Varietal:  22.7% Malvasia Bianca; 15.9% Gruner Veltliner; 15.7% Sauvignon Blanc; 9.2% Gewurztraminer; 7.9% Riesling; 7.3% Chenin Blanc; 6.1% Muscat Canelli; 5.2% Viognier; 4.5% Verdelho; 4.4% Albarino; 1.1% Pinot Gris
Region:  California – USA
Cost:  $10 (SRP)

Winemaker’s Notes:  Big House wines are a rebellious mix of non-traditional grape varieties destined to give the imbiber a new experience. To wit this year’s prisoner is a captivating blend of aromatic whites that span the distance of the Alps themselves. With a nose that carries the vibrancy of spring and white flowers and lychee fruit that surround the senses. The palate opens up to tropical fruits, dried apricot, and white peaches. This wine finishes strong with a cleansing citrus zest that lingers. Pairs with fresh fish, Asian cuisine, or even Sunday morning fruit salads.

My Review:  I’m a big proponent of tables wines, and I feel as though that’s a niche that Big House wines has embraced and possibly even tried to make their own. Looking at the list of wines that are put into the bottle it’s almost disappointing to not see one labeled “kitchen sink”. There are times when a wine can try and do too much and end up falling flat, and while I’m not going to go so far as to proclaim the 2010 Big House White an amazing wine, for a $10 table wine, you can do a lot worse.

On the nose I didn’t get much, though some of the white flower aroma did come through. In the mouth there were competing flavors of citrus and honeysuckle and dried apricot that gave this just overarching tropical fruit flavor that was light and somewhat refreshing. Paired with a dinner of chicken and cheesy potatoes the wine was a nice counterpoint to the bit of heat that was in the seasoning on the chicken and to the thickness of the potatoes.

I’d be lying if I said this was a life-altering wine, but as $10 white table wines go, it’s average at worst. If you’re looking for a light white wine with tropical notes and a hint of some of the sweeter varietals you’d be remiss to at least not consider the 2010 Big House White.

Related posts:

1. Big House “The Birdman” Pinot Grigio 2010
2. Big House Unchained Naked Chardonnay 2009
3. Big House Cardinal Zin 2009

Varietal:  Chardonnay with a touch of Viognier and Sauvignon Blanc
Region:  71% California; 29% North Carolina
Cost:  $11 (SRP)

Winemaker’s Notes:  Yellow/green in color with aromas of tropical fruit, pineapple, peach, persimmon, and mint. In the mouth the wine is fresh and fruity with a touch of butter; a smooth wine with a medium body. Pairs well with seafood, chicken, pasta, and light dishes.

My Review:  I’ll admit that I wasn’t sure what to expect out of this bottle. Not only did I not know what the percentages on the blend were (though I’d make a rough guess that the Viognier and Sauvignon Blanc account for less than 10% of the wine), but blending two grapes not just from different regions in a state, but from different states, seemed odd to me.

The wine was rather dark in the glass, a nice robust yellow and on the nose I got the typical Chardonnay notes of tropical fruit and pineapple. In the mouth I got more of the tropical notes with just a hint of citrus that I’ll chalk up to the “touch” of Sauvignon Blanc in the wine. Some of the wine had seen barrels, but I was pleased by how soft the finish on the wine was, especially given my wife’s distaste for oaked Chardonnay.

Paired with a dinner of grilled chicken that had been liberally seasoned and some asparagus the overall crispness of the wine did a nice job of cutting through the bit of heat on the chicken. After the food was gone it was enjoyable enough to sip on. All in all the wine wasn’t a total disappointment, though I’ll also say it didn’t really grab my attention. I think my wife summed it up best when she described the wine as “not bad” with a shrug.

If you want to give the Biltmore Chardonnay Sur Lies a try and can’t find it in your local store, you can follow this link and order it online.

Related posts:

1. Cupcake Vineyards Chardonnay 2009
2. CalNaturale Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay
3. Biltmore Reserve Viognier 2010

Varietal:  100% Viognier
Region:  North Carolina – USA
Cost:  $19 (SRP)

Winemaker’s Notes:  Light straw color with aromas of kiwi, honeysuckle, strawberry, and white pepper. Hints of honey, strawberry, and key lime in the mouth. Wine has a good mouth-feel with a lingering acidity. Pairs well with lobster with cream sauce, scallops, prawns, fried oysters, and soft shell crabs.

