Tag: wines

Hunter’s Run Wine Barn

/ Paul / 2 Comments

Before heading to the Breaux Vineyards Merlot Vertical Tasting on Saturday afternoon (which we’ll post about early next week), we decided to stop at the Hunter’s Run Wine Barn. We heard about the barn from Lori and Jim Corcoran before. Currently the Wine Barn serves Corcoran Vineyards wines. Knowing this we were quite familiar with the wines.

The owner of the barn, Geri Nolan, conducted our tasting. Of course we started with the whites. We tasted the 2008 Viognier, the 2008 Chardonnay, and the 2007 Seyval Blanc. All of the whites were lovely wines but our gold star went to the 2008 Viognier. We noted honeysuckle on the nose with melon and peaches on the palate. This is one of our favorites.

With our gold stars still in hand we tasted the reds. We sipped on the 2007 Chambourcin, the 2007 Cabernet Franc, the 2008 Malbec, and the 2007 Meritage. Our gold stars went in different directions at this point. Warren stuck his on the 2007 Meritage. He noted concentrated berries on his tasting sheet. I put my gold star on the 2008 Malbec. This was my favorite during out last tasting at Corcoran Vineyards. I wrote down dark cherry flavors with a touch of pepper and a nice finish.

After our tasting we decided to enjoy a glass of the 2008 Malbec with some warm bread. The Wine Barn has a great atmosphere and everyone was having a great time. The place was hopping! While enjoying our glass and the delicious warm bread and the live music, Jim Corcoran came over and recognized us. We chatted with him for a bit and then he suggested we taste the new 2008 Riesling. Before we left Geri gave us a tasting of the riesling. Descriptors we wrote down were minerality, peachy, stone fruit, white pepper, clean with a light straw color. It’s off dry with 1.5% residual sugar. We considered this one a great summer sipper. Nicely done!

With our tastings done and our notes complete we said goodbye to the Wine Barn and headed off to our Merlot Vertical Tasting at Breaux Vineyards. We have a feeling the Wine Barn will continue to be a popular destination. It’s right on RT 9 and close to other wineries. We think Geri, Lori, and Jim have a great thing going at the Wine Barn. Consider stopping by and tell them Virginia Wine Time sent you!

Dry Mill Winery

/ Paul / 1 Comment

After our trip to Casanel on Saturday we decided to stop at Dry Mill Winery. They are very close to each other so you won’t have to go far. We last visited Dry Mill the week before they officially opened last June.

We were lucky to have Michelle, the owners’ daughter, conduct our tasting. She knows all about the winery and the wines and willing to share all her knowledge with you. Of course we started with the whites. Added to the tasting menu this year is the 2008 Traminette along side the 2008 Steel Chardonnay, the 2008 Barrel Chardonnay and the 2008 Viognier. We had our gold stars ready and but our awards were almost the exact opposite from what the usually are. Warren put his gold star on the 2008 Steel Chardonnay when normally he prefers the oakier barrel type chardonnay. I put my gold star on the 2008 Barrel Chardonnay when I normally prefer the steel type chardonnay.

Moving on to the reds we noticed the addition of the 2007 Syrah and the 2007 Norton. We didn’t remember seeing these last year with the 2007 Cabernet Franc and the 2007 Rose. Warren and I both agreed on the gold star for the reds. We awarded it to the 2007 Cabernet Franc. It presents layers of berries with black pepper and a nice caramel finish. We were also given a taste of the 2008 Chambourcin. We believe this one will be released soon. We were so pleased we received a preview taste. We also noted the 2007 Rose`. We got to Wolf Trap for concerts in the summer and often take Rose`s with us. This Rose` would make the perfect Wolf Trap wine.

Since we had already eaten our lunch, we decided to enjoy a glass of the 2007 Cabernet Franc while enjoying the view from the patio. We also had a baguette with our wine. Before leaving we purchased a few bottles and said our goodbyes and thank yous. One thing that must be noted is Dry Mill does not charge a tasting fee! How many Virginia wineries don’t charge a tasting fee! That is always much appreciated! We encourage our readers to plan a trip to Dry Mill soon and tell them Virginia Wine Time sent you!

