We went to Charlottesville this past weekend and one of the stops we made was at Pollak Vineyards. Here’s a short video of our lunch and wine at Pollak.
Tag: Winery
Excellence at Glen Manor Vineyards
This past weekend, we decided to pay visits to wineries in the Shenandoah region. Our closest destination was Glen Manor Vineyards. We last visited Glen Manor Visits over a year ago, and at that time, winemaker Jeff White had two wines to sample. This time, though, he had five wines to taste; of course, we were eager to sip away, and in the process find out the latest news about Glen Manor Vineyards.
Readers may recall that the property which comprises Glen Manor Vineyards is a family-owned site that has been farm property for generations. Jeff White continues that legacy and currently has planted several acres of vineyards on the site; he previously produced grapes for legendary winemaker Jim Law, but he now uses those grapes to create his own wines. We can acknowledge that Jeff White’s current lineup of wines is indeed quite impressive. Sauvignon Blanc is the white wine of choice for White, and he presents both the excellent 2007 and the 2008 for tasting. The difference between the two? The 2007 was produced in a warmer, drier year, but the 2008 vintage was crafted in a cooler, wetter year. The result? Two very fine Sauvignon Blanc wines. When pressed to decide, my pour of choice was the flinty 2007 vintage with its grapefruity characteristics and crisp feel. Paul, when his arm was twisted, settled for the 2008 selection which presented the “cat pee” aromas of a classic New Zealand-style wine. (For the record, Jeff White describes this scent as “boxwood”; I like the traditional cat-pee!) Grassy with a racy acidity, this ’08 Sauvignon Blanc should be familiar to sauvignon blanc aficionados.
The red wines found us at a similar split decision. My gold star was awarded to the 2007 Cabernet Franc with its scents of dark cherries, black pepper, and eucalyptus. Quite a concentration of complimentary flavors, it finished with a velvety tannic presence. Paul correctly deduced that a small splash of “something” gave this Cabernet Franc a subtle complexity, and Jeff confirmed that a 3% blend of Cabernet Sauvignon did indeed complete this ’07 offering. However, Paul’s own favorite was the 2007 Hodder Hill. A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot, the Hodder Hill (so named after the vineyard in which the grapes were grown) exhibits dark plum and blackberry characteristics with some spice to boot. Bold and complex, the Hodder Hill is destined to partner with a heavy beef dish that might be served in the fall and winter. (Stuck on a choice between white or red? Try the Provence-style Rose. Summer is done, but this rose is for year-round enjoyment!)
As we sipped and savored, we learned from Jeff that his newer planting, located on a higher plateau on the Glen Manor property, were Bordeaux varieties. These will result in full-bodied single varietal wines such as Petit Verdot and/or blended wines in the same vein as the Hodder Hill. White remains committed to producing small quantities of wines from selective fruit, and he was quite optimistic about the 2009 harvest which promised to be a stellar harvest in terms of both quantity and quality. His rationale? Despite the heavy spring rains, the summer in northern Virginia was dry with moderate temperatures and thus ripe for another memorable vintage.
So all of this wine talk and tasting made us hungry—of course! We opted to enjoy the 2007 Cabernet Franc with grilled chicken coated with herbs, smoked cheese, and baguette slices that we brought from home. As we snacked and sipped, we enjoyed the mountain views accented by large-winged hawks flying overhead. The wine, food, and scenery were perfect on a warm fall afternoon. When we were done, we relieved Jeff White of several bottles of wine, and we bid our farewells. We’ll return soon, but we encourage readers to sample Jeff’s quality wines at Glen Manor Vineyards. Be sure to mention that Virginia Wine Time sent you.
Gray Ghost Harvest
On Sunday Warren, his parents (flew in from New Orleans), and I went to Gray Ghost to help harvest the chardonnay grapes. We’ve harvested several years in a row now and always have a good time. I was so distracted by the harvesting that I forgot to take some video of the actual harvesting. However, I did shoot some video of the process after picking the grapes. Here’s a short video of what happens to the grapes after they are harvested.
