Next Stop California!

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So we continue our travels via the wine bottle thanks to Locations Wine, and this time we taste a white blend from California fittingly labeled, CA.

CA manages to meld both Old and New World styles. On both the nose and palate, it suggests the weight of a Napa inspired white wine; indeed, it is barrel aged in 30% new French oak in addition to fermentation in stainless steel tanks. Therefore, it presents a crisp entry with fruity flavors of pear, stone fruit and citrus. It finishes with a nutty element as well as a fuller mouth feel. Take time to note its lovely aromas of butterscotch, pear and lemon peel. In a way, it seemsto merge California and the Rhone region of France into a wine bottle. Who says white wines can’t be complex? CA is a blend of Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier and Roussane; growers hale from Napa, Sonoma, and Mendocino. Food pairings? I enjoyed this one with roasted chicken with mashed potatoes. Herbed pork roast, dishes topped with cream sauce, goat cheeses on a toasted baguette—-you get the picture (or the menu ideas.)

We again thank Balzac Communications for this lush blend. Search for CA at your local wine shop, but please mention that Virginia Wine Time sent you.

Location of Corse!

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We were privileged to receive two more wines from the Locations lineup, and these were both white wines that included a Corsican Veremtino and a blend labeled CA (from California of course.) In this post, we review Corse, the Vermentino wine produced from the island of Corsica. We again thank Balzac Communications for the opportunity to enjoy these wines.

Quite simply, we both adored this wine. On the nose, I noted aromas of spring blossoms, lime, orange zest, and shale; flavors of pear, lime and citrus zest led to a full and fruity palate followed by a crisp finish. Corse fully expresses a Mediterranean climate with its cool, breezy nights and warm, dry days. Did Napoleon Bonaparte, Corsica’s most famous native, enjoy this Vermentino with his favorite meal—-chicken and pasta with parmesan cheese? We hope so, and I thought of Napoleon when I prepared dinner. Crab cakes were on the menu, but I did toss some bowtie pasta with butter and parmesan cheese to serve as a side dish It proved to be a lovely pairing!

We had not enjoyed Corsican wines, but I must say that this first impression was a hit. Seek out Corse at your local wine shop, and mention that Virginia Wine Time sent you. However, we are not done with Vermentino. In a future post, we compare Corse with a Virginia-made Vermentino; we’ll keep readers in suspense about that one. And what about CA? Stay tuned.

Linden Vineyards

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Every couple of months we have to return to Linden Vineyards to check in and see what’s on the tasting menu and the cellar tasting menu. We hadn’t visited since December. It was time. The recent snow storm (only one this season) left some pretty snow around to enhance the view.

During this tasting we tasted the 2015 Chardonnay, the 2015 Riesling Vidal, the 2015 Boisseau Viognier, the 2014 Claret and the 2013 Petit Verdot. We did however select the 2015 Chardonnay as a favorite. We noted floral notes, minerality and a slightly creamy ending. It would go beautifully with crab cakes or other light fish dishes. We also selected the 2014 Claret as a favorite. We noted bright fruit, cherry, tight tannins and a dusty note. You could enjoy this by itself or with some beef.

After our tasting we descended the stairs to the cellar to enjoy the wines on the menu for the cellar tasting. The day we were there we were comparing the 2014 and 2015 Boisseau Chardonnay, the 2013 Avenius Red and 2013 Hardscrabble Red and for the desert wines we compared the 2009 Late Harvest Vidal and the 2010 Late Harvest Petit Manseng. Of course they were all wonderful wines but we did select our favorites. Warren preferred the 2015 Boisseau Chardonny and I preferred the 2014. We both really enjoyed the 2013 Avenius Red and we both enjoyed the 2009 Late Harvest Vidal.

After both our tastings we retired to the enclosed deck to enjoy some lunch items and a bottle of the 2013 Avenius Red. While enjoy our wine and nibbles and the view, Jim Law stopped by and asked to join us. We absolutely agreed. Turns out he was also enjoying a glass of the 2013 Avenius Red. Great minds think alike! We enjoyed a great conversation with Jim about Linden wines, how things are going in the vineyards and wines in general. It’s always amazing getting time to talk with Jim. He’s such a fount of wine knowledge.

Before leaving we purchased several of our favorite wines and told Jim we’d return soon for another wonderful tasting. If you haven’t been to Linden Vineyards lately, it’s time to return. And when you do, tell them Virginia Wine Time sent you!

Zephaniah Farm Vineyard

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A few weeks ago we visited Zephaniah Farm Vineyard. We visited them in the fall but decided to return to see how the wines were developing and what might be new on the tasting menu. It was a chilly day so we enjoyed sitting by the fire and having Bonnie conduct our tasting. It’s always fun to catch up with Bonnie. Since we are both teachers and Bonnie is a former teacher, we always have lots to chat about. While we always enjoy all the wines at Zephaniah, we did find our favorites.