My Review:  Given that I live in Virginia, and we recently declared Viognier (Viggy) to be our signature grape, I was intrigued when a bottle of North Carolina Viognier showed up for me to try. Viognier as a varietal has been steadily growing on me, particularly during the sweltering Virginia summers, so during some unexpectedly warm weather, my wife and I opened up the bottle while sitting on the deck.

The wine was nearly clear in the glass, and on the nose I got honeysuckle for the most part with just a touch of the floral notes I’m used to. In the mouth the wine was light with good notes of honey and tropical fruits. We paired the wine with some baked brie and some cheese and crackers while enjoying a warm evening on the deck and all in all it was a good pairing.

I wasn’t disappointed in the wine, but neither was I blown away. I may be a bit biased towards Virginia Viognier, and while I was certainly surprised by the wine given some of the others I’ve had from the state (they were very sweet and not to my taste), I don’t know that I would run out and grab this bottle over any other of the varietal. That being said, if you’re looking to try a wine from one of the Other 46, this is at least worth considering.

Related posts:

1. White Hall Vineyards Viognier 2009
2. Graffigna Centenario Pinot Grigio Reserve 2010
3. Virginia Viognier Tasting

If you were paying attention during the 2011 North American Wine Bloggers Conference (and if you weren’t I’m deeply hurt), you’d have noticed that I did do a small tasting during one of the speed tastings of the CalNaturale Chardonnay. I was intrigued by it, especially being that it’s a boxed wine, so when they reached out to me after the conference and asked if I’d like full-sized samples I jumped at the opportunity.

First, a few things about the wines before I launch into my usual reviews. These wines are about as organic as you can get, with the grapes being grown organically and the tetra-packs used to ship them in reducing costs and being far more green than a bottle holding the same amount of juice. I know that “boxed wines” have this bad reputation, but I think both myself and a lot of other bloggers are starting to see the value in them, and the winemakers are starting to make really good, quality wines and packing them in non-traditional ways, so it’s good to see another non-bottled wine on the market.

Ok, now to the reviews.

CalNaturale Cabernet Sauvignon

Varietal:  95% Cabernet Sauvignon; 5% Viognier
Region:  California – USA
Cost:  $13 (SRP)

Winemaker’s Notes:   The initial release of CalNaturale Caberenet Sauvignon shows very rich, ripe fruit with flavors of ripe plum, cherries, cassis, and a hint of toasty oak. This classic wine is full-bodied, yet very approachable, with solid structure and ample tannins.

My Review:  I’m always tentative going into a California Cabernet Sauvignon, just because I don’t know how much fruit to expect and at a certain point, enough is enough. The CalNaturale did have good ripe flavors of plum and cherry, and while I don’t know that I would call it full-bodied, it also wasn’t quite medium-bodied either. Husky-bodied maybe? My wife and I tried this wine with a few different things, including pasta (which is was a nice pairing for), just out on the deck one evening, and I even turned some into Sangria for my wife, which it actually performed admirably as.

There’s quickly becoming a preponderance of quality California Cabernet Sauvignon in boxes, and part of what I liked about the CalNaturale is that they offer 500ml and 1L instead of the usual 3L option, which is perfect for smaller groups or for travel. For the price it’s a great value, and I liked that it was a bit more versatile than I was expecting.

CalNaturale Chardonnay

Varietal:  95% Chardonnay; 5% Viognier
Region:  California – USA
Cost:  $13 (SRP)

Winemaker’s Notes:   This refreshing Chardonnay shows clear and vibrant fruit with a hint of vanilla from lightly toasted oak. It has medium acidity with good length and shows fruit to the very end. Ideal with or without food; well balanced with aromas and taste of ripe apples, pear, and a hint of citrus.

My Review:  I had gotten a brief taste of this at the conference, so I was very interested to spend more time with it as my notes seemed to indicate that I had enjoyed it (all blurs together at a certain point). I liked this one more than my wife, as there was too much oak on it for her taste, whereas I liked how there was some oak, but not so much that I couldn’t enjoy it without food.

Again, we paired this with several foods, including some fish and chicken, as well as just out on the deck one evening. I liked that the acid was there, but not overwhelming, and the nice apple and pear flavors blending into the soft oak finish with a touch of vanilla.

