Mountfair was a big reason we headed out to do some wine tasting. Everybody in Virginia that’s been there has nothing but good things to say about it, and what’s not to love about a vineyard that specializes in small-batch red wines?

We started off our tasting with a few sparkling wines from Thibaut-Janisson, the Blanc de Chardonnay and the Virginia FIZZ. Mountfair sells these wines for them as they don’t have their own tasting room. They were both enjoyable, one a champagne style and the other a prosecco style.

As for the actual Mountfair wines, we started off with the 2009 Merlot ($20) which is a blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc. With a peppery nose I expected more of it in the palate, but the Merlot does a good job of smoothing it out and makes this a great wine for just sipping on. We grabbed a bottle of this as well, bringing our Merlot total up to 2 in as many vineyards. Next was the other of their single varietals, the 2009 Cabernet Franc ($20) which is the opposite of the Merlot at 80% Cabernet Franc and 20% Merlot. The wine was heavier in the mouth than I expected with a subtle pepper and smoke finish with good cherry notes leading the way in. We didn’t buy this one, but mostly because it lost the coin toss against the Merlot.

Next was the 2008 Indigenous ($25) a blend of 50/50 Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc with a velvety pepper nose and a tart finish that I attributed to the Cabernet Franc. Finally we sampled the 2009 Engagement ($25) a blend of 60% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, 10% Petit Verdot, and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. This is a great wine for grilled food with a lot of the Cabernet Franc notes coming through, but with more body thanks to the Petite Verdot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot.

I really enjoyed Mountfair and before we left my wife and I even signed up for their wine club so that we’ll get shipments of their wine as their released. If you visit Mountfair or have at least tasted their wines I certainly recommend it as it’s a great value and a good way to get their signature wine, the Wooloomooloo, which pretty much sells out as soon as it’s released.

Pollak Vineyards

My wife and I had visited Pollak a few years back just after they opened their new tasting room (which is beautiful and has a patio and deck area perfect for a picnic lunch), but wanted to head back now that the new vintages were out, especially since I enjoyed what of them I was able to taste back in February at the Virginia Wine Expo. We started out with the 2009 Chardonnay ($19) which had a creamy nose with citrus and vanilla notes on the palate and a soft, light oak hint on the finish.

Next was the 2010 Viognier ($20) with a nose of honey and peach and floral notes on the palate. This was a light wine that will be good on a hot day. Next was the 2010 Pinot Gris ($18) which was so light in the glass as to be nearly clear. This was a medium dry wine and the only thing I can really say about it is that it was so-so, and nothing to get too excited about. Next was the 2009 Durant White ($16) a blend of 60% Chardonnay, 30% Viognier, and 10% Pinot Gris. With a subtle floral nose and good tropical flavors this was easily my favorite white of the tasting and the only reason I didn’t grab a bottle to bring home is that I already have one.

Moving on to the reds we started with the 2009 Durant Red ($12) which is a 50/50 blend of Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Light red in the glass with pepper and a “meaty”, smoky aroma and a tart finish this is a good value wine, especially for those big cookouts that come up this time of year. Our next wine was the 2008 Cabernet Franc ($20) with a nose of pepper and generic red fruit with cherry on the palate.

Next was the 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon ($24) with a nose full of dark fruit and a juicy palate with soft tannins on the finish. This wine is just begging for a grilled steak and I bought a bottle to take home for just that reason. Our final sample was the 2008 Meritage ($25) a blend of 44% Cabernet Franc, 43% Merlot, and 13% Petit Verdot that has a lot of dark fruit on both the nose and the palate with a nice smooth finish. It’s very “petit verdot-y” (according to my notes) and another great steak wine that we only didn’t buy because we decided to go with the Cab Sauv.

After staying at Pollak for a bit to eat some lunch on their deck area, it was on to our final stop.

Veritas Vineyards & Winery

Behind the Veritas tasting bar

I always have a soft spot in my heart for Veritas as my wife’s brother got married there and we had, quite frankly, one helluva time. Veritas lets you select either a white tasting or a red tasting, but since my wife and I were both there, we picked one of each and shared, starting off with the whites.

First was the Scintilla ($30) a French style brut sparkling wine with apple on the nose, big bubbles and a nice dry finish. Next was the 2010 “Saddleback” Chardonnay ($18) which is done in the Chablis style and has lots of tropical notes as well as some vanilla and apple. Following up that was the 2009 “Harlequin” Chardonnay ($25) which has spent 6 months in French oak. With a buttery/oak nose I was almost surprised at how much acid I found on the palate, though it certainly wasn’t a lot. That being said both my wife and I liked the “Harlequin” much better than the “Saddleback”.