September Tasting Roundup
September Tasting Roundup
Our past posts featured festivals and the wineries that participated. Of course, we had a great time and tasted some nice wines. However, we did get out to other wineries in the course of the month but did not write about them. In this post, I briefly touch upon these wineries, and they include Pearmund Cellars, Hiddencroft Vineyards, and Notaviva Vineyards.
Pearmund Cellars always offers an extensive tasting menu, and this time was no exception. Paul and I split a combination of the classic and reserve tastings. Of the white wines, we both favored the 2008 Sauvignon Blanc with its citrusy characteristics. Paul also fancied the medium-bodied 2007 Lisa’s Merlot. My own favorite was the bolder 2007 Ameritage Reserve with its flavors of dark plums, black cherry, and anise.
We always look forward to an update from Clyde and Terri Housel at Hiddencroft Vineyards. We both favored the 2008 Traminette with its spicy nose and pineapple notes. The 2008 vintage does include a blending of 10% Vidal Blanc. We also concurred with our favorite red wine, the Cabernet Franc Reserve that included tobacco notes along with dark berry fruit flavors.
Notaviva Vineyards continues to expand its offerings, and these include award winning wines produced from grapes grown in their own vineyards. Its selection of wines is called the Music Series with each wine “named after musical terms to represent the emotions they inspire.” Our favorite here was the Vincero Viognier which is done in stainless steel and presents stone fruit and white pepper. Pleasant acidity and a refreshing crispness made for a “passionate” pour. The 2007 Cantabile Cabernet Franc was our favorite red wine. Raspberry and pepper notes with a subtle tobacco presence present a symphonic blend in the mouth!
So as fall makes its arrival, we bring our September tastings to a close. Plan a trip to Pearmund Cellars, Hiddencroft Vineyards, and Notaviva Vineyards, and be sure to mention that Virginia Wine Time sent you!
Great Grapes Festival at Reston Town Center
On Sunday Warren and I had the opportunity to attend the Great Grapes Wine, Arts, & Food Festival at Reston Town Center. There were 15 wineries in attendance and many vendors and food booths at the festival. The weather was perfect for the occasion.
General Motors sponsored the event and had several new Buick LaCrosses parked at the event for people to check out and learn about. There were many representatives there offering cool Buick wine bottle stoppers for answering a few questions about the new Buick LaCrosse. Warren and I both answered the questions correctly and walked away with our own wine bottle stopper!
We made our way around the event visiting many of the 15 wineries. Here are some of the wineries we visited and which wines got our gold stars.
Cooper Vineyards-We had the chance to taste Cooper Vineyards wines back in July when they appeared at Hartwood Winery. It was good to see some familiar faces. Our gold stars went to the 2008 Coopertage Blanc and the 2008 Petit Verdot. We walked away with bottles of both of these.
Chateau Morrisette-I once called this winery the Disneyland of Virginia wineries but my opinion has changed somewhat. We have tasted their wines for a long time and this time our gold stars went to the Viognier and the Cabernet Franc.
Fabbioli Cellars-We love all the wines that Doug produces. We always enjoy talking with Doug as well. While we do love all the wines, the gold stars went to the 2008 8 Chains LoCo Vino and the 2008 Cabernet Franc.
Vino Curioso-We have only ever tasted these wines at festivals. We know they are planning to eventually have a tasting room but until then we’ll continue to learn about their wines at festivals. Our gold star here goes to the Yesterday which is a sauvignon Blanc.
Chateau O’Brien-We haven’t visited Howard in a long time so we need to plan a trip there soon. It was nice to see some familiar faces at the booth though. Our gold stars here go to the 2007 Northpoint Rose and the 2008 Virginia Apple Wine.
First Colony-Our gold stars went to the 2008 Viognier and the 2006 Late Harvest. Both very nice wines.
After visiting all the winery booths we got some lunch and then wandered around enjoying all the vendor booths. I had to buy some kettle corn and some peanut brittle. It was really good. We also enjoyed the live music at the event. We even picked up some reusable shopping bags from the Giant booth.
