Category: Events

Nebbiolo Through the Years at Breaux Vineyards

/ Warren and Paul / Leave a comment

Nebbiolo is a grape variety that oenophiles would associate with Italy; however, there are a few wineries in Virginia that are able to grow the grape in their vineyards. Breaux Vineyards is one of them. In fact, it was owner Paul Breaux who fell in love with Nebbiolo while visiting Italy in the late 1990s and decided to try growing it in his own vineyard. It has since proven to be Breaux’s flagship red wine with excellent vintages on display at a recent vertical tasting.

The 2005 vintage was the eldest statesman at the event with the 2016 bottling debuting as the youngster. In between the two, the 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015 were poured for comparison. Vintages are paired together and then partnered with three courses prepared by Grandale Restaurant and Catering. So what were our favorites?

First Course and Pairing:
Chicken, spinach, and prosciutto Napoleon with Bechamel Sauce paired with the 2005 and 2012 vintages.

This course proved that chicken can be matched with red wine. The 05 vintage was the winner at our table and presented the raisiny fruit profile associated with an aging red wine. I noted clover and earthy aromas too. However, the fruitier ’12 vintage with its brighter red berry notes was my own personal favorite.

Second Course and Pairing:
Braised pork shank over leek and truffle risotto paired with the 2014 and 2015 vintages.

This was my favorite course. The pork shank was braised to perfection with truffle risotto providing an earthier flavor to the dish; this matched quite well with the ’15 vintage and its dark fruit notes and subtle whiff of violet on the nose. For readers with a bottle of the ’14 vintage rest assured that it can stay a while longer on the wine rack. Tannins on this one are still firm. Decant if you insist on enjoying it now.

Third Course and Pairing:
Cheesy polenta cake with bolognese sauce and shaved pecorino Romano cheese with snow pea tendrils paired with the 2010 and 2016 vintages.

This was Paul’s favorite course—-the polenta cake was an excellent alternative to pasta with the bolognese sauce. The pairing also offered a contrast in winemaking styles. The 2010 shared a profile that was similar to the 2005, and both were products of longer oak aging. The 2016, though, presented the vision of current winemaker, Josh Gerard. Gerard favors less oak aging but longer bottle aging in order to showcase Nebbiolo’s lush aromatics. Though young, the ’16 presented rich berry notes that extended through the finish. The ’16 has not been released yet; however, it already shows potential.

Lagniappe (or bonus for those who are not from New Orleans):
Smoked chestnut and wine berry tossed in cocoa paired with the 2013 vintage

The ’13 was an easy sipper and a nice partner with the cocoa powder. Softer fruit notes and tannins with this one.

The Nebbiolo vertical allowed us to taste many of the vintages that we have on our own wine rack, and we determined that ’05 and ’10 vintages should be enjoyed now. ’14 and ’15 can rest while longer; ’12 and ’13 can be enjoyed now or held a bit longer. Be sure to visit Breaux Vineyards to either add to or begin your own collection of Nebbiolo, but mention that Virginia Wine Time sent you!

Governor’s Cup Awarded to Pioneer

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The Virginia Wineries Association’s Governor’s Cup announced the 2019 medal winners, and this year 68 wines from Virginia wineries earned gold medals. However, only one entry wins the coveted Gold Cup, and this year it was awarded to a true pioneer in the Virginia wine industry, Dennis Horton. Horton’s 2016 Petit Manseng garnered the competition’s top honor. Dennis Horton past away last year, but he will be remembered for playing a key role in Virginia’s renaissance in winemaking. Horton loved to experiment with grapes in order to determine which ones grew best in a state known for tricky weather and clay soils. It was Dennis Horton who revived the Norton grape and heralded Viognier as a viable choice for Virginia’s state grape. It is therefore fitting that his winery won the Gold Cup with another up and comer, Petit Manseng.