Casanel Vineyards

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Last weekend we went to Loudoun County to visit a few wineries. We started at Casanel Vineyards. We hadn’t been there since June. It was about time we checked out the new wines.

You might remember the name of the winery is a combination of the two owners names…Casey and Nelson…Casanel. They also named each vintage of wines with special words. The 2007 vintages began with the word Chegada which means arrival. The 2008 vintages begin with the word Batucada which means samba. Casanel is a family run winery as well. We were lucky enough to have one of the daughters conduct our tasting.

Our tasting began with the whites. Casanel has two whites to taste; the 2008 Batucada Chardonnay and the 2007 Chegada Viognier. Some words that were jotted down next the chardonnay were “crisp” and “tropical”. The viognier received the words “peachy”, “floral”, and “honey textured”. We enjoyed them both and thought about each one for our lunch. We agreed on our gold star here. It went to the 2007 Chegada Viognier.

We tasted three reds from Casanel. The 2008 Batucada Norton was tart with cherry jam flavors. The 2007 Chegada Merlot presented notes of smoke, cherry, dried herbs, and pepper. Our final red was the 2007 Chegada Cabernet Sauvignon. Warren noted cherry, plum, and leather for this one. We were split on the reds for our gold stars. I gave my gold star to the 2007 Chegada Cabernet Sauvignon and Warren presented his gold star to the 2008 Batucada Norton.

With our tasting finished, we decided on the 2007 Chegada Viognier to go with our herbed grilled chicken. We thought this one went well with our chicken. We decided the acidity gives the impression of crispness when we really didn’t detect its presence. We noted lots of peach on the nose and on the palate as well as the honeysuckle texture. Overall a very nice wine.

We had a nice time visiting Casanel once more. We encourage our readers to plan a visit to Casanel soon and when you do, tell them Virginia Wine Time sent you!

Paradise Springs

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Recently we took a trip to visit one of the newest wineries in Virginia, Paradise Springs Winery. After some legal troubles, Paradise Springs opened in January of this year with hopes of becoming a destination for Fairfax County residents and visitors from around the world. Paradise Springs is Fairfax County’s only winery. It’s also very close. We only had a 35 minute drive to get there.

In the quaint, historic tasting room we were able to taste the full array of Paradise Springs wines. They currently have one acre of grapes planted on the property but have plans to expand in the future. They hope to plant albarino and petit verdot. The grapes to produce the current wines were purchased all over the state of Virginia. The wines were created by several winemakers (listed on their website) with Chris Pearmund and Rob Cox being the most familiar to Virginia Wine Time. They currently produce about 5000 cases of wine but we’re sure that will increase in the future.

Our tasting associate was very knowledgeable and guided us through our tasting. Of course we marked our gold stars along the way. We placed our gold star for the whites next to the 2008 Viognier. It’s aged for six months in French oak and presented peach and honeysuckle on the nose with peach and mango flavors on the palate. Our gold star for the reds went to the 2007 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon. We noted blackberries, dark cherry, and smoke on the nose with dark fruit flavors, nice tannins, and a long finish on the palate. This one would sit nicely on your rack for a few years as well.

With our tasting complete we decided on the 2008 Cabernet Franc to compliment our chicken and pasta lunch. And of course it paired perfectly. We enjoyed our lunch in the lower level. It’s got a cave like atmosphere…and watch your head! We asked the tasting associate at the lower level bar about the tree on the label and she informed us it was modeled after a tree right on the property. You can see it out the window in the lower level as well.

After our lunch was finished and our purchases made, we bid farewell to Paradise Springs. We promised to visit again in the future. If you find yourself visiting the only Fairfax County winery, please tell them Virginia Wine Time sent you!

