The Good Wine Guru » Virginia Wine Expo

Ingleside Vineyards Blue Crab Red

George — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 17:47:23 +0000

Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon; Merlot; Syrah
Region: Virginia – USA
Cost: $12

Winemaker’s Notes: Our top-selling wine! Spice and fruit in the aroma give way to a soft, slightly sweet finish in this versatile red wine. Also great with BBQ and for picnics.

My Review: I’d nearly forgotten I had picked this bottle up at the Virginia Wine Expo back in February until this past weekend when my wife and I were looking for something to sip on in the evening while relaxing in our basement. Since we’d already started with some red earlier for dinner, we thought it would be a good idea to stick with it and popped this bottle open.

A good medium-dark red in the glass, the Ingleside Blue Crab Red offered up aromas of red fruit that carried through to the palate which was soft and fruity, though not overly fruity, with a hint of sweetness on the finish that was actually welcomed.

While I didn’t pair this wine with any food when drinking it, I agree with the winemaker’s assessment of pairing this wine with some BBQ or even a good burger. Either way, this is absolutely a summer grilling wine and a good value if you’re looking to take something to your neighborhood cook-out. Not overly complex or though provoking, the appeal of this wine is that you can sip it without feeling compelled to invest a lot of time analyzing the aromas or flavors, which was just fine with me.

Blenheim Vineyards White Table Wine

George — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 16:00:14 +0000

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).

Blenheim Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon 2009

George — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 13:14:05 +0000

Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
Region: Charlottesville – Virginia – USA
Cost: $20 (SRP)

Winemaker’s Notes: Velvety accents of plum, raspberry and lilac charm the nose while flavors of lively tangerine and red apple dance across the palate. Aged in French and American oak.

My Review: I have, in the past privately amongst friends and family, and publicly on this website as well as several others, made it quite clear how big a fan of Blenheim Vineyards and their winemaker Kirsty Harmon. Thanks to the 2009 Blenheim Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon the streak is still alive.

During the latest Virginia Wine Expo, I made it a point to stop at the Blenheim Vineyards booth where Kirsty was kind enough to take myself and my family through the tasting which of course lead to a certain inevitable ending – I came home with wine. Last night while the wife was out with a friend (read: abandoned the dog and I to our own devices), I tossed a steak on the grill and opened up a bottle.

In the glass the 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon was a nice medium-dark red. It wasn’t inky, but it wasn’t anything even approaching light either. On the nose I got nice notes of raspberry that lead into the palate with an almost tartness on the finish that I quite enjoyed. This faded as the wine continued to open up and instead turned into a nice smooth finish – both were great.

The wine was a great pairing with the steak, in part because it had just the right amount of body to be enjoyed before, during, and after the meal. The only really disappointing part about this wine is that I’m not down to two bottles which means I’m that much closer to another trip out to Blenheim Vineyards. This is the price we have to pay sometimes.

If you want to try the 2009 Blenheim Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon, and you’re not close enough to just drive out there (which I highly recommend), you can order the wine through their website (http://www.blenheimvineyards.com) and have it shipped directly to you.

Virginia Wineworks Bag in the Box Cabernet Franc 2009

George — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 16:00:42 +0000

Varietal: 100% Cabernet Franc
Region: Charlottesville – Virginia – USA
Cost: $30

Winemaker’s Notes: Deep purple color with aromas of dark blackberry and currants. Soft flavors of concentrated berries with hints of vanilla and oak. Pairs well with steaks, chops, or hamburgers.

My Review: I’ve been sitting on this review for a few days because I was thinking of the best way to approach it. Given that the wine I was drinking was in a box, I clearly wasn’t drinking it in a single sitting (I’m not that irresponsible), so I couldn’t do my usual bit on what I liked or didn’t like about the wine and how it went with what I was eating. So I’ve decided to take a more…general view of it.