Of the two this was my favorite, in part because the warmer weather here in Virginia makes a good white wine a must have. It’s a great value and one I’d recommend checking out, especially if you’re looking to stay organic as much as possible.

Related posts:

1. Blackstone Sonoma Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2007
2. Santa Rita Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon 2008
3. FlipFlop Cabernet Sauvignon 2009

On Thursday, as something of a lead up to the 2011 Wine Bloggers Conference, I participated in a tasting of Virginia Viognier along with several other bloggers, all of us sharing our thoughts on Twitter as we tasted. I would, however, be remiss if I didn’t share my thoughts on here as well.

We started the tasting with a Horton Vineyards Sparkling Viognier (SRP $25). I’d never had a sparkling Viognier before and given my recent increased interest in all things bubbles, I was certainly looking forward to trying it when I got the bottle. The most notable note on both the nose and in the mouth was green apple, and the wine itself was crisp with big bubbles. I loved this wine and it was probably my favorite of the night and one that was quickly gone.

Next up was the 2010 Blenheim Vineyards Viognier (SRP $19). I got a bit of honey on the nose with some orange blossom on the palate and a rounded finish that was unexpected until I looked at the tasting notes and saw that some of the wine had spent time in French barrels.

Third was the 2010 King Family Vineyards Viognier (SRP $25). Honeysuckle on the nose with candied fruit in the mouth with a subtle minerality that I wasn’t expecting. This wine was also oaked, but in neutral barrels and the finish was less rounded than the Blenheim.

Fourth was the 2009 Barboursville Viognier Reserve (SRP $22). I got a slight bit of petrol on the nose and grapefruit in the mouth. The Barboursville had more acid on it than any of the others though not much in the way of floral notes. That being said I enjoyed it and would recommend it.

Finally we opened up the 2010 Cooper Vineyards Viognier (SRP $23). I got subtle floral and honeysuckle notes on the nose with pineapple in the mouth and soft, butter/oak finish which didn’t surprise me given that 40% of the wine had been aged in second-year barrels. This was probably my favorite of the still wines, which actually surprised me.

There was a sixth wine, the 2010 Deleplane Viognier (SRP $24), but my shipment got lost and I wasn’t able to taste it.

I want to thank the Virginia Wine Board and all of the organizers and vineyards for putting on a great tasting. Any time I talk with people not from Virginia I’m always talking up our Viognier, and events like this just give me more examples to show them.

Related posts:

1. Virginia Wine Tasting
2. White Hall Vineyards Viognier 2009
3. 2011 Virginia Governor’s Cup Gold Medal Tasting

Varietal: 100% Viognier
Region: Virginia – USA
Cost: $17

Winemaker’s Notes: An opulent bouquet of ripe peaches, apricots, and honeysuckle is woven together with an intense palate full of orange, grapefruit, and subtle spice followed by a lengthy finish with bright acidity and hints of vanilla.

My Review: During a recent trip out to Virginia Wine Country my wife and I stopped in at White Hall Vineyards for the first time in some time and while there were several wines there that we enjoyed, we made a point of bringing home a bottle of the 2009 Viognier, which was opened up earlier this week.

While relaxing in our home on a hot day, my wife and I wanted something to sip on while she did some crafting for her Etsy page and I relaxed and watched some TV. Enter the White Hall Viognier.

On the nose I got the typical floral nose I associate with a Virginia Viognier. In the mouth I picked up honeysuckle  and a rose/floral note and a hint of sweetness on the finish that made it a great wine for just sipping on, but would have made it a good pairing for something with a little spice to it – maybe something Thai.

During the summer I drink a lot of Virginia Viognier as it’s a nice refreshing wine with all the heat and humidity we get here in Virginia, and the 2009 Viognier from White Hall Vineyards is a great example of why I enjoy it so much – light, crisp, refreshing, and great by itself or with some food. Definitely one I recommend grabbing if you can get your hands on it.

Related posts:

1. White Hall Viognier 2008
2. Blenheim Vineyards Viognier 2008
3. Blenheim Vineyards White Table Wine

Varietal: 100% Chardonnay
Region: Charlottesville – Virginia – USA
Cost: $14

Winemaker’s Notes: Aromas of honeysuckle, pineapple and citrus herald this clean crisp wine. Notes of caramelized pear, melon and peach are followed by a smooth, subtly sweet finish. Aged 5 months in French and American oak.