It was great day and the weather was perfect. We enjoyed all the wine, food, and vendors. We even considered getting a Buick LaCrosse at one point! If you happen to visit any of the wineries mentioned please tell them Virginia Wine Time sent you!
Narmada Winery Opens
During a Labor Day weekend trip to Amissville, we paid a visit to Narmada Winery on its opening weekend. We also got to briefly chat with winemaker Rob Cox about the winery, its vineyards, and the future.
We were struck by the expanse of the property that includes Narmada Winery. This includes the home of owners, Sudhas and Pandit Patil, the vineyards, barrel room, and future tasting room. A man made pond adds a bucolic touch, too. On opening day, though, the tasting room was still under construction, and tasting were conducted beneath tents that overlooked the property and its amenities. Of course, we all about the wine, and winemaker Rob Cox guided us through the list of current releases. The first wine was also the only white wine offered, and it was affectionately called Mom to recall the hard work and dedication associated with being a Mom. It’s made from Chardonel , a French-American hybrid, grown on the estate and spends some time spent in both oak barrels and stainless steel tanks. It presents pleasant pear aromas and flavors with a subtle almond at the end. Boasting 1.5% residual sugar, Mom is a refreshing wine but not cloyingly sweet. In fact, it was the perfect pour for the warm afternoon and would make for an easy sipper or picnic partner. (I also imagine that many Moms would love to relax with a glass of this one after a hard day!)
Of the four reds available for tasting, three were Chambourcin products; Chambourcin, too is a hybrid grape and grows well in Virginia. Our favorite here was the dry Chambourcin known as Reflection. Treated seven months in oak, Reflection is a light-bodied wine with bright cherry and raspberry notes. I think this would be a nice red wine to enjoy during summer time with grilled or spicy fare. An interesting port-style wine was Primita which comes in at 9% residual sugar; it’s also blended with a bit of Grenache. Destined to be great with dark chocolate, I’d also enjoy Primita with a strong cheese.
As we swirled and sipped, we also got to chat with Rob Cox. He recognized us from the blog even though we were trying to be anonymous. Rob’s credentials include work at Pearmund Cellars, and he has worked with Sudha and Pandit Patil to produce upcoming releases that will include Chardonnay, Viognier, and Cabernet Franc. The Patils are of Indian heritage; therefore, they favor varietals and a winemaking style that can compliment spicy cuisine such as Indian food. Their vineyard adventures began six years after they purchased the Amissville property in 1999. Fourteen acres of property are now in vines. The tasting room will open in November.
So with our tasting done, we shared a glass of the Mom Chardonel and enjoyed the blue grass rhythms of a local trio. We do plan to return to Narmada especially once the tasting room is open for business, and we are eager to try the upcoming releases. Be sure to stop by Narmada Winery, and mention that Virginia Wine Time sent you.
Breaux Vineyards
Labor Day weekend affords us the time to visit more wineries. We decided to visit a few in Loudoun County. There are several we haven’t visited in awhile. On this trip we visited Breaux, Notaviva, and Hiddencroft.
Our first stop was Breaux Vineyards. As we walked into the tasting room we were greeted by Cooper, the vineyard dog. He was very excited to see us. As we were giving Cooper some attention, Jennifer Blosser, Hospitality & Events Manager, recognized us from the blog and gave us a warm welcome. She set us up at the bar for a tasting with Richard, our hospitality associate.
Richard began our tasting with the whites. Of these I put my gold star next to the 2007 Madeleines Chardonnay. I enjoy steel fermented chardonnays and this one is well balanced. It’s got tropical notes and honey on the nose. Warren put his gold star next to the 2007 Viognier. His notes included words like floral nose and honey suckle. He also mentioned it was crisp.
