Loudoun Valley Vineyards

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Buy Ambien Cr Cheap This past weekend we hit the Loudoun Valley wine trail to sample current releases, and we will be devoting the next several entries to post our impressions. One winery on the Loudoun trail that made quite an impression was Loudoun Valley Vineyards under the new direction of wine maker and owner, Bree Ann Moore.

https://ottawaphotographer.com/08kqcrrf We intend to interview Bree in the near future, so I’ll keep this entry short but very sweet. We had not been to Loudoun Valley Vineyards in quite a long while and certainly not since Bree purchased the facility and vineyards. My impressions of most wines at Loudoun Valley were not very favorable way back then. Therefore, it was with relief and pleasure to taste Loudoun’s current offerings now posted on the Winter 2009 wine list. The rich 2006 Chardonnay Vintner Select could grace any dinner party that featured poultry, pork or seafood. Add a rich cream sauce to any of the above, and the 2006 Chardonnay would feel right at home. For an appertif, seafood entrée or casual sipper, do try the well-balanced 2006 Vinifera White.

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https://www.emilymunday.co.uk/6bmnxap1a1 The biggest improvements were evident in the red wines. Gone were brownish colors and oxidized characteristics that seemed destined for the dump bucket! Paul likes pizza from time to time, and for him, the 2007 Chambourcin conjured images of a young chianti served with a pepperoni pizza. My own favorite was the 2005 Dynasty Reserve that is a blend of Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Touriga Nacional. A bolder red made softer by the Touriga, the Dynasty presents a well-rounded red that should be perfect with a winter’s menu of roasted meats and game.

We did indeed get to meet Bree Ann Moore briefly during our visit, and we look forward to a lengthier conversation with Bree as well as another tasting of Loudoun Valley Vineyards’ rapidly improving wines. Until we post our next article about Loudoun Valley, do pay Bree a visit and tell her that Virginia Wine Time sent you.

Rappahannock Cellars

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https://www.onoranzefunebriurbino.com/m9imkyqftl8 While in the Rappahannock area, we realized that we had not been to Rappahannock Cellars in quite a while. In fact, the last time we were there for a tasting, two tasting options were available—the oakier, fuller-bodied menu and the less/no oak, lighter-bodied menu. With fond memories of our last experience at Rappahannock Cellars in mind, we decided to follow the grape sign markers along Hwy 211 to see what the winery currently has to offer.

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https://www.plantillaslago.com/7hrzg58 On a cold winter’s day, the tasting room was not too busy, and we noticed that the two-menu option was also not available. That was fine with us as it gave us the opportunity to focus on fewer wines. Seven wines were available to sample, and of course the white wines were poured first. My own gold star was awarded to the 2007 Viognier with its honeysuckle nose and stone fruit flavors and a nice acidity to boot. Paul tended to favor the 2007 Noblesse Blanc which I thought was a dead-ringer for a Riesling. This blend of Vidal Blanc, Seyval Blanc, Viognier and Chardonnay is packed with fruity aromas and flavors. A versatile pour, the Noblesse Blanc could grace a dinner table that featured veal, pork or fish; however, it would also be a perfect patio or picnic sipper (in warmer weather, of course).

The red wines were next on the menu, and my double gold award of the day was presented to the 2006 Cabernet Franc. Tart raspberry and spicy flavors best describe this medium-bodied wine. A deep garnet color coupled with a seductive berry and herby nose confirmed that the 2006 Cabernet Franc was my winner. It should be noted that the 2006 Cabernet Franc is indeed a blend of Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and a splash of Petit Verdot. Paul’s gold star was placed next to the 2007 Headwaters Norton. Paul noted a jammy nose with hints of toast with a mouthful of black cherry and black berry flavors. He described the color as “inky”. Some blending of this Norton with 12.5% Cabernet Sauvignon smooths out the Norton characteristics while adding some complexity.

Clonazepam Fast Delivery Usa With our tasting done, we decided to share a glass of the outstanding 2006 Cabernet Franc. We also made note that a Claret will soon be released, and we will certainly return to give it a try. If you get to sample the Claret before we do, let us know about it; be sure to mention to the tasting associate that Virginia Wine Time sent you.

New Beginnings at Piedmont Vineyards

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New happenings in a new year at Piedmont Vineyards as owner Gerhard von Finck presents latest releases at Piedmont. However, these wines were produced by Gerhard himself as he has taken the reigns as wine maker. We were curious to sample these new releases and to catch up with owner and now winemaker, Gerhard von Finck.