My Review: I don’t think it’s any secret by this point that I’m a fan of the wines produced by Blenheim Vineyards and their winemaker Kirsty Harmon. Because of that, during the Virginia Wine Expo back in February, my wife and I made sure to grab several bottles of wine from the Blenheim booth, and last night we opened up one of them to go with our dinner.

The Blenheim Vineyards White Table Wine is a 100% Chardonnay wine, though to be honest, if somebody told me it had some Viognier in there I wouldn’t call them a liar. In the glass the wine is a robust golden color, and on the nose you get floral notes and honeysuckle that you would associate with Viognier, but more robust and with a citrus edge.

In the mouth I picked up peach as much as anything, and on the finish I got just a hint of sweetness that again made me think that somebody dropped a little Viognier in here (though I believe Kirsty when she says it’s a single varietal).

Paired with a meal that involved sauteed chicken, peppers, onion, pasta, and cream cheese all done up in a southwest style it was a nice crisp note against the creamy nature of the dish which also featured just a hint of heat.

This is a great summer deck wine, or a good wine for whenever you’re looking for a nice versatile white wine. For the price it’s a good value and something you can pick up in bulk to use as your white table wine or to serve at parties as it will fit most palates in search of a white. As always I recommend going out to visit Blenheim if you have the chance, but at the least you should go online and order some wine from them at their website (http://www.blenheimvineyards.com).

Related posts:

1. Conundrum White Table Wine 2009
2. Blenheim Vineyards Viognier 2008
3. Blenheim Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon 2009

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

Last night I had the chance to participate in a Twitter tasting of several white wines from Virginia. These wines were geared towards the summer (and if you’re not from Virginia believe me, it’s getting hot), and for those participating from outside Virginia, were a small hint of what to expect in July during the 2011 Wine Blogger’s Conference being held in Charlottesville. Here’s what I thought.

2010 Keswick Vineyards Verdejo

I’d never had a Verdejo before (at least that I remember), and I wasn’t aware that anybody in Virginia was making one. The wine was very light in the glass, nearly clear, with a little bit of citrus on the nose and a nice subtle citrus flavor on the palate with just the tiniest bit of petrol on the finish, though I think I was the only person that got that so maybe I was just hallucinating. I didn’t pair it with anything, but a few people during the tasting recommended pairing it with goat cheese which I could definitely see being a good pairing. This would make a great deck wine thank to how light it is and while $18 is a little more than I usually pay for a wine that I just sip on the deck, it’s not outrageous either.

2010 Veritas Sauvignon Blanc Reserve

As a fan of both Sauvignon Blanc and Veritas Winery I was ready to try this one. Light yellow in the glass with a hint of sweetness on the nose which fortunately did not carry through to the palate. In the mouth the wine was a nice blend of citrus and tropical notes but without the hard acid bite on the finish that I sometimes associate with Sauvignon Blanc. $25 is a bit much for me to pay for a Sauvignon Blanc, but it is a Reserve and it was very good, so it’s certainly not a waste if you spend the money on it.

2010 Boxwood Topiary Rose’

I had the chance to taste Boxwood for the first time back in February at a dinner for Taste of Loudon and so I was pleased to see them in this selection as I enjoyed them in my previous experience. The 2010 Topiary Rose’ was a medium-dark pink in the glass with a hint of an almost orange color running through. I didn’t get too much nose from it, though there was some strawberry and dried fruit. In the mouth the strawberry and dried fruit carried through with a touch of mineralality – a trait in light wines I’m coming to enjoy the more I experience it. This was one of my two favorites for the evening (the other being the Veritas Sauvignon Blanc), and at a price of around $14 it’s a great value for a summer wine.

2010 Jefferson Vineyards Viognier

Our first Viognier of the night was bright yellow in the glass (I mean it looked like a yellow highlighter). I got mostly apple on the nose and in the mouth a lot of honeysuckle and tropical flavors that gave it the feeling of sweetness. Mind you the wine only has .65 residual sugar, but I got that impression either way. This was definitely a wine that I wanted to pair with spicy food to help cut the sweetness of the wine. This was probably my least favorite wine of the night, especially when you factor in that it costs $25 a bottle.

