Once our tour of the tasting room and grounds was complete, it was back to the Roeder’s house for a tasting of upcoming offerings. Scenic views and impressive tasting rooms are one thing, but what about the wine? We can attest that these are off to a fine start, too.

Paul and I were treated to a sampling of seven upcoming releases that will bear Barrel Oak labels. These were not estate wines; in fact, these wines were mature yet quality wines of the 2005 vintage purchased from other wineries and already in the barrel. However, these wines were still diamonds in the rough, and Sharon, with guidance from her cast of experts, was able to finish these wines to produce signature products. Of the whites, Paul favored the crisp Chardonnay done in stainless steel with minimal time in oak barrels. He noted ripe apples in the mouth with vanilla on the finish. I preferred the Seyval Blanc. This was produced from Seyval Blanc grapes purchased from a local, quality vineyard, and crushed, aged then bottled under Sharon’s direction. This may well be Barrel Oak’s competition-worthy white wine—crisp with a citrus nose and flavors that finishes with a pleasant, characteristic tartness. To be released just in time for late spring, crab cakes would pair just fine with this one.

On to the reds and more noteworthy pours. The Bowhaus Red is destined to become Barrel Oak’s festival wine. This blend of several red varieties is reminiscent of a softer claret with an herby nose and cranberry flavors. Easy and accessible were words that came to mind. The Petit Verdot will be Barrel Oak’s reserve offering, and I tended to favor this one. Currants and darker fruit aromas were noted with a bit of smoke; I also detected similar flavors with a nice spicy finish that would bode well for a pairing with lamb. My ultimate gold star award was presented to the Tour Ga Franc. This blend of Touriga and Cabernet Franc could grace any dinner party. Mixed berries, dried herbs, and tobacco notes were complimented by raspberry flavors with some mocha to finish. Paul saved his own gold star for the BowWow Norton; he favors Norton and appreciated the black currant notes and characteristic grapey qualities of this Norton. Not to be out done was the Cabernet Sauvignon—lots of potential here, this medium-bodied pour could be appreciated now or later after some time on the wine rack.

Now the canine references obviously pay homage to Barley, esteemed winery dog; however, these names and their unique labels replete with paw prints also designate the House and Reserve wines. The Tour Ga Franc offers a play on the Tour de France to signify Sharon’s affinity for biking. Also, a certain portion of the Tour Ga Franc fee will go toward the Lance Armstrong cancer association.

From tasting room to wines to wine labels, the personal touches of Brian and Sharon are unmistakable touches on a quality operation. Look for Sharon to produce her own estate wines in 2010 as estate vines will be mature enough by 2009 to offer premium pours. Before we bid our farewells to Brian and Sharon, my parting question was, “Why Virginia?” Brian is from California, and their dream could certainly have been fulfilled there or in any other better-known wine region. Brian’s immediate response was, “Virginia is home. It’s a community here, and we {Virginia winemakers} bring each other up. This is where our hearts have made a home together.”

What better note on which to end our time with Brian and Sharon Roeder! We anxiously await their official opening in May. Looking for a new winery to check out this summer? Put Barrel Oak on the agenda, and tell Brian and Sharon that Virginia Wine Time sent you!

This past weekend, Paul and I visited Brian and Sharon Roeder, owners of Barrel Oak Winery in Delaplane, Virginia. Barrel Oak Winery will open in May, but Brian and Sharon graciously allowed us a sneak preview of their facility and wines. In the process, we discovered that Barrel Oak Winery is a dream come true for Brian and Sharon.

Sharon and Brian

We met Brian and Sharon at their home in Delaplane, and we quickly became acquainted. Both are friendly, outgoing personalities, and we even met Barley, who is ready to take on the demanding role of winery dog. We wanted to know how Brian and Sharon got into the wine-making business, and it literally started with a dream. Well, it was Sharon’s dream. Sharon was on a search for a life and career changing experience, and she had a recurring dream. In her dream, Sharon would see herself in a mountainous landscape tending to grapes in a vineyard. Finally, while on a trip to Key West, Sharon heeded Brian’s advice to make her dream a reality. In May, 2008, Brian and Sharon will fulfill the dream and open Barrel Oak Winery.

So what about making wine? Brian and Sharon have immersed themselves in learning this fine art. Sharon is the designated winemaker, and she has learned the business from the ground up. From vineyard management to harvesting to crushing to blending to tasting room management, Sharon has learned the ropes from masters in the business. Both she and Brian have been full-time students of such renowned experts as Jim Law, Chris Pearmund, and Tom Payette. In the process, they have dedicated several acres of their property to planting 7000 vines. Varieties will include seyval blanc, chambourcin, traminette, merlot, petit verdot and petit manseng. Although Brian and Sharon are the newest kids on the block, they have set their standards very high. Their goal is to eventually produce 10,000 cases of well-crafted wine.

The tasting room under construction.

Before treating us to a tasting of their wines, Brian and Sharon offered us a tour of their tasting room, which is still in construction. “Impressive” was the first word to come to mind, and that was probably an understatement. The main tasting room will be a 4000 square foot, state of the art facility that will feature a lengthy tasting bar. Sliding doors will also allow for the room to open up onto an expansive patio to offer breathtaking mountain views. These features will also offer versatility—events can be staged at the winery while regular tastings can be offered at the same time and without disruption to customers.

And there is more!! Above this main tasting area will be a loft that can accommodate meetings, seminars, and additional wine tasting space. A balcony effect will allow guests to look down upon the lower tasting room as they sniff, swirl, and sip. Below the main tasting room will be an additional facility that can only be described as “cavernous.” This 9000 square foot feature will be where all of the wine production and storage will take place. Here, too, state of the art equipment will be used to process grapes and to insure that wines will be stored at optimal conditions. Yet more space will be designated for tasting in this “wine cave”; in addition, a wine library will be constructed. As we toured the facility, Brian and Sharon’s passion and enthusiasm were evident; however, we also noted that their plans were carefully made. Though expansive, there will be no wasted space at Barrel Oak Winery. Even in the “wine cave”, pain staking efforts were made to ensure fluid operations from harvest to crush pad to fermenation and then to storage.

We should also mention that Brian and Sharon plan to have the most “green” facility in Virginia. Energy saving features will include the facility’s high vaulted ceilings, large sliding doors and windows, and a fireplace were all designed to conserve energy yet provide comfort to customers.

Barley

With our tour complete, it was time to taste wine. We hopped back into the golf cart and Brian brought us back the house. We stopped along the way to survey the vineyards and to visit with some equine friends who lived next door. Barley led the welcoming committee, but the several horses that grazed in the neighboring field seemed not to notice.

One of the neighbors next door.

And now the wines! Return later this week for Part Two of this Dream Come True, and I’ll tell you all about them!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.