Roundup Time

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Over the past couple of weekend, we’ve visited a few other wineries, and we wanted to post our reviews of these visits.

Chrysalis Vineyards—It’s always a treat to do a tasting here. Our gold star faves in the white category was the 2008 Viognier, the flagship white wine at Chrysalis Vineyards. We were allowed a “sneak” of the 2008 Albarino—Wow! This would be my double star favorite. Soft peach, a hint of lemon zest, and a noticeable minerality sums up the flavor profile. Of the red wines, my own gold star was presented to the 2005 Locksley Reserve; of course, I was not swayed by the fact that it won gold at the Virginia Governor’s Cup competition. Paul preferred the smoky 2005 Petit Verdot. We can also report that owner Jenni McCloud is making progress with her plans to build an on-site dairy and restaurant. We’ll follow these developments and keep track of latest releases as the spring and summer progresses.

Loudoun Valley Vineyards—The renaissance continues here! Our favorite white continues to be the crisp and refreshing 2008 Pinot Grigio, but the 2008 Vinifera White should prove to be a summertime crowd pleaser. The red wines produced another split decision. Paul favored the 2005 Cabernet Franc with its blackberry and spicy notes. My own preference was the 2005 Dynasty Reserve, and I noted dark berry, plum, and spice characteristics with some vanilla to boot. A more complex and “layered” pour, I opted to enjoy a glass of this one after our tasting.

Piedmont Vineyards—New releases planned in late May, and these include a Hunt Country Chardonnay and a Native Yeast Chardonnay. We were given “sneaks” of the Native Yeast, and for lovers of an oak-aged Chardonnay, this one should be popular. The current Hunt Country is still available and was Paul’s gold star winner. He favors the stainless steel Chardonnays, and this one is still crisp and refreshing. We both concurred on the Cabernet Franc with its raspberry and spice flavors. This one is limited in quantities, so buy now for future enjoyment.

Plan springtime visits to these wineries soon, and be sure to mention that Virginia Wine Time sent you.

Back To Breaux

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Despite the rain, fog, and chill on Sunday, we went to Breaux Vineyards to pick up my Cellar Club selection. They were having a little pick up party for those who go to the winery to pick up their wines instead of having them shipped. At this party they were serving some spicy gumbo. They were also tasting the Cellar Club selections, the 2009 Water Bent Viognier and the 2007 Meritage.

The 2009 Water Bent Viognier was a wonderful wine filled with fruit on the nose and on the palette. Warren noted pear. We thought this one went really well with the gumbo being served.

The 2007 Meritage showed characteristics of a wine meant for aging. The tannins were tight and you could easily tell that it is a young wine. We suggest you lay this one down for a few more years. It promises to be quite nice in a few years.

I talk about these Cellar Club selections as if you can buy them. You can if you are a Cellar Club member. I’ve been a member for more than a year now and haven’t found one wine I didn’t like. They have all been amazing. The greatest advantage to being a member is the wines they select are created JUST for the club members. How many other wineries do this? I’m not sure but I do know I like having some wines that no others will have. I’m greedy like that.

In this months’ Cellar Club Newsletter there was a coupon for 30% off a case of select wines from the regular tasting. Since Warren and I hadn’t done a regular tasting in awhile, we decided to check out the current selections and consider getting a case of the ones we really liked. We were looking forward to spring and summer and what wines would be appropriate for the seasons.

Our tasting associate Carole, walked us through our tasting, expertly describing each wine. My gold stars went to the 2007 Madeleine’s Chardonnay and the 2002 Merlot Reserve. Warren’s gold stars went to the 2008 Viognier and the 2006 Meritage. Isn’t it interesting that we usually have different selections for our gold stars?

Our next decision was what to include in our case. With the coming seasons in mind, I selected equal amounts of the 2007 Madeleine’s Chardonnay, the 2008 Syrah Rose`, and the 2008 Jennifer’s Jambalaya. We usually take rose` with us to Wolf Trap in the summer and the 2008 Syrah Rose` will be perfect while enjoying a concert.