The Governor’s Cup case was also announced. The wines in the case consist of the 12 top scoring wines in the competition. In addition to the Horton 2016 Petit Manseng, the 11 other wines in the case are:

Barboursville Vineyards 2017 Vermentino Reserve
Early Mountain Vineyards 2016 Eluvium
Glen Manor Vineyards 2015 Cabernet Franc
King Family Vineyards 2016 Mountain Plains
King Family Vineyards 2016 Meritage
Paradise Springs Winery 2015 Meritage
Virginia Wine Works 2016 Hamlet Vineyards Eltham
Virginia Wine Works 2016 Michael Shaps Petit Manseng
Virginia Wine Works 2016 Michael Shaps Raisin d’Etre White
Virginia Wine Works 2015 Michael Shaps Tannat
Virginia Wine Works 2014 Upper Shirley Zachariah

Congratulations to all the medal winners, the Governor’s Cup case winners and to the Horton Vineyards team! If you get a chance to visit Horton Vineyards, tell them Virginia Wine Time sent you!

Photos courtesy of the Virginia Wine Marketing Office

Cellar Tasting at Glen Manor

/ Paul / 2 Comments

On Saturday we headed out to Front Royal, Virginia to visit Glen Manor Vineyards. We were attending the December 2018 Cellar Tasting. We always enjoy tasting wines from the barrel to see how they are developing.

We started with the 2018 Dry Petit Manseng. It’s 100% petit manseng. Being so fresh in the barrel it’s obvious that it needs more time. However, we did note a nice level of acidity. We know when its released it will be a nice dry version of petit manseng.

The second wine was the 2017 St. Ruth. It’s a blend of 43% merlot, 35% cabernet franc and 22% petit verdot. The blend for 2017 is a bit different then it is for the current release, 2014. There is less merlot and more petit verdot. We think the blend is perfect and would easily enjoy a glass right now. But we’ll wait until it is released in the future.

The final wine we tasted from the barrel was the 2017 Hodder Hill. The 2017 Hodder Hill is a blend of 63% cabernet sauvignon, 21% merlot and 16% petit verdot. This may not even be the final blend. They will go through more blending trials to get to the final blend. The Hodder Hill has always been one of our favorites and this blend doesn’t disappoint. We know it will be a few years before it will be ready to enjoy but we’ll wait patiently knowing it will be worth the wait.

After the barrel tastings we went upstairs to the tasting room and tasted the other wines on the tasting menu. We then decided to enjoy a glass of the 2015 Cabernet Franc before leaving. We also bought several of our favorite wines. The next time you visit Glen Manor Vineyards, tell them Virginia Wine Time sent you!

Corks and Cheese at Gray Ghost

/ Paul / 2 Comments

On Saturday we attended the Christmas Cork and Cheese Celebration at Gray Ghost Vineyards. This event is their kick off to the holiday season.

We began with a tasting of the current wines on the tasting list. We love them all but the 2017 Chardonnay and the Ranger Reserve were among our favorites. We were given the Christmas glass for our tasting. This year the design is a castle, which is also the cork art that Al Kellert created for the event. One part of the event is guessing how many corks Al used to create the piece of art. We guess every year but never come close.

After our tasting we picked up our plate of cheese, crackers and bread and our glass of wine. While enjoying the cheeses, we looked at all the cork art and determined our guess for the year.

As usual, this is a very well attended event. We always enjoy ourselves. We purchased a few of our favorites before leaving. If you haven’t attended an event at Gray Ghost, you should think about putting one on your calendar. They have events all year long. And when you do attend one, tell them Virginia Wine Time sent you!

October is Virginia Wine Month!

/ Paul / 3 Comments

October is Virginia Wine Month! To kick off Virginia Wine Month, we joined several other bloggers and wine industry people for the October #VAWineChat hosted by Frank Morgan of the Drink What You Like blog. The event was held at Flight Wine Bar in Washington DC.

Frank Morgan was joined by Caroline Hermann, Master of Wine, and Swati Bose, owner of Flight Wine Bar to taste and discuss Virginia red blends. We tasted along with them and Tweeted our impressions of the wines. Flight Wine Bar treated us well with lots of wine friendly foods and a beautiful room for tasting and Tweeting.

The wines we tasted were:

Glen Manor Hodder Hill
King Family Meritage
Williamsburg Winery Adagio
Rosemont Kilravock

In addition to these wines, we also tasted the soon to be released Virginia’s Heritage. It’s a blend of wine from 16 different Virginia wineries. All the wines were wonderful and really reflect what’s happening in red blends in Virginia.