Next up were the reds and we had plenty to taste. My gold star was placed next to the 2002 Merlot Reserve. Warren placed his star here as well. This was a wonderful merlot with smooth tannins and extracted fruit flavors. Another wine of note was the Equation. This is 95% merlot and 5% petit verdot. The interesting “equation” here it’s a blend of 2005 barrel aged and 2007 steel aged. We thought it was quite interesting.
We were also able to taste a few wines from the Cellar Club library. We were able to taste a 2002 Free Run Merlot and a 2005 Syrah. The merlot was a light bodied sipper that we both enjoyed. Warren described the syrah as having some spice and chewy tannins.
Richard finished our tasting with the sweet wines. Of these we enjoyed the Nebbiolo Ice. It’s an interesting dessert wine made from nebbiolo. It has 10% residual sugar and wasn’t too sweet for our palates. We enjoyed this one.
With our tasting complete, we selected the 2007 Madeleines Chardonnay to have with our lunch of grilled chicken, almonds, cheeses and crackers. It was a warm day outside so this was a nice cooling sipper enjoyed with our lunch.
Before leaving we purchased a few bottles of wine and thanked Jennifer and Richard for their wonderful hospitality. When you find yourself in Loudoun County be sure to visit Breaux Vineyards and tell them Virginia Wine Time sent you!
New Reds at Piedmont
Recently Gerhard von Fincke e-mailed us inviting us to visit Piedmont Vineyards to taste his recently released wines. Last Sunday we decided to do just that.
It’s always nice to chat with Gerhard and enjoy some wine at the same time. He conducted our tasting and we were able to taste many of our favorites. But we were there to taste the new 2006 Merlot and the 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon. Both of these wines were released in late July.
The 2006 Merlot spent 30 months in oak. Even though it spent a long time on oak, it retained much of the fruit characters you expect in a merlot. I enjoyed this one. Gerhard suggests letting mellow in the bottle for three or four months. This one got my gold star for the day.
The 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon also spent 30 months in oak. This one has a dark garnet color. In the mouth it has hints of dark fruit; plums and cherries. It has some chewy tannins. As with the Merlot, this one needs a few months to settle down in the bottle. With time this will turn into an amazing cab. Warren awarded this cab his gold star for the day.
After our regular tasting, Gerhard let us taste a few older cabs. We were able to taste the 2000 cab and the 1997 cab. The 1997 is holding up beautifully. We liked this one so much, Gerhard let us have a glass with our lunch!
While enjoying our lunch and the 1997 cab, we also enjoyed some live music. Piedmont now has live open mic entertainment on Sunday afternoons. We got to hear several songs by Expanding Waistlines. We think this is a great addition to the atmosphere at Piedmont.
The next time you visit Piedmont, be sure to tell them Virginia WIne Time sent you!
Back To Our Regular Program
So back on the Monticello Trail and re-visits to first timers the last time we were in the area. These would include Sugarleaf Vineyards and Pollak Vineyards.
We continue to be impressed with the offerings at Sugarleaf Vineyards. The 2008 Viognier, blended with 20% Petit Manseng, was my own favorite and presented stone fruit and honeysuckle on the nose with a lovely fruit combination of papaya, fresh pineapple, and a citrus twist in the mouth. I noted some white pepper, too. Some aging in French oak helps to provide a longer finish. Paul placed a star next to the 2007 Petit Manseng and jotted down “floral” and “fruity” as aromatic notes and “peachy” for flavors. He described its finish as “crisp”.
Of the red wines, we both concurred that the 2006 Cabernet Franc (blended with 10% Petit Verdot) was the gold star winner. Extracted berry and dried herbs were detected on the nose with similar qualities in the mouth with some pepper to boot; I noted some vanilla at the end due to aging in both American and European oak. Looking for a decadent treat? Try the 2007 Neubia Nectar, a lush dessert wine that is a blend of Petit Manseng and Vidal Blanc.