Before leaving we caught up with Jen Breaux. It was great to see her and the other Breaux staff we’ve come to know and enjoy. Plan a trip to Breaux Vineyards soon and be sure to tell them Virginia Wine Time sent you!

Springtime at Sunset Hills

/ Warren / 1 Comment

Now the weather has warmed up, we’re officially back on the wine trail, and we celebrated an early spring-like weekend at Sunset Hills Vineyard.  We were impressed with the lineup of wines there on the last visit, and we were eager to sample the latest releases.

We continue to be pleased with the quality of wines produced at Sunset Hills, and we know that owners Diane and Mike Canney are dedicated to vigilant maintenance of the vineyards.  Winemaker Nate Walsh likewise remains committed to the craft of winemaking, and the results are evident in the bottle.  In fact, we were hard pressed to find any wines that were truly weak—all were well-crafted.  Our hardest choices were deciding which wines would earn the coveted gold star awards!

Our tasting began with the white wines, and tasting room manager Christine started us off with wine glasses and pours. The white wines were all very solid.  Paul’s own favorite and gold star winner was the 2008 Unoaked Chardonnay.  Full pear flavors with a twist of citrus made for a pleasing wine, and the cold fermentation in stainless steel tanks made for a crisp wine. My own gold star, though, was presented to the bolder 2008 Reserve Chardonnay which was aged nine months in French oak. I noted ripe pear and honey flavors with a buttery texture—just my kind of Chardonnay!  Be assured that there was the requisite “toastiness” but not in an overwhelming sense.  I’d sip this one on its own but would serve the 2008 Reserve Chardonnay with poultry, pork or shellfish especially if cream sauces were involved.  Not to be outdone, though is the lush 2008 Viognier that is begging for a crabcake dinner.  Look out for the Sunset White which is a blend of 90% stainless steel Chardonnay and 10% Viognier that was aged in neutral French oak barrels.  Christine obliged us with a sampling of this very slightly sweet with (1.5% residual sugar).  This one should be a perfect summer sipper or picnic wine. 

Before we moved on to the reds, Christine also surprised us with another sneak preview, and that was the Sunset Rose.  Here we found our Wolftrap wine!  We’re big Wolftrap fans, and we’re already stocking up on our concert wines—a bottle of this rose will be coming along for music under the stars.  Nate Walsh had been diligent in his preparation of this rose which he made from Cabernet Franc.  Its clear pink color suggested a crisper wine, and a .5% residual sugar provided a refreshing feel.  Cool strawberry and melon flavors were noted.

Now on to the red wines!  More solid pours and very tough decisions.  However, Paul did award his gold star to the lighter-bodied 2008 Benevino Cabernet Franc with its distinctive minerality and cherry flavors.  Easy to drink and perfect to sip on its own, the Benevino Cabernet Franc should also prove to be a pleaser with pizza or a sampling of dry meats and roasted nuts.  My own decision was likewise not easy, but I did end up favoring the 2007 Reserve Cabernet Franc with its layers of blackberries, raspberries, spice, and mocha.  Aged for 18 months in both French and American oak, it also presented a lengthier finish. I’d favor a leg of lamb with this one!  A close second for me was the 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon with its dark fruit characteristics and spicy edge.  Enjoy with a rib roast!

Diane Canney poured most of our red wines, and she was able to share with us the secret to Sunset Hill’s success.  Diane and husband Mike place a priority on vineyard management, and they use such Old World methods as hand sorting to make certain that only quality fruit from the best lots are used to produce their wines.  They’re also confident in their young winemaker, Nate Walsh, who began his career in the Virginia wine industry at Horton Vineyards.  Joined by a quality tasting room team, Sunset Hills Vineyards seems destined for even greater success.