Our favorite white wine from the menu was the 2015 Adeline. It’s a blend of 53% Muscat Ottonel, 25% Vidal, and 22% Petite Manseng. The wine is aged in stainless steel. We noted floral, fruity, and sweet notes. We thought this would make a nice wine to enjoy on a warm spring day. The natural sweet notes come from the muscat and vidal. We could see almost anyone enjoying this wine.

Our favorite red from the tasting was the 2013 Three Captains Red. This is a blend of 46% Cabernet Franc, 45% Chambourcin, and 9% Cabernet Sauvignon. I am not normally a chabourcin fan but the blend here ended up being a very favorable wine. We noted tobacco, black currents, blueberries, cranberry, and some mild tannins that grip the tongue in just the right places. Something beef with roasted potatoes and crunchy French green beans comes to mind when thinking of pairings for this wine.

After our tasting we enjoyed a glass of the 2015 Adeline by the fire. And of course before leaving we picked up a few bottles to add to our wine rack. We always enjoy our time at Zephaniah. You can definitely count on a relaxed, enjoyable tasting in the old farm house. And chatting with Bonnie is a plus! Plan a trip to Zephaniah soon and when you do, tell them Virginia Wine Time sent you!

Location, Location Continued

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Readers may recall that we previously reviewed a rose, F, produced by Locations Wine. (A short recap of the Locations concept here—-these wines are crafted from grapes sourced from premier vineyards found in the world’s best locations.) In this post, we review I and P; in case you’re wondering, I is the product of grapes grown in Italy; P, from Portugal.

I is a blend of Negroamaro, Nero d’Avola, and Barbera, and these varietals represent fruit from Puglia located Southern region of Italy as well as Barbera located in the Piedmont region of Northern Italy. The result is a rich, complex wine with aromas of blackberry, charcuterie, fall spices and cedar. A fruity palate of dark berries gives way to spice and oak nuances. Enjoy with Italian fare or with beef dishes, a platter of sliced dried meats, and hard cheeses.

 

 

If roasted chops are on the menu, consider P, a blend of Portuguese grapes that includes Touriga Nacional, Trincadeira, and Touriga Franca. P also presents a fruity nose and palate with notes of plum, cherry and blackberry; hints of anise and black pepper also come out to play. We enjoyed P with roasted pork chops and roasted potatoes sprinkled with basil, thyme, and rosemary.

 

 

We again thank Balzac Communications for the opportunity to enjoy these wines. Seek out these unique wines at your local wine shop and mention that Virginia Wine Time sent you.

Casanel Vineyards and Winery

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I’m a club member at Casanel Vineyards and Winery. As a member I need to periodically pick up wines at the winery. Last Saturday we decided to head to Casanel and pick up some wines. At the same time we planned to meet our friend Renee Catacalos of On Our Plates Chesapeake and her sister, Stacy. Renee is the former editor of Edible Chesapeake. She is currently writing a book and wanted to get our take on local wines and experience a local winery.

We all met at Casanel and were delighted to find out that Katie DeSouza would be conducting our tasting. Katie is a font of knowledge and Renee gathered loads of information for her book during our tasting. Katie’s sister Anna was on hand to offer her expertise as well. We tasted through the entire line of wines and were thoroughly impressed once again! Casanel is really making some amazing wines and deserves some accolades for their hard work.

My favorite white wine from he lineup was the 2015 Ellianna. The Ellianna is a Pinot Gris fermented in stainless steel. I noted pear, melon, and citrus. It’s bright and fresh and perfect for the upcoming warm days. Warren mentioned this would pair well with summer light fair and even oysters!

My favorite red of the day was the 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon. This was aged for 20 months in French oak. I noted blackberry, cherry, and a whiff of violet. The tannins are a bit tight right now but will smooth with aging. I thought you could enjoy this wine now and into the future. And have it with a thick filet mignon. It was pair beautifully!

After our tasting we all shared a bottle of the 2014 K2 Red Blend. It’s a blend of Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, and Carmenere. We enjoyed it with baguettes, a sharp cheddar cheese, and charcuterie. While enjoying the wine and nibbles we caught up on each other and chatted local wines and foods. Renee took lots of notes for her book all while enjoying the wine and conversation.

Before leaving we all purchased our favorite wines (almost a case!). We all agreed that winemaker Katell Griaud is teaching Katie some great skills and it certainly shows in the wines. There was not one wine we didn’t enjoy. We suggest you plan a visit to Casanel and taste the changes that have been taking place. And when you do, tell them Virginia Wine Time sent you!

Granite Heights Winery

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One of our favorite wineries in Virginia is Granite Heights. We enjoy returning from time to time to check in with Toni and Luke and see what’s happening with the wines. We always get such detailed information about what’s happening in the winery. It’s always great to see Toni and Luke.

