Tag: cardinal point

Visiting Old Favorites

/ Warren / 2 Comments

A recent visit to the Monticello area offered us the opportunity to sample releases from favorite wineries. Here we present wines (and the wineries) that we enjoyed most:

Barboursville Vineyards: I always pay attention to the reserve wines at Barboursville, and this time was no exception. The Sauvignon Blanc Reserve 2016, Vermentino Reserve 2016, Viognier Reserve 2017 and the Cabernet Franc Reserve 2017 all earned my top scores. Perhaps it was due to the hot day, but I particularly enjoyed the Vermentino Reserve 2016 with its floral notes and nice mouth feel. I did, however, leave with a bottle of the Octagon 2015 to add to our collection of the Octagon line on our wine rack.

Blenheim Vineyards: We always hope to run into winemaker Kirsty Harmon when we visit Blenheim Vineyards, and we were in luck this time around. The Albarino 2018 was my favorite; faintly floral with orchard fruit on the palate, it should complement light fare, shell fish, and fresh fruit. The light-bodied Cabernet Franc 2017 with its cherry notes is destined to please with grilled fare, comfort foods or on its own with sliced deli meats and cheeses.

Cardinal Point Vineyard and Winery: On a hot day, it was hard to not appreciate the 2018 Quattro, a blend of Riesling, Gerwurztraminer, Vidal Blanc, and Viognier; however, this fruity blend should also come in handy during the upcoming Thanksgiving or Christmas holidays—-never to early to think about future menus! Be sure to sample the 2017 Clay Hill Cabernet Franc—-red berry notes and a bit of spice on the finish reminded us why Cabernet Franc is one of Virginia’s signature grape varieties.

Gabrielle Rausse Winery: We continue to be impressed with this winery, and I always seem to leave with a bottle (or two) of the Vin Gris de Pinot Noir, and this time from the 2018 vintage. The Rose 2018 produced from Cabernet Sauvignon was another favorite; strawberry flavors were noted with a dry, crisp finish. The non-vintage Cabernet Franc can be described as very berry; a light-bodied, fruity palate make this one delicious to sip on its own or with food.

King Family Vineyards: We expect to see lots of rose produced from the 2018 growing season, and were not disappointed to see the Crose 2018 on the tasting menu here. This is always one of our favorite roses, and we stock up whenever to visit King Family Vineyards. Loads of bright red berry notes and flavors with a crisp finish aptly describe the Crose 2018; buy to enjoy now or throughout the year—-rose is versatile! I made certain to purchase the complex Meritage 2017; it presented dark fruit aromas and flavors with a note of tobacco and cedar. It is still young and a bit tannic—-buy now and decant or store and enjoy later.

Pollak Vineyards: Yay for Chardonnay and the 2017 Chardonnay from Pollak Vineyards; tropical fruit notes and a crisp finish make for a lovely representation of this grape without the oaky presence. And yes, Rose 2018—-this one driven by Cabernet Franc, I noted flavors of strawberry and watermelon and appreciated its crisp acidity. The 2015 Meritage showed quite well; expect dark plum, black cherry and currant characteristics with spice on the finish and a bit of a tannic “chew.”

Our next post will feature new favorites (or at least new to us.). In the meantime, visit these excellent wineries while in the Monticello area. Please mention that Virginia Wine Time sent you!

Celebration and Summer Favorites

/ Warren / Leave a comment

In the next two posts, I will conclude a wrap up of wineries that we visited while celebrating our marriage which took place in February. Since we were in the Monticello area in June, our focus was find summer-appropriate wines; of course, we kept an eye out for wines that could be poured during cooler weather or those we thought were aging in the cellar.