2010 Chrysalis Viognier

Ever since Taste of Loudon I’d been wanting to visit Chrysalis and while I haven’t had the chance yet, I was happy to get to try the newest vintage of their Viognier that I enjoyed so much at that dinner. The wine was light yellow in the glass with a subtle floral aroma that carried through to the palate with a subtle lavender note on the finish coupled with a hint of sweetness. I liked this one better than the Jefferson Vineyards Viognier and it’s certainly what I would call a more “typical” Virginia Viognier. My only complaint is that at $29 it’s kinda pricey.

2010 Lovingston Petit Manseng

Our final wine of the night. The 2010 Petit Manseng from Lovingston was bright yellow in the glass with a waxy, footy aroma that I’ll admit was a bit odd. However, this didn’t carry over into the palate where the wine had notes of pineapple, some effervescence, and a sweetness that wasn’t syrupy, but would have made me guess that the wine had more than 1% residual sugar if I hadn’t had the tasting notes. That said, this would be a good pairing with some curry or other spicy food and is a great value at around $14 for anybody that prefers sweeter wines.

I want to thank John at the Wine Cellar for hosting, and all of the organizers for putting together another great event. This tasting made me even more ready for the Wine Blogger’s Conference in July. If you’re on Twitter and want to learn more about Virginia Wine, you should check out the hashtag #vawine and #wbc11 as you’ll be seeing those pop up more and more in the coming months.

Related posts:

1. Virginia Wine Tasting
2. Virginia Wine Country Day 2
3. Virginia Wine Expo 2010 in Review

It was that time again, this past Wednesday, that time when I get to taste some great wines from Chile along with some of my fellow wine bloggers, all while getting to interact with the winemaker’s down in Chile. It’s easily one of the highlights of writing this site, and something that I look forward to well in advance of each tasting.

This time around the tasting featured Pinot Noir and Syrah. As you can probably guess I was somewhat beyond excited when I found out that I was going to get to sample Chilean Pinot Noir, and add in the Syrah, and the tasting date couldn’t arrive fast enough for my taste. It should be noted, before I start talking about the actual wines, that this is the fourth Wines of Chile that I have had the fortune to participate in, and it may actually have been the best so far, which is saying something. Alright, on to the wines.

2009 Valdivieso Reserve Pinor Noir

Casablanca Valley

100% Pinot Noir with a SRP of $17, the Valdivieseo was light in the glass and on the palate. With tart flavors of cherry and unripened strawberries. It was probably the lightest wine we would drink all night, and was a great way to start off the tasting.

A darker wine than the Valdivieso that mixed dark earthy flavors and aromas with a nice brightness of cherry and nice long finish. The Nimbus is a good value with an SRP of $20.

Bright ruby red in color with aromas of black cherry. In the mouth the wine was fruity with a green, herby finish. I liked the Ritual better than the first two Pinot Noirs, and it may have been the best value of the night with an SRP of $20 for a great wine.

Great fruit on the nose and smooth on the palate. Med-dark in color with a hint of purple streaking through the wine. Black cherry and berry with a touch of strawberry and spice on the finish. A SRP of $65 will turn some people off, and I usually don’t recommend wines at that price because of the cost, but this is not one of those times. If you have the extra cash to spend and are looking to indulge in an expensive bottle of wine, the 2008 Cono Sur Ocio is a good one to splurge on.

97% Syrah and 3%Viognier with an SRP of $17-$18. I got vanilla on the nose and spice on the finish, with a hint of floral in the middle that I attributed to the Viognier. This was a good start to the Syrah portion of the tasting.

Deep and purple in the glass with a jammy, juicy feel in the mouth full of currants. On the finish I got a footy/Robittusen flavor on the finish that faded as the wine opened up more, but was a bit surprising at first. A heavier wine than the previous offerings, the 2006 Loma Larga has an SRP of $29.

2009 Undurraga T.H. Syrah

Leyda Valley

Lots of jammy dark fruit such as raspberry, this wine made me want a steak and a cigar and is easily one I would buy with an SRP of $25.

Aromas of black cherry with flavors of cherry, eucalyptus/Robittusen and a musty, bittersweet chocolate finish. A great value at $13.

This was another great tasting put together by Wines of Chile and The Thomas Collective, both of whom I’d like to thank for including me in another of their tastings. I look forward to doing another of these in the future and thanks to all my friends that came over and helped me finish the wine (waste not want not).

Related posts:

1. Wines of Chile: Blended Reds Blogger Tasting
2. Wines of Chile Sauvignon Blanc Virtual Blogger Tasting
3. Rodney Strong Pinot Noir 2008