We visited a couple of weeks ago and we weren’t disappointed, as usual. Of course we started with the white wines. We tasted the 2014 Petit Manseng, the Shadow White (NV), and the 2014 Chardonnay. Our favorite was the 2014 Petit Manseng. We noted pineapple, a full fruit palate and nice acidity. We thought of Spring and sitting outside with a plate of nibbles to enjoy this one.

We moved onto the reds and tasted the 2011 Evening Serenade, the 2012 Humility, and the 2012 Merlot. It was really hard to select a favorite here because they were all so good. I did, however, select the 2011 Evening Serenade. Yes, 2011 was a tough year for many wineries in Virginia but with Luke’s expertise, this red turned out beautifully. It’s a blend of 39% Merlot, 11% Cabernet Franc, 38% Cabernet Sauvignon and 12% Petit Verdot. It was barrel aged for 20 months. We noted smoke, raspberries, cherry, and an herby note. The ending was smooth and the tannins just barely touch the back of your tongue. We thought this would make a great pizza, pasta, or burger wine. And in fact, we had it just a few nights later with a spicy pepperoni pizza. It complimented the pizza beautifully.

Before leaving we enjoyed a glass of the 2014 Petit Manseng while enjoying the view of the pond and the vineyards beyond while sitting in the Adirondack chairs. We picked up our favorite wines to bring home. Luke had a few bottles left of the 2010 Cabernet Franc and the 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon that I couldn’t resist bringing home. We also purchased the 2011 Evening Serenade and the 2012 Merlot. Great reds to join the other reds on our wine rack.

As is always the case, we enjoyed our time at Granite Heights chatting with Toni and Luke and enjoying the well crafted wines. We will need to return sooner next time and maybe make a video with Luke. Until that time, get out to Granite Heights Winery and tell them Virginia Wine Time sent you!

Slater Run Vineyards

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A few weeks ago we found ourselves in Middleburg visiting wineries. We realized that Upperville was just a bit farther up the road so we decided to visit Slater Run Vineyards. We’d heard good things about them from others so it was time.

Slater Run has 12 acres of vineyards on a family farm located in Upperville. The vineyards were planted in 2010 and their first wines were released in 2014. Lucie Morton is a consultant and the winemaker is Katell Griaud. We have tasted other wines crafted by Kate so we were looking forward to trying the wines here. Currently you can taste their wines at The Local Taste, their tasting room and wine shop, in downtown Upperville. That is where we tasted their current lineup of wines.

Julien Lacaze conducted our tasting. He’s a very knowledgeable wine steward. Of the white wines, Warren enjoyed the 2015 Pinot Gris with it’s lemon, pear and apple notes. We both really enjoyed the 2015 Chardonnay. We noted pear and apple and particularly enjoyed the creaminess on the finish.

The stand out red that we both enjoyed was the 2014 Roots. It’s a blend of 38% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Cabernet Franc, 18% Merlot and 16% Petit Verdot. We noted dark fruit, leather, and some tobacco. We know this one will rest on our wine rack for several years and will get better with time.

Before leaving we purchased our favorites and promised to return. We left with half a case of wine! We’ll definitely be back. If you find yourself in Middleburg, continue up the road to Upperville and stop by the Slater Run Vineyards tasting room. And when you do, tell them Virginia Wine Time sent you!

Location, Location, Location

/ Warren / Leave a comment

Location means everything in the wine world, and the concept behind Locations wine is all about location. Winemaker and owner of Locations, Dave Phinney, has championed a concept that great wines can be made by sourcing grapes from the best vineyard sites located on the planets’ best wine producing regions. Phinney purchases quality grapes from various wine growing regions and then produces excellent wines from his facility in St. Helena, California. Thanks to Balzac Communications we were able to sample these wines.

The labels look like the alphabet chart that we all saw in kindergarten—-F, I, P, etc with some blends thrown in for good measure. These include OR, AR and TX. However, these wines are anything but elementary. We have been a fan of these wines for quite some time and appreciate their accessibility without sacrificing quality. They also are able to express a sense of place. We will be reviewing three of our favorites from this lineup starting with F.

So what is F? Well, it follows the letter E; in addition, F is a rose produced from France. Hence, it earns the F designation on the label. F is produced from the Grenache grape grown in the vineyards of southern France. It presents a translucent pink tone in the glass that suggests summer but in reality is quite versatile all year round. We recently enjoyed it on a colder winter evening with pasta tossed with olive oil, thinly sliced ham, parmesan cheese, and Italian herbs. Floral notes were accompanied by aromas of strawberry and peach fuzz. Bright red berry and melon flavors played well with a flinty edge that made for a refreshing, dry rose. I love these kinds of roses in the summer, but I always make certain to have a stash of these on hand for Thanksgiving or any larger gathering where a variety of dishes may be served but different wine palates will have to be satisfied.

Dry roses are versatile and can/should be served year round. Seek out F at your local wine shop, and mention that Virginia Wine Time sent you! Oh—-stay tuned for other letters of the alphabet!