https://eloquentgushing.com/k81o2q0ujz Our most recent tasting was at James River Cellars near Richmond. With warmer weather just around the corner, we were on the lookout for versatile pours; with twelve wines on the tasting menu, we were sure to find some special wines at James River Cellars.

https://foster2forever.com/2024/08/3wvoei2n.html Of the white wines on the menu, the 2006 Vidal Blanc was most notable. “Peachy” would be an apt descriptor of its notes and flavors though more crisp than expected from a Vidal Blanc. Consider this one for an appertif, a picnic, or even a companion to a spiced ham dish that might grace the dinner table during spring. Our friend and guest blogger, Michael Tyler, would appreciate the sweeter 2006 Hanover White. It shared the same profile as the Vidal Blanc but definitely made to satisfy the sweet wine lover.

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On to the reds and my gold star award.—my favorite here was the 2005 Cabernet Franc. A rich nose was noted with a mix of berries, dried herbs, and violets. Mixed berries and plums were observed in the mouth with spice toward the end with a lengthier finish. The 2005 Cabernet Franc was blended with 5% Tannat which may explain the denser color and more complex characteristics. Paul and I shared a glass of the 2005 Cabernet Franc after the tasting and was a fine sipper, but a steak dinner would pair quite well with this selection.

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https://www.clawscustomboxes.com/rmfp58ytl Warren enjoying his glass of the 2005 Cabernet Franc while taking notes.
I decided to grace my wine rack with a bottle of the 2005 Cabernet Franc from James River Cellars, and we know that new releases are just around the corner at James River. While on a visit to Richmond, be sure to check out the selections at James River Cellars; remember to mention that Virginia Wine Time sent you.

https://blog.extraface.com/2024/08/07/rorc0yiz Paul decided to take advantage of his Case Club membership at Linden Vineyards, and I went along for the ride. Actually, we trekked on out there on the Sunday before last when it was cool but sunny, and we looked forward to sampling new pours and enjoying a glass of wine on the deck. Once we got there, we also opted for the Cellar Tasting. All of the above are perks associated with the Case Club membership, and as Paul’s guest, I got to share in these delights.

Since I was the guest of honor, I let Paul take all of the notes on his nifty new iPod Touch. At the regular tasting counter, Paul’s favorite was the 2004 Claret, an easy and accessible blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, and Cabernet Franc. He noted bright berry, dried herbs and tobacco on the nose with cherry and plum flavors in the mouth. However, Paul saved gold stars for the 2005 Hardscrabble Chardonnay and the 2005 Hardscrabble Red. Paul is very picky about Chardonnays and usually does not care for them, but he was very excited with the 2005 Hardscrabble. Fuller-bodied with big apple flavors and a nutty finish were the descriptors that Paul used, and a check mark meant that a bottle was going home. Equally pleasing to the palate was the 2005 Hardscrabble Red; in fact, Paul simply noted, “loved this one”. Other notes included dark fruit, smoky, and dried basil. These were certainly apt words to describe this blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Merlot and Caber net Franc. Another star awarded to a lovely wine, and we were back upstairs to enjoy food and wine!

https://solomedicalsupply.com/2024/08/07/jdzwif05yzw We did end up nibbling on a block of Derby cheese and baguettes with a glass of the 2004 Claret. We did also observe that with the new case club restrictions, the atmosphere was certainly quieter. No problems finding a table from which to gaze on mountain views and to appreciate food, wine, and conversation! Paul purchased yet another case of wine this go round including several bottles of the Avenius Sauvignon Blanc. For myself, I purchased a bottle of the 2004 Claret to savor with a simple meal.

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Linden Vineyards produces some of the best wines around! It’s always a treat to discover the gems produced by Jim Law, and we know that we’ll back soon, especially for the barrel tasting usually held in April. In the meantime, pay Linden Vineyards a visit, inquire into their case club membership, and mention that Virginia Wine Time sent you.

Buy Alprazolam Online Australia We’ve intended to re-visit Chateau O’Brien since our last visit about a year ago. This weekend we were determined to do just that and in the process catch up with owner Howard O’Brien about the latest developments at the chateau.

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Howard greeted us like old friends, and we immediately settled in for some wine tasting and conversation. Howard was very eager to tell us about his successes with tannat, a varietal with potential in Virginia. Readers may know that Portugal makes some outstanding wines from tannat, and Horton Cellars right here in Virginia won gold in the Virginia’s Governor’s Cup with its 2001 Tannat. Anyway, Howard’s own tannat has won accolades from international wine makers. In fact, Howard traveled to Uruguay to talk tannat with winemakers there. Uruguay, like Virginia, seems to have the right climate for tannat, and Howard’s meeting proved fruitful. In fact, Howard will be hosting a tannat tasting and event at Chateau O’Brien in May featuring tannat wines from Uruguay.