Today VirginiaWine.org launched their updated website with a new logo and tons of information about Virginia wine. Check out their updated site! Thank you Virginia Wine.org!

If and when you visit any of these wineries or Flight Wine Bar, tell them Virginia Wine Time sent you!

Wacky Winter Weather Doesn’t Stop Bloggers!

/ Warren / Leave a comment

Wintry mixes, gale force winds, and wild temperatures have not deterred us from hitting the wine trails in 2018. In recent weekends, we visited Tarara Winery, Gray Ghost Vineyards, and Rappahanock Cellars; along the way, we met up with fellow bloggers Kurt and Carol of Wine About Virginia and supreme oenophile/good friend Susan McHenry.

Our trip to Tarara Winery was threatened by a winter advisory that was issued for later in the afternoon. However, we decided to go with the intent to get their early and then leave early before the winter weather arrived. Danielle, our wine educator, gave us an expert tasting of winemaker Jordan Harris’ excellent wines. Of the white wines, the 2015 Viognier and the 2013 Neveah White were my favorites. The Viognier presented floral aromas with notes of tropical fruit and honey. On the palate, I noted tropical fruit with a nice, round mouth feel. The Neveah White is a blend of Chardonnay and Viognier; it displayed ripe pear and pineapple characteristics with a touch of oak on the finish. Favorite red wines included the 2015 Long Bomb 9, a red blend led by Cabernet Sauvignon followed by Merlot, Syrah and Tannat. Notes of tobacco, clover, blackberry and anise gave way to a fruity palate with pepper on the finish; it was also a bit “chewy”. I’d recommend decanting before serving. The 2012 Neveah Red was a juicy treat with elements of blackberry, currants, tobacco and cedar. Oh—-the wintry mix? In keeping with the fickle winter that has been 2018, it never materialized.

However, our winter hurricane did strike the area, and many wineries were closed due to power outages. Gray Ghost Vineyards was able to operate thanks to a generator, so we were able to attend their annual barrel tasting. Here we met bloggers Kurt and Carol Jensen and dear friend Susan McHenry. Group favorites were the 2016 Petit Verdot and the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon. I was also a fan of the lighter-bodied and fruity 2017 Cabernet Franc that was still in the barrel but oh so ready to enjoy. From Gray Ghost Vineyards we made our way to Rappahanock Cellars. Rappahanock Cellars has added sparkling wines to their lineup of quality wines, and I enjoyed the Sparkling Rose with its strawberry flavors and bright acidity. The dry Rose Reserve and the 2015 Cabernet Franc were other standouts; however, at the end of our tasting, the group was in the mood for Chardonnay, and the 2015 Chardonnay did not disappoint. Pear flavors with a rich mouth feel and an oak kiss paired well with the platter of cheeses that we ordered to finish the wonderful (and less windy) afternoon.

Spring is around the corner, and the finicky winter of 2018 will be history. Plan to visit these wineries as we transition to warmer days and spring landscapes colored with fragrant blossoms. Of course, mention that Virginia Wine Time sent you.

Traditions Continue – Breaux Vineyards Vertical Tasting

/ Warren / Leave a comment

Our last post featured a tradition of beginning each new year with a visit to Delaplane Vineyards, and we continued another one this past weekend. Paul and I have attended the vertical Cabernet tasting at Breaux Vineyards for the past several years, and also tends to be the first wine event that we attend. This year’s vertical featured Cabernet Sauvignon from the driest growing season which was 2007 to the wettest, 2014. Exquisite food pairings with the vintage Cabernets made for a delicious afternoon.

The event was held in the grand Acadia room with its scenic views of the vineyards. We were greeted with a glass of the 2016 Vieux Carre, an orange wine crafted from Viognier. Lookout for orange wines in Virginia; this is the second orange wine that we have experienced from Virginia. Both were produced from the Viognier grape with the orange tint due to extended soaking on the skins. Expect a tannic presence on the palate. It paired quite well with the amuse bouche, a scrod cake topped with garlic tarragon aioli.