Of course, we were hungry, and we opted to enjoy some of the viands from the “Lite Fare” menu offered at Sunset Hills Vineyard.  We selected the deli-style pepperoni with manchego cheese and crusty French break.  Our wine of choice?  The 2008 Benevino Cabernet Franc.  We enjoyed lunch and wine in the cozy Amish farmhouse that serves as the tasting room.

We left Sunset Hills Vineyard with several bottles of favorite pours, and we will return quite soon.  In fact, we plan to attend a blending session to be held next Sunday; so, stay tuned!  In the meantime, maybe we’ll see some of our readers at Sunset Hills.  Be sure, though, to tell Christine or Diane that Virginia Wine Time sent you.

Winery At La Grange

/ Warren / 1 Comment

With winter’s tight grip finally letting go, we have been able to slowly get back on the wine trail.  A more recent visit was paid to The Winery at La Grange.

Up for tasting were eleven wines, and our knowledgeable associate, Michael, started us off with the white wines.  I thought all of the white wines were all quite solid.  My own favorite, though, was the 2007 Fletcher’s Chardonnay which made an impression of crispness on the nose.  Aged six to nine months in French oak, it had not undergone malolactic fermentation.  I noted apple and pear flavors with some butterscotch on the finish.  Paul’s award went to the 2008 Viognier which was fermented in stainless steel and aged for six months in Hungarian oak.  It presented a floral nose with soft peach flavors.  We placed the initials, MT, next to the 2008 Cuvee Blanc, because we knew that our friend and occasional guest blogger Michael Tyler would appreciate this one.  It is a blend of white grapes and results in a Riesling-style wine that includes a hint (1.2%) of sugar. It had me dreaming of summer!

So on to the red wines with gold stars in hand.  My award went to the 2007 Meritage with its characteristics of dark plums and cherries with tobacco and cedar on the nose.  Tannins were definitely present here, so drink now but feel free to age this one for a while.  This Meritage is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Malbec—a true Bordeaux-style wine. It was aged for 14 months in both American and French oak barrels.  The 2007 Merlot received Paul’s award.  The Glebe Vineyard produced the grapes for this American-oak aged Merlot which presented flavors of currants and black pepper.  Paul detected some tobacco on the nose, too, and he noted that it finished “smooth.” For a truly bold wine, try the 2007 Tannat with its dense core—dark plums and cherries with a spicy edge, I found it to be “chewy”.  Drink now if you must but decant before drinking and be sure to pair with a steak.  (Now I’m hungry!) Not to be missed, though, is the 2007 Norton which was co-fermented with Cabernet Sauvignon.  This light-bodied pour reminded me of cherry jam with a touch of cinnamon. Perfect to sip, but nice with pizza, too.

So with our tasting done, it was time to sip and nibble.  We brought along some grilled chicken filets with white cheeses and a baguette.  What wine did we choose to pair with lunch? The 2007 Fletcher’s Chardonnay, of course.  We enjoyed our light lunch on the back patio which was enclosed and therefore allowed us to enjoy the receding snowy landscape.  We even noted some green patches where the snow had melted!

Now that a long winter is slipping away, plan to visit local wineries, and put The Winery at La Grange on your agenda.  Be sure to mention that Virginia Wine Time sent you.

Kinkead’s Serves Virginia Wines

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Acclaimed seafood restaurant and meeting place for the politically connected, Kinkead’s, always includes some Virginia wines on the wine list.  We dined there this past weekend, and we were excited to see that a current feature pour was the 2006 Chardonnay Reserve from First Colony Winery.  Our friend and favorite bartender, Jeff, gave us a sample, and we were pleased by its pear and apple characteristics.  It finished with toasted almonds and honey.  It’s always a thrill for us to see Virginia wines on area wine lists, and we suggest that readers seek out Virginia wines when they dine out.  Plan a visit to Kinkead’s for an elegant night out, and ask for a glass or bottle of the 2006 Chardonnay Reserve from First Colony Winery with your meal.  Mention that Virginia Wine Time made the recommendation!