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As we chatted, Howard conducted our wine tasting. The 2005 Chardonnay, done in the French style, still shows well and remains my personal favorite of the white poured at Chateau O’Brien. Paul, however, favored the newer 2006 North Point White done in stainless steel. He appreciated its citrus and apricot flavors and crisp finish. The North Point White should prove to be a versatile pour that would be appropriate for an appertif, a summer picnic, or a light, casual meal that featured poultry or white fish. Of the reds, we both favored the 2005 North Point Red. This Bordeaux-style blend features all of the Bordeaux varietals except for Malbec. The result is an accessible wine with a vibrant appearance and lush cherry/berry flavors. Velvety tannins make for an easy wine to drink, and we later enjoyed this one with the cheese and baguette board offered by the winery.

After our tasting and conversation, we enjoyed lunch and wine in the chateau’s dining area, and we were able to enjoy lovely views of mountains and wished for spring to arrive. We should also mention that Howard does a reserve tasting for his Reserve Tannat and Reserve Chardonnay. We plan to arrange for a tasting soon so as to experience these excellent wines ourselves! In the meantime, visit Chateau O’Brien and mention that Virginia Wine Time sent you.

Our friends John and Megan from Woodland Vineyards and Anything Wine came to visit us from Richmond this weekend. They came up to experience some wineries in Loudoun County. This was their first visit to any Loudoun County wineries.

Our first stop was Loudoun Valley. We discovered they offer special soups on the weekends in January and February. Since we brought our own lunch, we did not take advantage of the offer.

Our next stop was Corcoran Vineyards. Lori always treats us so well when we visit. We enjoyed our tasting and were able to sample the new wines since our last visit. They were all very good and we left with almost half a case of wine!

Next we went to Doukenie Winery. They had a busy tasting room but we were able to sample their current selections. A favorite here was the Sauvignon Blanc. Paul walked away with two bottles!

Our last stop was Hillsborough Vineyards. We always enjoy our tastings at Hillsborough. This is where we settled down for lunch. It was a little chilly to be outside but the sun was warm on our faces. We enjoyed a bottle of the Opal and The Ruby…both paired well with our lunch items. Before ending the day we made a few purchases for our wine collections.

We had no intention of pairing these two, but that’s what happened this past weekend. Jenni McCloud of Chrysalis Vineyards agreed to let us interview her again for an upcoming article on Norton, and she was nice enough to even feed us breakfast! We were treated to pancakes and eggs from her own harem of hens, and executive chef for Chrysalis, Hump Astorga joined us too to discuss food and wine.

It was a very, very cold morning when we met Jenni at her house, and I gladly took her up on the offer for a cup of coffee. As we chatted about wine, Jenni whipped up pancakes, fried eggs graciously delivered by her own hens, and bacon. The focus of our conversation was Norton, its history, and its potential. We’ve been following the Norton Renaissance first pioneered by Dennis Horton and then taken to a whole new level by Jenni McCloud. Since the time that we started this blog, we have noted that winemakers in Virginia have taken notice of Norton; newer wineries like Green Springs gladly offer Norton. Jenni and Hump shed light as to why that may be the case.

In the course of our chat with Jenni and Hump, we discovered that Norton, unlike European varietals like Cabernet Sauvignon, is resistant to the disease and fungus that is part and parcel of Virginia’s humid climate. Also, Norton, a hybrid of native grape varietals is fully adapted to Virginia’s sometimes wacky weather—late frosts, early springs, rain today, dry tomorrow, etc., Therefore, late freezes that may kill off a vineyard of European varietals most likely will never effect Norton. Also, with the current focus on “green”, Norton does not need to be sprayed with chemicals—it is the product of its environment and can defend itself without the help of “agri-chemicals”.

Our conversation continued to the dining table with its view of mountain-covered landscapes. We’ve already described Jenni as a true visionary, and she only confirmed that judgment as we munched on eggs and pancakes. In fact, Jenni shared with us that she recently poured Norton at a wine event in Sicily, and she remains steadfast in the conviction that Norton will put Virginia wines on the international map. (And no—we did not literally have pancakes with Norton wine!)

We did mention that our interview with Jenni and Hump were pursuant to an upcoming article–we’ll leave you all in suspense about the article and its details for a bit longer. However, after we wrapped up our interview with Jenni and Hump ( and breakfast, too—we were pleasantly stuffed!), we made our way to the tasting room. Our goal was to find a Norton that we would serve at an upcoming Norton tasting. I already have the 2003 Locksely Reserve on the wine rack; Paul has his favorite, Sarah’s Patio Red, but we both were interested in the newer 2006 Norton Barrel Select. This 100% Norton offering has earned Chrysalis accolades at wine competitions, and we understood why—dense, intense colors, jammy aromas and flavors that included dark berries and raisins, the 2006 Norton Barrel Select offered a fruit-forward presentation that demands to be appreciated now. Needless to say, a bottle of this one found its way home.

More to come about the outcome of our interview with Jenni McCloud and Hump Astorga. In the meantime, visit Chrysalis Vineyards and experience Jenni’s vision of quality winemaking for yourself—be sure that Virginia Wine Time sent you!