Piedmont Vineyards is known for its Chardonnay, and it was no surprise that one new release was the Special Reserve Chardonnay made from the 2007 vintage. Aged for nine months in oak, this Chardonnay presented apple and pear characteristics; however, Gerhard advised keeping this one on the rack for a month or two due to its recent bottling. I concurred with this advice, and Paul and I both agreed that it was a drinkable pour made to serve with a favorite poultry dish. My own favorite was the Little River White, a slightly sweet blend of Seyval Blanc and Chardonnay. The Little River White was fermented in stainless steel tanks and exhibited fresh, fruity aromas with a refreshing taste of citrus and melon. My special “MT” designation was placed next to the Little River White as I know that my friend and guest critic, Michael Tyler, will favor this one.

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Less recent releases were still available for tasting, and the 2006 Hunt Country Red was Paul’s favorite of the day. Paul has been in a Beaujolais mood since November, and it was little wonder that he trended toward this soft, fruity red. Other Piedmont favorite such as the Little River Peach and the dessert wine Felicita were also still available for tasting and purchase. Also on the tasting menu, though, were wines from Del Fosse and Three Fox.

https://www.varesewedding.com/96t18ke As we swirled and sipped, we did also catch up with Gerhard. The transition to winemaker has been made easier for Gerhard with the help of renowned winemaker, Doug Fabbioli, and Gerhard seemed to relish his new role at Piedmont Vineyards. He plans to bottle new releases of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot in March with a Little River Raspberry to follow afterward. Also in the pipeline is a 2008 Cabernet Franc now aging in oak barrels. In fact, Gerhard allowed us a sneak preview of the Cabernet Franc, and the trademark tart raspberry and spicy profile associated with the varietal was on full display. Destined to be popular with Virginia wine drinkers, the 2008 Cabernet Franc will be a limited production wine. (We’re keeping our fingers crossed for a Rose to follow the successful Little River Rose, too!)

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Zolpidem Tartrate Buy Online Uk So of course, lunch was in the trunk, and on a cool winter’s day we enjoyed breaded chicken filets with an assortment of cheeses. Our pour for the afternoon? The Hunt Country Red! The frozen pond and barren trees made for a romantic winter landscape which, of course, we viewed from the cozy comfort of the tasting room.

Be sure to visit Piedmont Vineyards to sample Gerhard von Finck’’s handiwork in the vineyards and in the barrel room. We’ve already decided to return with Michael Tyler in tow! (Please remember to tell Gerhard that Virginia Wine Time sent you!)

Cutter & Buck American Classic Wine Set

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We received a Cutter & Buck American Classic wine set from Forte Promotions and thought we’d review the products. In the set you get a classic waiter’s corkscrew, a drip ring, and a wine pourer. We chose to open a bottle of Woodland Vineyards Merlot with the set and record the opening for others to see. Other wine accessories from Forte Promotions can be found here.

All the products were of high quality steel and came in a decorative leather topped case. We started with the foil cutter part of the wine opener. The foil cutter does not have a serrated edge so be careful when cutting the foil. A serrated edge would make the foil removal easier. The corkscrew worked as expected. It opened the bottle without issue and the grip was very comfortable. The drip ring slid over the top of the bottle smoothly. The wine pourer fit snugly in the bottle but we must report that when pulling the wine pourer out, the rubber casket came off the pourer and stayed in the bottle. We had no problem getting it out of the bottle though. Overall it’s a nice product and works as expected. The packaging is very attractive and would make a nice gift.

Holiday Open House at Gray Ghost

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Last weekend we went to the Holiday Open House at Gray Ghost. This is a yearly event so if you missed it this year, you can attend next year. We got to taste their current wines, enjoy some delicious food, and guess how many corks it took to create the rocking horse. If you guess correctly, you win a special wine package. We won’t know if we won for a few weeks. Here’s a few pictures from the event.

Favorites From 2008

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Those who read Wine Spectator know that this month’s issue has declared the 2005 Casa Lapostolle from Colchagua Valley to be the best in 2008. I have not had the privilege of tasting this Wine Spectator winner or many others on the magazine’s Top 100, so I thought I’d declare my own winner for 2008, and here it is:

The 2002 Twomey Merlot. This was my splurge purchase while visiting California wine country, and I poured it at a dinner party with an herb-crusted beef tenderloin. I posted about this one last month, so I will not repeat my notes here, but it was a real treasure to enjoy with friends!

Others on my list:

2005 Limerick Lane Pinot Noir

1998 La Mandria Chianti Classico

White Wines:

2007 Chrysalis Albarino

2006 Scott Chardonnay

NV Frank Family Blanc de Noirs

Anyone care to share their favorite pours of 2008? Please let us know!