Barboursville Vineyards: We always plan to stop here for a tasting; however, we always put a visit here at the top of our itinerary for the day to avoid the crowds in the tasting room. As a result, we always enjoy our tasting experience and get to ask the pesky questions that we always ask. Anyway, a mix of warm weather and light fare requires fruity, crisper wines and the Chardonnay 2014 that is cold fermented in stainless steel gets the nod here. However, I appreciated the more complex Vermentino Reserve 2013 with its notes of lemon/lime, mango, and hay as well as the Viognier Reserve 2013 with its floral aromas and tropical fruit palate. Both of these reserve wines should partner well with poultry, pork, or shellfish. I did purchase a bottle of the Nebbiolo Reserve to rest a bit on the wine rack. Lovely aromatics of violet, tobacco and plum were noted; it’s still young, so I’d advise aging for a bit or decanting to those who are more impatient!
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Cardinal Point Vineyard and Winery: We were greeted by Sarah Gorman who invited to taste the latest releases in the tasting room. The 2014 Green seems destined to please in the midst of any heat wave; it is a mix of 50% Petit Manning and 50% Chardonnay. However, this is not a blend; rather, these are co-fermented. The result is a crisp wine that presents elements of lime, apple and pear. For those who enjoy vino verde wines, this one should be a pleaser. Spicy stir fry dishes or grilled poultry topped with a tangy sauce might pair better with the 2013 Quattro, a sweeter pour that is a blend of Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Viognier, and Traminette. It boasts a residual sugar level of 2 % along with a lovely floral nose and a fruity palate. Burgers or barbecued ribs on the grill? The 2014 Rockfish Red with its ripe cherry flavors and subtle spicy note would be the perfect partner; it is made from Cabernet Franc grape—-enjoy now!
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Jefferson Vineyards: The Chardonnay 2014 was my pick for favorite summer sipper; fermented in stainless steel, it presented apple and soft peach notes as well as a refreshing acidity. Paul preferred the Rose 2014 and its palate of strawberry and melon; he envisioned a Wolftrap concert with this one, so a bottle of it made its way home. For fall or winter fare, we both thought that the Petit Verdot 2013 deserved a space on the wine rack. Its smoky nose and aromas of plum and leather gave way to flavors of plum and dark berries. I also caught a trace of mineral toward the end.
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And I’m not done yet—-more wines to recommend! In my final wrap up, I will include a visit to the new Gabriele Rausse tasting room, special barrel tastings from winemaker Stephen Barnard, and favorites from King Family. Stay tuned——in the meantime, visit the wineries reviewed in this post, and mention that Virginia Wine Time sent you!

Tree Decorating and A6

/ Paul / 2 Comments

A6One of our traditions at this time of the year is to spend a Friday evening decorating my Christmas tree. We plan to have ham, yams, and cranberry sauce. And the wine we try to have every year is the A6 from Cardinal Point Vineyard.

The A6 is a blend of viognier and chardonnay…two of our favorite grapes. The Viognier spends time in oak and the Chardonnay is stainless steel aged. This blend creates rich fruit at the beginning and a long, crisp finish. It paired well with our ham dinner. Unfortunately this was my last bottle. We’ll have to plan a trip to Cardinal Point to pick up a few more bottles. This isn’t a problem though. We always enjoy visiting Cardinal Point and getting to visit with Sarah Gorman.

Do you have a tradition of wine and tree decorating? What wine do you enjoy while decorating your tree? If you haven’t tried the A6 recently, we recommend you pick up a bottle or two and enjoy it at this time of the year. And if you visit Cardinal Point, be sure to tell them Virginia Wine Time sent you!