Next we tasted the 2010 Viognier ($20). Floral and honeysuckle notes on the nose with peach on the palate and a slight hint of sweetness on the finish (.7% residual sugar) made this a very typical, but very enjoyable, Virginia Viognier. The 2009 Petit Manseng ($25) had kiwi on the nose and even with 10% residual sugar was sweet without being syrupy. The 2009 Kenmar ($35) is an ice wine style made from Traminette and offering rose aromas on the nose with honey and rose water on the palate. This is a very sweet wine, but a good dessert wine if paired correctly with something like pound cake.

Moving on to the reds, we sampled the Mousseux ($30) a sparkling wine using Merlot grapes with notes of strawberry and a tartness that I actually found rather refreshing. The 2010 Rose’ ($14) is made with 46% Cabernet Franc and 54% Merlot and features .5% residual sugar. A medium-light pink in color with a strawberry nose and a dry, slight pepper/spice note on the finish that makes this a good summer wine for pairing with something like grilled chicken.

The Red Star ($18) is a blend of 37% Cabernet Franc, 37% Merlot, and 26% Chambourcin. A nose of dark fruit and pepper and a palate of smoke and cherry make this a good wine to pair with burgers. The 2009 Claret ($18) is a blend of 55% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc, and 15% Petit Verdot. The petit verdot really came through on this wine, with a nice juiciness to the wine and aromas of smoke and pepper that will make this another great wine for drinking with some gourmet burgers off the grill – which is why my wife and I grabbed a bottle.

Finally, the 2009 Vintner’s Reserve ($25) a blend of 40% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Franc, and 20% Petit Verdot that spent 18 months in mostly new French oak barrels. A smoky aroma with tons of dark fruit notes on the palate a nice soft tannic finish makes this a great wine to pair with a steak.

My wife and I had a great time tasting all these wines, and everybody that we dealt with at the vineyards was incredibly pleasant, knowledgeable, and friendly. If you have the chance to visit any of these vineyards I highly recommend it, and I’m already looking forward to another trip out to Virginia Wine Country to visit some other vineyards and taste some more wines.

Related posts:

1. Virginia Wine Country Day 2
2. Virginia Wine Country Day 1
3. California Wine Country Day 1 – Napa Valley

• 2008 Hiddencroft Vineyards Cabernet Franc
• 2008 Fox Meadow Vineyards Le Renard Rouge
• 2008 Cooper Vineyards Norton Reserve
• 2009 Keswick Vineyards Cabernet Franc
• 2009 Afton Mountain Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Reserve
• 2008 Barboursville Vineyards Petit Verdot Reserve

2008 Hiddencroft Vineyards Cabernet Franc

Arguably one of my favorite wines that I tasted, with a nice garnet color and lots of pepper both on the nose and in the mouth. I was disappointed that Hiddencroft Vineyards didn’t have a booth at the Virginia Wine Expo so that I could buy some of this wine, but it just means that I’m going to have to go out and visit their vineyard sometime soon to pick some up.

2008 Fox Meadow Vineyards Le Renard Rouge

The wine that won the 2011 Governor’s Cup (congrats guys). The Le Renard Rouge is a Meritage blend of 50% Cabernet Franc and 50% Merlot. Light red in color with flavors of black cherry and a tartness to it that will let it pair well with pasta dishes.

2008 Cooper Vineyards Norton Reserve

A 100% Norton wine that was purple in color with plenty of berry on the palate. The wine was bright and juicy in the mouth with a bit of tartness on the finish as well.

2009 Keswick Vineyards Cabernet Franc

A 100% Cabernet Franc that was another of my favorites of the tasting. Purple in the glass with plenty of pepper on the nose, cherry in the mouth, and a nice green bell pepper hint on the finish that I know some people don’t like, but I’m a big fan of, but should fade from the wine with age if it’s not to your taste. I picked up a bottle of this the next day during the Expo and you can look forward to a fuller review in the future.

2009 Afton Mountain Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Reserve

A 100% estate grown wine aged in French Oak, there are notes of coffee on the nose and dark cherry in the mouth with a great tannic finish that just begs to be paired with a steak. Had they placed some tenderloin out to pair with the wine I honestly don’t know that I would have left their table. I was already a fan of Afton Mountain for getting me back into Gewurztraminer, but this Cabernet Sauvignon just makes me like them more.