I picked up the 2009 Virginia Wineworks Bag in the Box Cab Franc at the Virginia Wine Expo last month. While walking around the Expo I saw their booth and immediately knew I was going to visit them as I had heard they were offering a boxed wine, something I’d never heard of a Virginia vineyard doing before. While I enjoyed all of their wines, I made a point of bringing home the boxed Cab Franc, mostly because there are nights when I just want a glass of wine and so I don’t feel like opening an entire bottle.

The wine itself has been great. A nice dark purple with the advertised blackberry on the nose. In the mouth it’s both bright and soft at the same time. The flavors of berry leap out at you, but the finish is smooth and tempered, making it an easy wine to drink. I’ve paired the wine with a number of things – pasta, munchies (southwest style eggrolls, tequila/lime wings, and cheese & crackers), and just enjoyed a glass by itself.

I would also like to note that Virginia Wineworks did a great job with the packaging, choosing a good box shape, and an excellent spigot that allows for easy glass filling without dripping or spilling of wine on the floor or counter. Good job.

Even by the bottle I would recommend this wine, but the value you get from getting what amounts to four bottles for about $7.50 each makes it an even better deal, one that I like so much I already went to my local store and bought another box. This is quickly becoming a wine I plan to keep on hand at all times as a table wine thanks to how versatile it is. If you’re in Virginia, check with your local grocery store to see if they carry it, and if not, get in touch with Virginia Wineworks as they may be able to point you in the right direction.

2011 Virginia Wine Expo

George — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 16:00:54 +0000

So the 4th annual Virginia Wine Expo has come and gone and after going over my notes and trying to remember the heady mix of wines and crowds, I think I’m ready to share my overall thoughts on it. Before I delve into the wine itself, I feel as though I should address the expo itself.

While anything could be better than the first year of the expo (not using the entirety of the venue was a major misstep), I felt as though the 2nd and 3rd year of the event were better than this one. That’s not to say that this year was bad – quite the opposite, just that a few regulars that I was hoping to see and some of my favorite vineyards bringing a limited selection of wines was somewhat of a let down.

All that being said, I had a great time at the 2011 Virginia Wine Expo, the staff and volunteers were great, and the venue continues to be a great choice with a great layout that facilitates the large number of people (10,000 people were expected through the weekend) that are looking to sample Virginia wine.

Now…on to the wines.

The Homeplace Vineyard

While I don’t plan to share my thoughts on the sampling in any particular order, I did want to start with the first vineyard we stopped at. I was unfamiliar with The Homeplace Vineyard before walking up to their table to sample some wines. Overall I was underwhelmed by their wines, with their reds (a Cabernet Sauvignon, a Chambourcin, and a blended red of the cab and chambourcin) all having hints of mint/spearmint on the finish that I found….unpleasant. Part of that is because of my general distaste for mint, but either way it just wasn’t enjoyable to me.

Mountfair Vineyards

I’ve tried a few Mountfair wines before, and unfortunately at the Expo they weren’t pouring their 2008 Engagement (65% Merlot; 25% Cabernet Franc; 10% Petit Verdot) or their 2008 Wooloomooloo (60% Petit Verdot; 30% Merlot) as they are sold out of them which gives you an idea of how enjoyable they are.

As for what they were pouring, the 2009 Merlot was full of dark fruit flavor and the 2008 Belated (60% Merlot; 30% Cabernet Franc; 10% Petit Verdot) had a nice jammy, peppery flavor to it, while the 2008 Indigenous (50% Petit Verdot; 50% Cabernet Franc) had the pepper flavors of the Cab Franc with the nice velvet finish of the Petit Verdot.

While I didn’t walk away with anything from Mountfair, they are high on my list of vineyards to visit if only so I can get my hands on a bottle of Wooloomooloo.

Fox Meadow Winery

While I had tasted their Governor’s Cup winning wine the night before, I wanted to see what else they had to offer. They were offering two more robust wines and two sweeter wines. Being as I’m not a sweet wine drinker as a general rule, I avoided the latter two, sticking to the more robust wines.

The 2008 Reserve Chardonnay and nice notes of pineapple with less of a buttery finish than you would expect from a wine that had spent 20 months in oak. The 2008 Le Renard Rouge still had the flavors of black cherry that I’d found the night before.