Shorts, Coats, Snow Boots, and Sunscreen

/ Warren / Leave a comment

Yes, the last weekend in March brought with it a variety of weather phenomena. We checked the forecast that predicted sun and warmth then cold and rain for the weekend in preparation for our trip to the Monticello area. We were indeed prepared for anything that Mother Nature could throw at us. At it turned out, it never really got that warm, the sun never came out, and the weekend ended with unexpected snow. Oh well—at least we got to sample some excellent wines while we were there. Here is a round up of three wineries that we visited:

Barboursville Vineyards: Despite the cold drizzle, we went to Barboursville with spring in mind. Perhaps that is why we both enjoyed the Sauvignon Blanc Reserve 2013 with its notes of fresh boxwoods, lemon/lime, and shale. I also appreciated the Chardonnay Reserve 2012 that was barrel fermented and aged in oak for eight months. Pear and pineapple flavors were complimented by a fuller-mouth feel and lengthier finish. Rose lovers should checkout the dry Rose 2012 with its fruity palate and refreshing acidity. Regardless of the weather, the Cabernet Franc Reserve 2011 should be an option when considering a red wine for dinner. Classic berry elements merged with earthy nuances to present a well-balanced wine that should pair well with any grilled meats.
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Blenheim Vineyards: It’s always a treat to sample Kirtsy Harmon’s well-crafted wines. All five of the wines that we tasted were quite good, and it was tough to pick favorites. We did reach some split decisions, though. Of the white wines, Paul preferred the White Table wine, a blend of tank aged Chardonnay (53%) and Viognier (47%). Peach notes and tropical fruit flavors gave way to a fuller mouth feel than expected. Quite elegant, too—this one should prove to be versatile either as a sipper in its own right or on the dinner table. My favorite was the more complex Painted White 2012. This blend of Viognier (44%), Rousanne (30%), and Marsanne (26%) was aged for 10 months in French, American and Hungarian oak barrels. It presented a floral nose with a whiff of white pepper; a flush of tropical fruit flavors swept the palate at the end. I also enjoyed the fuller mouth feel. Elegant and complex yet unpretentious—the current label for the Painted White features something that resembles a mosh pit! The crisp, dry Rose 2012 featured strawberry and citrus characteristics; we love these kinds of Roses during the summer! Of the red wines, Paul preferred the Petit Verdot 2012 with its rich dark fruit and blueberry notes; I opted for the Painted Red 2012 (maybe I was taken back to a younger time when mosh pits were a regular part of my social life.) This blend features a twist of Mouvedre (3%); I noted scent of violets with a berry mix of blackberry and blackberry in the mouth. Other components of this complex blend are Cabernet Franc (29%), Merlot (29%), Petit Verdot (18%), and Cabernet Sauvignon (18%). We had the chance to chat with Kirsty about all things wine. She also let us sample the 2013 Sauvignon Blanc. Melon and Kiwi were notes we jotted down. It’s always fun chatting with Kirsty! Paul even joined the wine club during this visit. We’ll have Blenheim wines all year round!
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Cardinal Point Vineyard and Winery: A steady rain did not deter us from visiting Cardinal Point Vineyard and Winery. The Green 2012 should prove to be a hit for the spring and summer. Petit Manseng (50%) and Chardonnay (50%) were co-fermented to achieve a crisp wine with grapefruit aromatics and flavors. Serve wellchilled and enjoy with shellfish. Paul is always a fan of the A6 , and this time was no exception. A blend of Viognier (59%) and Chardonnay (41%) makes for a richer wine with flavors of ripe pear and stone fruit; a hint of mineral on the finish was also detected. Grilled fair should pair well with the earthy 2012 Clay Hill Cabernet Franc with its cherry and raspberry flavors; expect a spicy finish, too. We both enjoyed the union 2012, a blend of Petit Verdot (72%), Cabernet Franc (17%), and Tannat (11%). Initial aromas of tobacco and coffee gave way to blackberry and plum notes with a tannic finish. Serve with a meaty steak and roasted mushrooms! Towards the end of our tasting Sarah Gorman arrived. We had the chance to sit and chat about what’s going on at Cardinal Point. We enjoyed the new deck at Cardinal Point. While it was raining that day, we could see how it would be a great place to enjoy spring and summer wines. Thanks for the chat Sarah!
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Check in for our next post to find out which other wineries we visited during the topsy-turvy weather weekend. In the meantime, plan to visit these wineries now that warmer weather and spring blossoms are in full swing. Mention that Virginia Wine Time sent you.

