With our Loudon County Trail weekend complete, we decided it was time to pursue another wine trail. This time, we decided to take a ride on the Monticello Wine Trail. We wanted to visit a few wineries we had not been to in some time and planned to visit Kluge, DelFosse, and White Hall on the first day and Horton and Barboursville on the second day.
On day one, our first stop was Kluge Estate Winery and Vineyard. We elected to have lunch at Kluge after we conducted a tasting. Kluge has changed the way they conduct their tastings. They now offer tastings in small plastic cups arranged in a plastic cup holder. We both thought of the science lab in high school, but we gave this approach a shot before we rendered jugdments. We tasted the Kluge SP Blanc De Blancs 2004, Albemarle Rose 2005, Albemarle Simply Red 2003, Kluge Estate 2002 New World Red, and the Kluge Estate Cru. Warren’s gold star went to the SP Blanc de Blanc 2004, a brut made from Chardonnay. Nice bubbly here with apples notes and flavors. Readers may know that the Blanc de Blanc and the Albemarle Rose 2005 have been favorably reviewed by the Washington Post. Paul’s own favorite was the Albemarle Simply Red 2003; we’ve written about this one before, and it seems to get even better each time we sample it. The New World Red offers a more complex wine; for the price, this one might be best saved for a special occasion.
For lunch we browsed the selections at the Farm Shop. Paul selected the cheese plate and Warren selected the mushroom quiche. With our meal we decided on the Albemarle Simply Red 2003, and its dark berry and anise flavors partnered nicely with our lunch menu. Over lunch, we concluded that while the tasting cups were a novel idea, we preferred tasting glasses—call us old-fashioned! However, the Kluge experience is always wonderful, and we lingered outdoors in the rustic setting as long as possible.
With our appetites satisfied, we moved on to our next winery. We got back on the trail and headed to DelFosse Vineyards and Winery. It had been more than a year since we last visited DelFosse. We were very impressed with the changes that we observed as we drove up the long driveway. They now have a very contemporary tasting room with lots of large windows to enjoy the mountainous views. At the tasting bar we tasted many of the 18 wines DelFosse offers. The white wines were very solid, and particular ones that we enjoyed were the 2006 Pinot Gris and the 2006 Viognier Reserve; the gold star went to the 2005 Reserve d’Oriane. Fans of California’s Conundrum may want to sample this one. The Reserve d’Oriane is a complex blend of Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier, and Petit Manseng. Elegant yet unpretentious came to mind as we compared our notes. Lush fruit notes and flavors that give way to a surprisingly longer finish, the Reserrve d’Oriane might pair wonderfully with shellfish or poultry prepared with creamier sauces. (Warren thought it was just fine to sip on its own, and that’s just what he did after the tasting) .
On to the reds—we favored the 2005 Cuvee Laurent, the 2005 Grand Cru Olivier, and the 2005 Cabernet Franc. Gold stars, however, went to the 2005 Merlot. Paul noted a concentration of cherry and plum notes and flavors with a hint of earthiness. Smooth tannins with this one make for a pleasurable sipper or a graceful partner at the dinner table.
We did share a glass of the Reserve d’Oriane and gazed at the mountain landscapes from the tasting room. Floor to ceiling windows allow for scenic viewing on the hottest or coldest of days. As we finished our wine, we plotted our next visit to White Hall Vineyards. Our discoverery here will have to wait until our next installment. Meanwhile, if you visit Kluge or Delfosse, let them know that Virginia Wine Time sent you!