Cabernet Sauvignon was the featured star, and six vintages were presented for review. These included the 2007, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2013, and 2014. An added twist was that these Cabernets were the result of three different winemaking talents: Dave Collins, David Pagan Castano, and Heather Munden. Current winemaker Josh Gerard introduced the profiles to each wine and its respective vintage. So which vintage shined the brightest? In the end, it depended on the food pairing. My overall favorite was the 2012. It proved to be the most versatile; although it was paired with the second course, salmon topped with raw sugar and mustard salmon served atop white bean pepper ragout, it also played nicely with the third course, a tornedeau of beef over apple chestnut gnudi and apple cider vinegar. So we should pair chicken with white wine? Think again. The first course featured chicken thighs braised in peanut sauce. The 2012 played quite nicely with this dish too.

First Course

Second Course

Third Course

The 2007 as elder statesman was not to be ignored. It sang the right notes for its age—-soft cedar, sweet tobacco, and raising-like fruit. Quite nice on its own, it also paired well with the chicken course; however, the more savory 2008 vintage gave its older sibling a run for its money with this food pairing. The peanut sauce brought forward the ripe berry elements. The youngest kid on the block, the 2014, was produced from what was the wettest year of the vintages served; however, the rains came and went at the right time. Harvest time was dry and the fruit ripened right on cue to produce a more structured wine with dark berry aromas, cedar notes, and firmer tannins. This was most enjoyable with the beef course. Buy now but drink later; decant if you are not that patient.

I was not surprised that the 2007 was at its apex; it was a dry year with little rainfall and dry conditions to harvest time. The 2010 growing season was indeed even hotter; for that reason, the red wines from this vintage still need time on the wine rack. I find them to be a bit tight still. Tasting the 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon in this lineup from Breaux Vineyards reinforced my hunch—-I enjoyed it with the salmon, a fattier dish that absorbed the higher alcohol and propelled forward the dark fruit elements of the wine. However, it is a gem that needs time to evolve further.

Some traditions are worth continuing, and this is certainly one of them. It is remarkable to us that we can discuss vintages in Virginia and decide whether to drink or hold. As we begin our 13th year as bloggers, we can attest that the quality Virginia wines can be found at those wineries that devote the time and effort into creating quality wines. Breaux Vineyards is one of those wineries. Please visit Breaux Vineyards to discover your own favorites, and be sure to mention that Virginia Wine Time sent you!

Dinner Party Wines

/ Paul / Leave a comment

Saturday evening we had some friends over for dinner. Because October is Virginia Wine Month we decided to serve Virginia wines. Warren, of course, was the chef and also selected the wines for the meal.

We started with a salad course. It was a tossed green salad with a Dijon vinaigrette dressing. Warren selected the 2016 Rose from 50 West Vineyards as the wine to pair with the salad. Everyone thought it was the perfect pairing for the salad. The rose was was made with Sangiovese. It was crisp and refreshing.

The main course consisted of a healthy portion of filet mignon, parmesan oven roasted potatoes, and grilled squash. Warren selected the 2010 Meritage from Pollak Vineyards. Warren decided it needed to be decanted. 2010 was a big year for reds and while it’s been many years since it’s release, the Meritage was still pretty big and needed some air. We decanted it for more than an hour before serving. It ended up being a perfect pairing. It’s a blend of 41% Cabernet Franc, 41% Merlot, 18% Petit Verdot. This estate grown Bordeaux blend won the 2013 Monticello Cup. Warren noted concentrated fruit aromas with hints of anise and tobacco that led to flavors of black cherry, blackberry, and spice. Nice tannins too. He noted a subtle vanilla note at the end to boot. It was delicious!

So what have you been enjoying for Virginia Wine Month? Let us know! If you happen to visit either 50 West Vineyards or Pollak Vineyards please tell them Virginia Wine Time sent you!

Harvesting At Gray Ghost

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Today we went to Gray Ghost Vineyards to help harvest the chardonnay grapes. We do this every year and have been for the last 12 years. They had a bumper crop this year. Al Kellert reported bringing in almost 50% more than they did last year. We had a great time as usual! Here’s what the grapes looked like this morning.