Ginger Molasses Cookies

/ Paul / 1 Comment

We are slowly working our way through the boxes of cookies we received a while ago. Recently we decided to try the Ginger Molasses Cookies from Cookies and Corks. We decided to pair them with the 2011 Green from Cardinal Point Vineyard and Winery. The Green is a blend of 50% Chardonnay and 50% Petit Manseng. The wine wheel/cookie combination suggested a chardonnay. Even though the Green isn’t all Chardonnay, we thought we’d try it anyway.

Warren is the tasting expert. He suggested getting our palates wet with the wine and then tasting the cookie. The ginger of the cookie was pretty strong but notes of pineapple, pear, and mango were evident. The tropical notes from the petit manning as well as the ripe pear elements from the chardonnay play well with the ginger spice of the cookies. I thought the ginger was a bit overwhelming but Warren thought the flavors played well together.

We have plenty of cookies yet to taste so stay tuned for future posts. And we’ve been told the 2012 Green has been released so we will need to try this new vintage. If you visit Cardinal Point anytime soon be sure to check out the 2012 Green and tell them Virginia Wine Time sent you!

One More

/ Paul / 1 Comment

On our recent trip to Charlottesville we were able to visit one more winery. Our final stop was at Cardinal Point Vineyard and Winery. We hadn’t visited them in quite awhile. We were looking for some favorites to add to our wine racks. We were so pleased to see Sarah Gorman when we entered the tasting room. It’s always fun to see familiar faces at our favorite tasting rooms. It’s like seeing an old friend we don’t get to see very often. There were nine wines on the tasting menu and we enjoyed them all but here are a few of our favorites.

From the list of white wines, Warren selected the 2011 Viognier. This is an all stainless steel viognier with no malolactic fermentation. Warren noted a floral nose with peach notes with stone fruit and a mineral finish on the palate. I selected the 2011 Green. This is a blend of 50% chardonnay and 50% petit manseng. I noted tropical fruit, pear, green apple and a tart finish. This wine was inspired by Vinho Verde, hence the name Green. I could see enjoying this one on the balcony with some nice cheeses.

From the red wine tastings both Warren and I selected the 2010 Union. We really enjoyed this wine when we first tasted the 2009 vintage. This one is a blend of 75% petit verdot, 13% cabernet sauvignon, and 12% cabernet franc. I’m a big fan of petit verdot so the strong presence in this blend was a plus for me. We noted blackberry, plum, licorice, and tobacco. We noticed the deep, rich color and think this wine would pair perfectly with a nice thick filet mignon.

Before leaving we had a great time catching up with Sarah. We enjoyed a glass of the viognier while Warren warmed up to one of the winery dogs. We then purchased a few of our favorites and said our goodbyes. We always enjoy our visits to Cardinal Point. If you get a chance to visit them anytime soon, tell them Virginia Wine Time sent you!

Un•ion Impressions

/ Paul / 3 Comments

Cardinal Point Vineyard and Winery released Un•ion on Saturday. Friday evening we had a chance to try it and tweet our impressions of the wine. Un•ion is a blend of 40% Petit Verdot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 30% Tannat. Cardinal Point made only 140 cases of this wine. It will retail for $25. Warren selected the food for this tasting and decided on grilled lamb chops, roasted mixed veggies, and potatoes.

We noted the color to be dense garnet with lengthy legs on the glass. The nose presented anise, violets, and blackberry. We opened the Un•ion an hour before tasting. This is a young wine and we noticed the nose was a little tight. In the mouth we picked up dark plum, blackberry, dark cherry, a little licorice, and some spice. It also has a lengthy finish. By the time we finished tasting the Un•ion an hour and a half later, it had really opened up and we were enjoying it by itself. It paired very well with our food selections. Warren noted the Un•ion could play well with gamey meats and cheeses. As noted, this wine is very young and could really benefit from time. We suggest getting two bottles…one for right now and one for a year from now. When you drink it now, open it a few hours ahead of time. It will pair beautifully with your meal. If you get to Cardinal Point anytime soon to pick up a few bottles of the Un•ion, tell them Virginia WIne Time sent you!