Gabriele Rausse Winery

Gabriele Rausse was another winery that I was unfamiliar with walking up to their table, but looking at their tasting list I couldn’t help but give them a try. Their 2009 Vin Gris de Pinot Noir was an interesting white made from Pinot grapes that had hints of pear.

The 2009 Viognier was more robust than I was expecting with a nutty finish that wasn’t bad, but just unexpected. Paired with the right food it could be an amazing wine. The 2008 Malbec was bright in the mouth but the finish was just off to me – can’t put my finger on what it was, only that something about it was just off.

The 2008 Pinot Noir was the reason that I walked up to the table, and while it wasn’t a Pinot like I was hoping for, it was nice to see a Virginia winery trying to make a grape that doesn’t really grow here, so for that alone I applaud them.

The 2008 Cabernet Franc had a nice bell pepper finish and I ended up taking a bottle of it home with me, and the 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve was nice and smooth and cried out for a steak….or rather it would have for less than the $35.

Delaplane Cellars

Another one I had never tried before (this will be a trend). Offering two Viogniers – a 2009 “Honah Lee” and a 2008 “Maggie’s Vineyard” – I preferred the 2009 as it had great floral notes that I associate with Virginia Viognier.

All three of their reds were enjoyable, but of the 2008 Cinq, 2008 Syrah, and 2008 William’s Gap, the Cinq was my favorite. The blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Tannat was juicy with a deep garnet color and just generally appealing.

Ingleside Vineyards

Ingleside is a table that I swing by every year. While I always grab some of their Blue Crab Blanc, this year I wanted to try their whole offering to see if there was something new that would catch my eye. While their Petit Verdot was a standout of the tasting, I ended up taking home the Blue Crab Blanc and the Blue Crab Red, mostly because of its versatility.

Blenheim Vineyards

Blenheim has quickly become one of my favorite Virginia vineyards, not the least of which is because Kirsty, their winemaker, is doing great things there. Everything I tasted was great, but some deserve mention. Of the whites, the White Table Wine and the Rose’ were both excellent and I brought home 3 bottles of each. Of the reds, the 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon and 2008 Petit Verdot were both amazing and 3 bottles each of those also came home with me.

I’ll be doing longer reviews of all four of those wines, but you should definitely go visit Blenheim and check them out for yourself before I get around to writing more about them.

Philip Carter Winery

I was familiar with Philip Carter, though it had been a while since I had tried any of their wines. They were pouring four different wines, 2 white 2 red, of which the 2009 Chardonnay of the whites was my favored with a subtle butter finish, and the 2009 Cabernet Franc of the reds with its bright flavors and good pepper.

Wineworks/Michael Shaps Wines

As soon as I saw the table for Wineworks I knew I wanted to visit them as they are the first winery in Virginia to offer a boxed wine, and I support boxed wine. While I tasted their whole selection, I have to say that their 2009 Wineworks Viognier and their two boxed wines – a 2009 Chardonnay and 2009 Cabernet Franc – were all excellent. I bought one of the 2009 Cabernet Franc boxes, but would recommend any of the three and plan to make a trip out to Wineworks in the near future to try spend more time with their wines.

Afton Mountain Vineyards

Another of the gold medal winning vineyards, and one that I enjoy thanks to their Gewurztraminer. They were pouring that at the Expo, and I would recommend it to anybody, and especially to those that are wary of the grape because of their belief that it has to be sweet.

I found their Steel Chardonnay to be a bit pithy, though still good, and their 2009 Cabernet Franc to be bright and full of berry flavors. They weren’t pouring their gold medal winning 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon, but I do recommed it if you get a chance to try it.

Flying Fox Vineyards

The 2010 Fox White lied to me on the tasting sheet when it said it was semi-sweet as I found it to be far sweeter than just “semi”. The 2008 Cabernet Franc was spicy with bright red fruit flavors. The 2008 Trio (Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot) was just smooth. The 2008 Petit Verdot was loaded with dark cherry flavors. I skipped the 2008 Fox Red as it too was listed as “semi-sweet” and I refused to be lied to again.

