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This weekend I'll be at the Vintage Virginia Wine Festival helping pour for Hiddencroft winery. If you have $25 to spare... I highly suggest you join us for 2 days of tasting from some of Virginia's finest wineries.
Vintage Virginia Homepage
Friday, May 23, 2008
Farm Tours in Loudoun; Loudoun Valley Vineyards
Shame it rained cats and dogs last Sunday when I visited Loudoun Valley Vineyards off of route nine; the view would have been spectacular. Despite the rain though, my mother and I forged through the rain to see lavender farms and exotic cattle (Yes, I had to drag her to the winery as she was far more interested in Scottish Highlanders).
We squeezed some space for ourselves at the bar, and waited, first to be seen by the hostess, and then another 10 minutes to be served. It was a celebration weekend to be sure. The winery charges for tastings; $5 for the standard and $10 for a "cheese and chocolate plate" that was grossly overpriced. In fairness though, my mother and I did the pairing to see just what this winery had to offer.
Recently bought by a husband and wife team, they have just begun their overhaul of the vines. According to the hostess, Bree, the winemaker/wife had brought cases from her last venture to hold the winery over until the vines could be recovered and improved. These wines included: Vinifera White, Cabernet Franc, and Dynasty.
We began with a stainless steel Chardonnay which landed on the palette more like a Gewürz than a Chardonnay. The nose held green apple and slight banana notes while the palette exhibited spice and vanilla. Moving on to the Vintner Select Chardonnay, we discerned honey and banana on the nose and cream, and honey on the palette, finishing with a slight spice. This chardonnay was paired with pecorino. Aged in French oak, this wine underwent malolactic fermentation to yield its smoother flavors. One of Bree's wines, the Vinifera White, exhibited apple and honeysuckle on the nose, and oak and spice on the palette. The Riesling was a nice example of a traditional German Riesling and paired with Brie, the fruit tones resonated well. The Classic White, winner of a gold medal, was probably my favorite of the day simply due to the accessibility of the wine. This wine you can serve to a variety of different palettes and retain a "oh, that's tasty!" from even the most stingy of guests. You won't get anyone's socks knocked off though... Starting off with a highly floral nose exhibiting honeysuckle and rose notes, the wine's palette is full with strong honey notes. Paired with swiss, the sugar abates and the wines fruit notes become more apparent.
Now for the most unique wine, the Zinfandel Blush. Now, I am familiar with the "White Zin" variety of wines but this blush is not what you think. They call it their "Christmas" wine due to the strong clove and juniper berry notes apparent on both the nose and the palette. The spice blends nicely with the berry notes, but is not for the faint of palette. She's a strong one and quite an experience.
The two red wines on the tasting were both provided by Bree. First, the Cabernet Franc, which displayed black currant, tobacco, and chocolate notes, finishing light. Second the Dynasty, which is the winery's version of a Meritage Bordeaux style wine, exhibited blackberry and vanilla with a nice tannic bite.
Overall, the wines were lacking in character (save the blush) and in refinement (save the Classic White), though the grapes are only now beginning to enjoy their new ownership. I think this winery has much growing to do but will continue producing at least a few winners as they develop their venture.
Bottom Line: 2 out of 5 (they need time to recover those vines!)
We squeezed some space for ourselves at the bar, and waited, first to be seen by the hostess, and then another 10 minutes to be served. It was a celebration weekend to be sure. The winery charges for tastings; $5 for the standard and $10 for a "cheese and chocolate plate" that was grossly overpriced. In fairness though, my mother and I did the pairing to see just what this winery had to offer.
Recently bought by a husband and wife team, they have just begun their overhaul of the vines. According to the hostess, Bree, the winemaker/wife had brought cases from her last venture to hold the winery over until the vines could be recovered and improved. These wines included: Vinifera White, Cabernet Franc, and Dynasty.
We began with a stainless steel Chardonnay which landed on the palette more like a Gewürz than a Chardonnay. The nose held green apple and slight banana notes while the palette exhibited spice and vanilla. Moving on to the Vintner Select Chardonnay, we discerned honey and banana on the nose and cream, and honey on the palette, finishing with a slight spice. This chardonnay was paired with pecorino. Aged in French oak, this wine underwent malolactic fermentation to yield its smoother flavors. One of Bree's wines, the Vinifera White, exhibited apple and honeysuckle on the nose, and oak and spice on the palette. The Riesling was a nice example of a traditional German Riesling and paired with Brie, the fruit tones resonated well. The Classic White, winner of a gold medal, was probably my favorite of the day simply due to the accessibility of the wine. This wine you can serve to a variety of different palettes and retain a "oh, that's tasty!" from even the most stingy of guests. You won't get anyone's socks knocked off though... Starting off with a highly floral nose exhibiting honeysuckle and rose notes, the wine's palette is full with strong honey notes. Paired with swiss, the sugar abates and the wines fruit notes become more apparent.
Now for the most unique wine, the Zinfandel Blush. Now, I am familiar with the "White Zin" variety of wines but this blush is not what you think. They call it their "Christmas" wine due to the strong clove and juniper berry notes apparent on both the nose and the palette. The spice blends nicely with the berry notes, but is not for the faint of palette. She's a strong one and quite an experience.
The two red wines on the tasting were both provided by Bree. First, the Cabernet Franc, which displayed black currant, tobacco, and chocolate notes, finishing light. Second the Dynasty, which is the winery's version of a Meritage Bordeaux style wine, exhibited blackberry and vanilla with a nice tannic bite.
Overall, the wines were lacking in character (save the blush) and in refinement (save the Classic White), though the grapes are only now beginning to enjoy their new ownership. I think this winery has much growing to do but will continue producing at least a few winners as they develop their venture.
Bottom Line: 2 out of 5 (they need time to recover those vines!)
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