2008 Barboursville Petit Verdot Reserve

And finally there was Barboursville. I’m a fan of Petit Verdot, so I was happy to try this. Deep ruby coloring with flavors of plum, dark olives, and just a hint of chocolate and the typical velvety finish of Petit Verdot that I find so enjoyable.

All of the gold medal winners were good and deserved both the award they won and the Governor’s Cup. Had I been choosing the award I’d be lying if it wouldn’t have gone to either Keswick, Afton Mountain, or Hiddencroft, but Fox Meadow was also very deserving of the award and I do recommend trying out their wines.

Thanks to Amy and Annette over at Virginia Wine for the invite and check back for my thoughts on the Virginia Wine Expo as a whole.

Related posts:

1. Virginia Wine Tasting
2. Virginia Wine Country Day 1
3. Virginia Wine Country Day 2

Varietal:  Meritage (58% Merlot; 40% Cabernet Franc; 2% Petit Verdot)
Region: Virginia – Charlottesville – USA
Cost: $10

Light to medium red color in the glass, with aromas of cherry and crushed berries.  Flavors of cherry and fresh berry with a hint of pepper on the finish.  Pairs well with grilled or roasted chicken and prime rib.

Recommendations: It’s been raining for three days here in Virginia, at least in my part of it, and nothing makes me want to drink some good red wine quite like a dreary rainy day.  Because of that, last night my wife and I opened up a bottle of the 2005 Blenheim Vineyards Meritage.  I’d picked this one up during our March trip through Virginia wine country, and with a dinner of some chicken out of the oven and orzo pasta it just sounded right.

It would have been right with anything.  If you haven’t guessed already, Blenheim is hands down one of my favorite vineyards, both in and out of Virginia.  Wines like this are the reason.  The blend of Merlot, Cab Franc, and Petit Verdot gave a great wine that was full of fruit, but had just a hint of pepper on the end that was tempered by the Petit Verdot.  Cherry and raspberry flavors were smooth, and the wine was light in the mouth.

If I had to describe this wine to somebody I’d probably call it a more fruit forward Cabernet Franc, but it’s really so much more than that.  This is a great wine to just have around, and at $10 a bottle it’s arguably one of the best values I’ve come across.  Sadly I don’t think it’s available anymore, though if you’re out at the vineyard (which I recommend) and they do still have some available, I do recommend snapping up as much as you can.

Related posts:

1. Blenheim Vineyards Petit Verdot 2008
2. Blenheim Vineyards King Family Merlot 2004
3. Surfrider Malibu Newton Canyon Red 2005

Our first stop was Keswick Vineyards, and while I have nothing but good things to say about all of their wines, I do have to recommend their 2008 Consensus.  Each year, Keswick brings in the members of their wine club and they spend a day mixing wine that was either left over, wasn’t what Keswick was looking for, or that they didn’t get enough yield from to have a single varietal.

After spending the day mixing and breaking for food, the members all come back and taste each of the wines that has been made, voting on the best one, which Keswick then releases as their Consensus.  Because of that, each year the wine is different and this years blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (60%), Chambourcin (28%), and Petite Verdot (12%) is enough to make me want to join their wine club.

Dark cherry flavors mix well with a finish that is smooth thanks to the Petite Verdot, and yet gives you the hit in the back of the mouth that you would expect from a good Cabernet Sauvignon.  A great wine worth picking up.

Our next stop was Jefferson Vineyards, whom I will admit I wanted to visit simply because at the Virginia Wine Expo they weren’t tasting their Petit Verdot and I had wanted to bring some home.  While they offer several very good whites, including their Vin Blanc and Pinot Gris, at Jefferson it really is all about the Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot for me.

Next up was Kluge Estate and Winery, whom you should visit during the warmer months if only because of their gorgeous outdoor area where you can taste wine and relax.  I will say that Kluge wasn’t on our list to visit originally but we stopped there for two reasons.  First, while at Keswick we purchased a tasting pass that, for $10 each, got us tastings at Keswick, Jefferson, and Kluge.  I highly recommend this pass.  Second, we were going to visit Blenheim Vineyards, which you get to by driving past Kluge.