Un•ion

/ Paul / Leave a comment

Cardinal Point Vineyard and Winery will be releasing the 2009 Un•ion on Saturday. We were lucky enough to get a sneak peak back in March and take a bottle home. As part of the release this weekend, we’ll be opening and tasting our bottle tonight LIVE on Twitter around 7:00 pm. Un•ion is a blend of 40% Petit Verdot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 30% Tannat. There are only 140 cases and it will retail for $25. Be sure to follow our Twitter feed around 7:00 tonight to read our impressions of the wine. You can follow Cardinal Point on Twitter and on Facebook as well. Tune in this evening!

Return To Cardinal Point

/ Warren / 3 Comments

Our cider tasting event was a blast, but we were able to fit in a couple of wine tasting too. Along the way was Cardinal Point Vineyard and Winery and we were fairly certain that our last visit was well over a year or so ago. We also gambled that Sarah Gorman, sister of winemaker Tim Gorman, would be in the tasting room, so decided to stop by for a tasting and visit.

And indeed Sarah was in the tasting room upon our arrival! Sarah conducted our tasting and filled us in the latest happenings at Cardinal Point Vineyard and Winery. Five white wines were offered for tasting, and we both agreed that teh 2009 A6 was the gold-star winner. A blend of Viognier and Chardonnay, it presented pear and honey characteristics with a longer finish. I detected some cedar on the nose too. Nice for spring—I’d serve with shellfish now that crabcake season is around the corner. Sarah offered a comparison tasting between the 2008 Barrel Select Chardonnay and the 2009 Barrel Select Chardonnay, and I found the 2009 vintage to be more vibrant with apple, pear, and honey elements and a rich mouth feel. Paul became more nostalgic when he sipped the 2009 Quattro, a blend of Riesling, Gewuztraminer, Viognier, and Traminette.This is our traditional Christmas tree trimming wine that we serve with baked ham; in fact, Paul began to hum White Christmas as he brought his nose to the glass.

Of the red wines, an intriguing blend was the 2008 Cab F+Vio, and as the label implies it is a blend of Cabernet Franc and Viognier. Certainly a lighter bodied red wine, it offered bright red berry aromas and flavors with some spice notes too. A nice sipper especially for those who do not like red wines, this could also be served with herbed poutry or lamb chops. However, the ultimate favorite for both of us was the yet to be released 2009 Union, a blend similar to the impressive “3” blend. It’s a blend of three varietals from Cardinal Point. Tim Gorman, the winemaker created it on his own. Sarah gave us a top-secret sample of this one, so we’ll keep quiet on the details until the release date. Like suspense? For now, we can say that this is a blend of Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc, and Tannat. Otherwise, we’ll keep readers posted on this one as it develops!

As always, it was a pleasure to sip and chat with Sarah Gorman. Sarah confirmed what we’ve heard along the wine trail about 2010—lower yields but spectacular fruit quality. Expect good things from the vintage. With spring in the air, stop by Cardinal Point Vineyard and Winery to enjoy a tasting of their current releases, and mention that Virginia Wine Time sent you.

Monticello Wine Trail-Last Day

/ Paul / 3 Comments

Our third and final day on the Monticello Wine Trail took us first to Lovingston Winery then to Wintergreen Winery and finally to Cardinal Point Winery.

At Lovingston Winery we were able to talk to Riaan Rossouw, the winemaker. He introduced us to the wines he’s created for Lovingston. While tasting the wines he shared his passion for winemaking. He says, “You have to be in sync with the wine.”