More Thanksgiving Pours

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So what will you serve with Thanksgiving dinner? Here are my picks but do feel free to share your own!

(First Course) Butternut Squash Soup: Gray Ghost 2007 Gerwurztraminer (a real gem from Virginia but not available at the winery as it is sold out. Alternative? Try the Renee Mure Gerwurztraminer)

(Second Course) Harvest Salad (includes apples, pears, and fennel with roasted almonds): Vine Haven Chardonnay—California Chardonnay that is fruity and crisp with minimal oak aging

(Main Event) Herbed Turkey with Corn Bread Dressing and Cranberry Relish: 2006 Clos Pegas Pinot Noir done in the Burgundian style. Hard to find? Can’t beat the 2008 Georges Duboeuf Beaujolais Nouveau. For white wine drinkers who will not drink red wine, continue with the Gerwurztraminer or Chardonnay and consider the Chrysalis 2007 Sarah’s Patio Red or a dry Rose from France. (For larger gatherings, offer a mix of red wines and white wines and let guests choose!)

Dessert: Pumpkin Pie paired with the 2007 Gray Ghost Adieu. Finish with Community Coffee and Chicory (found only in New Orleans but the Luzianne and French Market brands are found at area supermarkets)

Guest Critic Michael Tyler at Chrysalis Vineyards

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Our friend and guest blogger Michael Tyler was anxious to join us for a wine tasting at Chrysalis Vineyards this past weekend. As readers may know, Michael prefers fruitier and even sweeter wines; therefore, his preferences are different than ours, and that’s just fine with us. So on a rainy afternoon, we all paid a visit to Chrysalis Vineyards to sample the latest releases.

Actually, we were due for a tasting at Chrysalis Vineyards as many new releases from the stellar 2007 vintage were on the menu. We armed Michael with his own gold stars, and we set him loose at the tasting bar. Of the white wines, Michael awarded the 2007 Viognier with his gold star award. He noted flowers on the nose and liked the melon fruit in the mouth. This is an outstanding Viognier, and we concurred with Michael’s choice. Don’t miss out on the 2007 Chardonnay—not many bottles of this one were left, and I made sure to make off with one of them. Done in the California style, this is a full-bodied, well balanced Chardonnay with a nice texture. Vanilla/nut nose with rich pear and apple flavors, it’s a must-have Chardonnay for Chardonnay lovers.


I did make a prediction before our tasting that Michael’s ultimate favorite would be the 2007 Sarah’s Patio Red, and I was not disappointed. In fact, Michael awarded two stars to the Patio Red. Between sips, Michael observed its bright ruby color and fell in love with its fruity nose. Bright berry flavors with a tart finish made this one an instant hit with Michael. The 2007 release did seem less sweet than in previous years, and the color alone makes it a stand out. I did note tart cranberry in the mouth; serve well-chilled, and this one is the ultimate deck sipper, pizza wine, or summer concert wine. However, for larger holiday gatherings when different palates have different tastes, the 2007 Patio Red might be the red wine of choice for white wine drinkers.

Now Paul was carefully reserving his gold stars for a red wine, and he found it with the 2004 Norton Estate Bottled. After a skillful swirl and sniff of this one, Paul observed notes of leather and tobacco with dry fruit flavors. Michael tended to prefer the jammier 2006 Norton Barrel Select that he likened to a Pinot Noir in character.


My own favorites? My own gold stars were awarded to the 2004 Petit Verdot and the 2004 Norton Locksley Reserve. The 2004 Petit Verdot possessed a dense cherry nose with extracted fruit flavors and a spicy edge. The 2004 Norton Locksley Reserve follows the heralded 2003 vintage in boldness and complexity. After 16months in oak and three years in the bottle, this one could still sit on the wine rack for a quite a while longer. However, it’s hard not to appreciate it now. Concentrated dark fruit flavors dominate but look for a mocha treat as it is released in the mouth.


Lunch? Of course! We brought along some spicy sausage, hummus with red peppers, a hard goat’s milk cheese, and a baguette. Considering our different palates and the spicy edge of our lunch items, we all agreed on the 2005 Rubiana. A blend of Nebbiolo, Fer Servadou, Graciano, and Tempranillo, the 2005 Rubiana was the perfect fruit-driven red wine to enjoy with lunch. We must add that tasting room manager, Ron Camp, was extremely accommodating and set us up with a table and chairs in the barrel room. It was raining quite heavily by lunch time, and the respite from the downpour was most appreciated. Get out to Chrysalis Vineyards to taste the new releases and tell Ron and the others that Virginia Wine Time sent you!