Pollak Vineyards

I’ve been out to Pollak and really enjoy their wines. Of the four they were pouring, I truly enjoyed the 2008 Durant White (60% Chardonnay; 30% Viognier; 10% Pinot Gris) with its floral notes, roundness from the Chardonnay, and just a hint of effervescence. I also found the 2008 Cabernet Franc to be great with good pepper and berry notes. Both of these came home with me and you can look forward to longer reviews in the future.

Lake Anna Winery

Lake Anna is another winery that I was familiar with walking up. Typically I visit them for their Spotsylvania Claret, but I have to say that this year I wasn’t as impressed with it as in years past. I was, however, impressed with their Totally White with some cinnamon on the nose and nice crisp flavors, the 2007 Morgan Merlot with a great pepper profile that would pair well with a bold dinner, and the 2007 Bell Haven Cabernet Franc with great green bell pepper flavors (which as you can tell I really like).

Keswick Vineyards

Keswick is another vineyard that I really enjoy and have had a great time at when visiting their tasting room. Of the four wines they were pouring, the gold winning 2009 Cabernet Franc was far and away my favorite. That, coupled with a great 2009 LVD Viognier that had great floral notes, made them one of my favorite tables to visit.

Jefferson Vineyards

I was disappointed that Jefferson Vineyards didn’t have their Petit Verdot to pour and buy, but of the wines they were pouring, I would recommend their 2009 Cabernet Franc.

Phew…alright…great Expo. Lots of great wines were sampled, and again I salute Virginia Wine and the organizers of the event for putting this together and look forward to next years’ Expo. If you didn’t make it this year there’s always next year, and if you live in or around Virginia, I recommend going out and supporting Virginia Wine as all of the winemakers are doing great things and should be rewarded by having their wine purchased in great quantities.

2011 Virginia Governor’s Cup Gold Medal Tasting

George — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 15:00:58 +0000

It’s Virginia Wine Expo time, and before I attended the 2011 Virginia Wine Expo (thoughts to come later), I had the change to taste the gold medal winning wines that were vying for the 2011 Governor’s Cup for red wine. Those wines were:

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.

Blenheim Vineyards King Family Merlot 2004

George — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 16:00:31 +0000

Varietal: Merlot
Region: Virginia – Charlottesville – USA
Cost: $16

Rich and intense with gobs of concentrated currants. A touch of fresh earth and blackberry flavors. This tremendoulsy complex wine has big & round delicious firm tannins with an explosive finish. Pairs well with beef, lamb, steak, and pizza.

Recommendations: Back in March when my wife and I visited vineyards just up the road from us in Charlottesville, we stopped in at Blenheim Vineyards because I had fallen in love with their Cabernet Franc at the Virginia Wine Expo the month before and needed to buy more bottles of it. While there, we did their full tasting and picked up a bottle of their King Family Merlot.

This past weekend, on Labor Day, we finally opened it. Nice and dark in the glass, with aromas of cedar, earth, and berry and flavors of cedar, currants, and a hint of cigarbox on the finish (thanks to 18 months in French Oak) with a good tannic pop at the end, it was a perfect pairing with the grilled lamb and ground sirloin burgers we made.

I know that Merlot has gotten something of a bad reputation in recent memory, and I’ll be the first to admit that when tasting wines I was always hesitant about Merlot as I’d had a lot of bad ones, but during that trip and continuing on since then I’ve been very pleased to find a string of really good Merlots, many made right here in my home state.

If you’re one of those people that have a bad impression of Merlot, give this one a try and I’m sure you’ll be pleased. It’s one I plan to pick up again the next time I visit Blenheim (which will hopefully be soon), and it’s definitely impacted my views on Merlot in a very positive way.

Athena Lighthouse White Wine

George — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 16:00:27 +0000

Varietal: Seyval Blanc
Region: Virginia – USA
Cost: $20

Light, aromatic white wine with a tartness that is balanced with residual sugar. Pairs well with seafood and white meats.