At Kluge, April and I set up outdoors for our tasting.  While several of the wines were enjoyable, a few bear remarking.  The first thing we tasted was a Sparkling Rose’ which I have to admit was refreshing on the warm day.  Also worth mentioning, especially as we took it home, was the Albermarle Rose’.  My notes on this wine literally read “obnoxiously good.”  I’ll be the first to admit that I have had a prejudice against pink wines in the past, but ever since my trip to California back in October, I’ve been finding Rose’ wine more and more enjoyable, especially as the weather begins to change.

Also worth mentioning is their Albermarle Simply Red 2005.  We also tasted the 2003, but April and I liked the 2005 better and so brought home a bottle of that.  If you’re looking to stop for a picnic, Kluge is a great spot as they also have a great selection of cheeses to compliment their selection of wines.

Our final stop for the day was Blenheim Vineyards.  In many ways they were the impetus for this whole mini-vacation as I was such a fan of theirs at the Virginia Wine Expo and regretted not buying more of their wine.  I would be remiss if I didn’t mention how beautiful their tasting room is and how friendly and personable their Winemaker and General Manager Kirsty Harmon was to both myself and my wife.

As for their wine, I had bought two bottles of their Viognier at the Wine Expo, and so I didn’t pick up more of that while visiting (though I recommend it to anybody that is visiting), but I can’t recommend their 2005 Meritage enough.  At $10 it’s an amazing blend of merlot, cabernet franc, and petit verdot.  Speaking of Petit Verdot, Blenheim’s single varietal Petit Verdot is spectacular, along with their Cabernet Franc.  Their King Family Merlot may have actually made a merlot drinker out of my wife with its earthy flavors.

Our first day in Virginia Wine Country was amazing, and trust me, the second day was just as much fun.  Thanks to Keswick, Jefferson, Kluge, and Blenheim Vineyards for being so welcoming and to all my readers out there – please go and support these amazing vineyards.

Stay tuned for Day 2 of George and April’s Mini-Vacation in Virginia Wine Country.

Related posts:

1. California Wine Country Day 1 – Napa Valley
2. California Wine Country Day 2 – Sonoma
3. Virginia Wine Expo 2010 in Review

Varietal: Meritage (Merlot; Cabernet Sauvignon; Petit Verdot)
Region: California – USA
Cost: $22

Deeply colored and full bodied.  Blackberry, cassis, and jammy red fruit flavors pair well with a variety of foods such as lamb chops, chicken marsala, Osso Bucco, steaks, pork, BBQ, or day old meat loaf.

Recommendations: First of all, I want to clear something up.  It’s Meritage (as in “heritage”)…at the Virginia Wine Expo two weeks ago, where there were several Meritages, this became a topic of debate at several tasting tables.  Ok…now on to the review.

The Surfrider Red is good.  The alcohol on the nose did give way as the wine opened up more into aromas of fruit and cherry, and the red fruit flavor finished with a combination of bold tannins and earthiness that I rather enjoyed, especially since the alcohol that was on the nose didn’t come through on the palate.

Paired with a dinner of grilled BBQ chicken and some mixed veggies, the full-bodied, earthy flavor of the wine did a great job of enhancing the natural smokiness of the food without overwhelming the chicken or being overwhelmed by it.  It did what wine is supposed to do – complimented the meal.

While this wine certainly isn’t life-altering in any way, it was very enjoyable both with the meal and after, and was perfect with the BBQ – something that I feel will be a bigger issue as the weather begins to warm.  For those getting ready to start grilling, the Surfrider is definitely one to consider.

Special thanks to the International Wine of the Month Club for providing the wine for this review.

Related posts:

1. Friends.Red Sonoma County Red Wine
2. Middle Sister Rebel Red
3. Big House Red 2008

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 in their Lighthouse White and a nice Meritage with a good pepper finish.

Potomac Point Winery (http://www.potomacpointwinery.com)
I’ll be the first to admit that I went to Potomac Point just to pick up a few bottles of their La Belle Vie 2008 for when the weather turns warm.  This year they’ve introduced a La Belle Vie Rose that was enjoyable, but not as good as the original.

White Hall Vineyards (http://www.whitehallvineyards.com)
I’ve been to White Hall Vineyards before, and if you’re ever our in the Charlottesville area, I certainly recommend visiting them.  While there weren’t any of their wines that I disliked, I came away with 3 bottles of their Cabernet Franc and 3 bottles of their Viognier.