We tasted the 2009 Wahoo White, 2007 Cabernet Franc, 2006 Merlot, 2007 Rotunda Red, 2006 Reserve Merlot, and the 2009 Petit Manseng. All of the wines are very strong and we could describe them all but we’ll just tell you our gold star winners and you will have to plan a trip to taste the Lovingston wines. I placed a gold star on the 2009 Petit Manseng with it’s mineral/sauvignon blanc nose, tropical fruit flavors, and creamy texture. I also placed a gold star on the 2006 Merlot Reserve which presents layers on the nose and on the palate with a hint of tobacco and silky tannins. Warren also chose the 2009 Petit Manseng for one of his gold stars. The 2007 Rotunda Red received his other gold star. He noted sea shells and ripe berries nose and similar characteristics on the palate. He liked this one so much that he had a glass of it with lunch at the Devils Backbone Brewing Company with one of their gourmet burgers.

After our tasting Riaan had us taste one more wine. This one he’s been working on for a few years and will be releasing under his own label. He told us nothing about the wine before we tasted it. Warren and I both tasted the wine and noted flavors, a nose, and mouth feel of a cabernet sauvignon. We even guessed a possible year! Once we shared our predictions Riaan informed us that actually we were tasting a chambourcin. We were surprised! Riaan was able to get cabernet sauvignon from a chambourcin! That comes for the skill and knowledge of a fine winemaker. We really enjoyed our time tasting the wines and talking with Riaan. If you haven’t tasted the Lovingston wines, you need to make an appointment. You will not be disappointed.

Our second stop today was Wintergreen Winery. We did not have this one on our list but we hadn’t been there in so long it was time to stop and check out the changes. With gold stars in hand we did a tasting of their line up of wines and awarded our gold stars. I awarded one of my gold stars to the 2008 Black Rock Chardonnay Reserve with it’s crisp fruitiness and it’s hint of oak. I awarded my other gold star to the 2008 Brent’s Mountain Merlot with it’s soft but full tannins with plum and cherry notes. Warren awarded his gold star to the Thomas Nelson White as a refreshing summer sipper. He had Wolf Trap on his mind while trying this one. After our tasting we purchased a few bottles and headed down the road to our final stop, Cardinal Point.

We always enjoy stopping at Cardinal Point Winery to see what new wines Tim and Sarah Gorman have on the menu. When we stopped today we weren’t able to see Tim and Sarah but we were able to taste all the new releases. Our tasting associate Brianna expertly guided us through the tasting menu. All of the wines are wonderful and we had a hard time selecting our gold star winners. I selected the 2008 A6 from the whites for my gold star. My notes show the word APPLE in big letters with exclamation points and underlines. It has a long finish and is crisp! Warren selected the 2009 Quattro (which hasn’t been released yet) for his gold star. He noted a floral nose with peach on the palate and a “just right” residual sugar level. For the reds we both picked the 2007 Cabernet Franc with it’s plum, cherry and tobacco notes and dark extracted fruit.

During our tasting Brianna let us taste a few new wines that haven’t been released yet (like the 2009 Quattro). Even though they aren’t out yet, we need to mention a few. The 2009 Viognier present classic floral notes but provided sauvignon blanc characteristics that included some citrus and minerality. The 2009 Rockfish Red reminded us of a beaujolais style red that captures the essence of the gamay grape with bright berry flavors.

Our trip to Cardinal Point wouldn’t be complete without a glass of the 2009 Rockfish Red to sip on the patio. We enjoyed the 2009 Rockfish Red while tweeting and posting to Facebook and deciding on which wines to bring home. After making our purchases and saying our goodbyes, the final day of our Monticello Wine Trail trip came to an end. When planning your trip to Charlottesville, please put Cardinal Point, Wintergreen and Lovingston on your list of wineries to visit. And tell them Virginia Wine Time sent you!