Recommendations: Athena Vineyards here in Virginia was an unknown entity to me until this past February when I attended the 3rd annual Virginia Wine Expo. The first booth we stopped at, their unique bottles and clear enjoyment for what they do made it worth stopping in. We left with a bottle of their Lighthouse White Wine, which my wife and I finally opened up this past 4th of July weekend when it was 100 and Stupid outside.

Athena says the wine is a mix of Seyval Blanc and several other whites, not naming them. The Seyval Blanc comes through the most, but there was a bit of oakiness on the finish that reminded me a bit of Chardonnay, so I wouldn’t be surprised if there was some in there. Much like Viognier, this wine is perfect for sipping on a hot day and for pairing with seafood or white meat.

While we didn’t pair it with anything, choosing to turn it into a deck wine on the 4th, the slight residual sugar (1%) would be a nice pairing for some seasoned and grilled white meat and of course some rich, fatty seafood. While you might want to pick up this bottle just for the unique shape, it’s certainly worth trying for the wine inside as well, especially as we move deeper into the summer.

White Hall Viognier 2008

George — Wed, 26 May 2010 16:00:02 +0000

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

Aromas of ripe peaches, apricots, and honeysuckle with flavors of oranges, grapefruit, and subtle spice. Bright acidity on the finish with a hint of vanilla. Pairs well with spicy foods such as Thai cuisine as well as bolder cheeses.

Recommendations: I had visited White Hall Vineyards some years ago, and I don’t remember liking them this much. During the Virginia Wine Expo my family and I stopped at their booth and sampled their wines, and instantly took a liking to both this Viognier and their 2008 Cabernet Franc (a review for another time).

On the nose I get more of the honeysuckle than anything and the flavors of citrus are there, though I’d call the vanilla more than a hint. The floral finish is what really comes out in this wine and one that I really enjoyed. While I didn’t pair it with a spicy dinner (some grilled pork chops were the dinner of choice), it’s very easy to see how this would pair with a dinner of spiced meat and vegetables.

The measure of any good wine for me is whether it can be enjoyed without food, and the White Hall Viognier certainly fills that requirement. There’s just enough citrus on the palate to make this a great deck or patio wine as the weather continues to get warmer, and I’m sad that I only have one bottle of it left to get me through the rest of the summer….until I get some more at my local wine shop.

If you’re already a fan of Viognier I definitely recommend grabbing this bottle, and if you’ve never tried it before, what are you waiting for? The White Hall Viognier is one that you’ll enjoy no matter the occasion.

Ingleside Vineyards Blue Crab Blanc

George — Mon, 10 May 2010 16:00:08 +0000

Varietal: Blended White Wine (85% Chardonnay; 11% Seyval Blanc; 4% Viognier)
Region: Virginia – USA
Cost: $11

Light in the glass with floral aromas and flavors of apple, lemon and honey. Pairs well with crepes, cream based seafood dishes, crabcakes, and chicken.

Recommendations: Whenever I visit the Virginia Wine Expo I make it a point to swing by Ingleside Vineyards. Not because I think they’re going to come out with some new wine that’s going to blow my mind, but because I want to pick up their Blue Crab Blanc in bulk.

While the Expo is in February, this is the time of year that I make a point of having several bottles of Blue Crab Blanc chilled down. Whether it’s relaxing on the deck or a light lunch on a weekend, this is the perfect summer wine. While predominantly Chardonnay, the floral notes from the Viognier really sing and make this wine perfectly refreshing.

On Friday I paired this with a dinner of curry chicken over rice and the slight sweetness (1.2% residual sugar) did a great job of cutting the heat of the meal. In fact, while this will pair great with just about any seafood dish, I would argue it’s best suited for spicy meals if you’re going to pair it with anything.

If you’re looking for that perfect summer wine, you’re not going to find a better value than Ingleside Vineyards Blue Crab Blanc. For the price you can justify picking it up by the case instead of the bottle and it will go great with any occasion. This is my go-to summer wine and I think if you try it you’ll understand why.