Rosemont Vineyards (http://www.rosemontofvirginia.com)
Rosemont was the first vineyard I visited to give me some truly unique flavors.  Their Vidal Blanc offered up a herb, mint finish that was new and refreshing.  Their Meritage has a clove finish that I will admit reminded me a bit of high school.

Pollak Vineyards (http://www.pollakvineyards.com)
Lime in their Durant White reminded me of South American Sauvignon Blanc.  Their Cabernet Franc had a more subtle pepper finish than many I had during the day, while their Cabernet Sauvignon offered a touch of eucalyptus.

Mountfair Vineyards (http://www.mountfair.com)
Most notable from Mountfair was their slightly effervescent Stickdog Riesling with a slight mineral finish.  Fairly refreshing and one worth considering as the weather turns warm.

Blenheim Vineyards (http://www.blenheimvineyards.com)
I really enjoyed Blenheim, and while I didn’t dislike any of their wines, I enjoyed their Viognier and Cabernet Franc the most, bringing home two bottles of the Viognier and one of the Cab Franc.  I already wish I had grabbed 3 bottles of each.

Tarara Winery (http://www.tarara.com)
I was really looking forward to Tarara, and was sadly sort of disappointed.  I went there looking forward to their Long Bomb, and while I really enjoyed their Charval with a slight mineral finish and found their 2008 Cabernet Franc to be great, but their Long Bomb Edition 2 was a bit of a let down.

Lake Anna Winery (http://www.lawinery.com)
I’m a huge fan of Lake Anna, and while I went there to try and pick up their Spotsylvania Claret (3 bottles), I can’t help but recommend their Totally White and Totally Red as quality table wines.  The Bellhaven Chardonnay is very refreshing and definitely worth considering as well.

Villa Appalaccia Winery (http://www.villaappalacia.com)
While I’ve never made any secret of the fact that I favor red wine for most occasions, I was blown away by the whites offered by Villa Appalaccia.  Not to take away from a great Toscanello (a great blend of Cab Franc, Sangiovese, and Primitivo), their Pinot Grigio, Pinot Grigio Reserve, and Simpatico are worth buying.  The Pinot Grigio is a great deck wine, and there’s not much seasfood that I wouldn’t pair the Reserve with.

First Colony Winery (http://www.firstcolonywinery.com)
The two most worth it to me were the Viognier with its light floral flavor and their Cabernet Franc with its combination bell pepper white pepper finish.

Grayhaven Winery (http://www.grayhavenwinery.com)
While certainly not the last winery that I visited, it was another one that I went to with a certain wine in mind.  Just up the road from my home, this is a vineyard that I’ve visited several times for their great, homey tasting room.  Their Cabernet Franc is always one to love, with a light color and great pepper finish.  They have a Sauvignon Blanc that I have yet to taste, but as it’s always sold out I’m assuming it’s pretty good.

Vino Curioso (http://www.vinocurioso.com)
Three years ago I found Vino Curioso at the first Virginia Wine Expo.  All these years later and I’m still in love with their Cabernet Franc (Franc the Tank) and their Cabernet Sauvignon (Snake’s Den).  Another one that I’ve never tasted the Sauvignon Blanc of because they are perpetually sold out of it.

Jefferson Vineyards (http://www.jeffersonvineyards.com)
Like many of the vineyards at the Virginia Wine Expo, I hit up Jefferson Vineyards looking for a specific wine – their Petit Verdot – which they didn’t have.  Granted, their Cabernet Franc was as good this year as it was last, but them not having their Petit Verdot available was a bit of a let down.

The 2010 Virginia Wine Expo was another roaring success, with great vineyards presenting great wine.  If you’re in the Central Virginia area, or even if you’re not, and you’re not already planning to attend next year, you’re missing out on a great opportunity to not only learn about varietals that you might not get from California, but certainly ones that taste different than those you are used to.

Related posts:

1. 2009 Virginia Wine Expo Photos
2. 2009 Virginia Wine Expo in Review
3. Virginia Wine Expo 2010

New Kent Winery Meritage

Varietal: Meritage

Region: Virginia – USA

Cost: $18

Earthy aromas is a contrast to the mellow flavors of this red.  The light red color belies the dryness of the wine, one that would pair well with red meats, strong cheeses, or red pasta sauces.  As New Kent Winery is a new winery, this Meritage is a respectable offering.

Recommendation: Only available at the winery for now, if you’re there, this will be the wine to get.  That being said, as Meritage’s go, this isn’t the best you can find in Virginia, especially for the price.

No related posts.