We always hear good things about Pollak Vineyards and for good reason. Here too, the lineup of wines continues to be quite impressive. The 2008 Durant White, a blend of Viognier, Pinot Gris, and Chardonnay, is a crisp pour with characteristics of citrus, apple, and tropical fruit. A crowd pleaser by any means, this easy drinking white should prove to be versatile at the most formal or informal affairs. I appreciated the 2008 Rose with its tart berry characteristics. Dry and crisp, this rose is yet another example of nice roses being produced in Virginia.
Paul’s gold star was reserved for the 2007 Merlot with its ripe cherry and blackberry aromas and flavors. Paul found this one to be more fruit-forward and appreciated its longer finish. My own star was reserved for the complex 2006 Meritage, a blend of Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot. Darker fruit profiles here with pepper and cedar noted, too. Nice tannins here made me wish for a nice steak!
With our tasting done, we were ready to enjoy lunch with one of our favorite wines at Pollak Vineyards. We dined on sliced beef and wild rice salad with a hunk of Emmental cheese, and we paired this with the 2007 Merlot. The grounds at Pollak Vineyards offer stunning views which we enjoyed while munching and sipping.
Pollak is also known to be amongst the most “green” of vineyards and wineries, and we look forward to delving into this topic the next time we visit Pollak Vineyards. Of course, we also plan to visit Sugarleaf Vineyards to sample upcoming pours that will include the anticpated Cuvee Neubia. Let us know your favorites at Sugarleaf Vineyards and Pollak Vineyards, but when you visit, mention that Virginia Wine Time sent you.
Pardon The Interruption
Pardon the interruption of our Monticello Wine Trail series. It will resume after this brief break.
Despite the nasty, rainy day, we decided to visit a few Loudoun County wineries to get a few more stamps in our passport for the Loudoun Wine Trail. We decided to visit a few that we hadn’t been to in a while. This won’t be a full on report of all the wines; Warren is the expert there. I’ll be sharing my impressions of our visits. We went to Loudoun Valley Vineyards, Sunset Hills, and Doukenie.
Great things have been happening at Loudoun Valley. When we visited in the Winter we could see things were beginning to change. This time we saw lots of changes. The tasting room has a new air about it…fresh paint, new tables and chairs, and there was even live music! Of course we tasted all the wines and enjoyed them all but I’ll say the 2008 Pinot Grigio was awarded my gold star. It was crisp, floral, with citrus flavors. We also noted the new labels. Very nice! When you visit Loudoun Valley, and I’m sure you will, be sure to taste the 2008 Pinot Grigio.
Our next stop was Sunset Hills. We last visited Sunset Hills in February. At that time they had only been open a few months. Since then things have only gotten better at Sunset Hills. The tasting room was a buzz with tastings going on. They were setting up for a wedding reception as well. As busy as the tasting room was, there was someone available to help us with our tasting. She led us through the tasting and Warren put his stars next to the viognier and the cabernet franc. We were lucky to taste some of these reds in the barrels during our last visit. The big change to Sunset Hills that I noticed this time over our last visit was the addition of food. You can now order cheese and bread baskets with meats and other delicious items. They even have fudge! I had to have some of the peanut butter fudge. It was delicious! Keep in mind though that you can only bring your own food to the lawn for a picnic. The two large decks and the tasting room are reserved for food purchased at Sunset Hills.
Our last stop was at Doukenie. We’ve been there many times in the past and always enjoy their wines. The same was true this time, we enjoyed the wines, especially the 2008 Mandolin. What was different about our visit this time was the change in the tasting room. They have moved the old bar out and now have a huge rectangular bar pretty much in the middle of the room. You just about run into it when you walk in the door. Of course the new big bar does allow for more people to cluster around for tastings. I was just a little disappointed because so many times in the past we had made a connection with our tasting associate in a smaller, more personal way and that seems to be lost with this new arrangement. However, the new bar set up doesn’t effect the wines at all! The wines are what keeps us coming back!
The next time you find yourself in Loudoun County be sure to stop off at Loudoun Valley Vineyards, Sunset Hills, and Doukenie and be sure to tell them Virginia Wine Time sent you! Also, be sure to check our next post as we finish up our tasting notes from our visits on the Monticello Trail.