Thirsty Thursday - Keswick Vineyard's 2006 Nektar
November 26, 2008With the holidays right around the corner and parties a plenty, we will all be looking for good dessert wines to pair with delicious sweets. Keswick Vineyard's Nektar does not disappoint. It is made from late harvest Viognier, is 14% alcohol by volume, and has 10% residual sugar. By making wine out of grapes that are harvested later than the others, it gives the grapes time to get very ripe and very sweet. If the weather turns cold and the grapes freeze, it will concentrate these flavors resulting in a luscious wine. Residual sugar refers to the sugars from the grape that are left over after fermentation that make a wine sweet.
Nektar has a clear, medium, amber color and a light, youthful aroma. It smells of stone fruit, specifically apricot, and slight hints of honey and vanilla. The taste, however, highlights more citrus flavors with pronounced orange and pineapple. The apricot flavor is present but not as noticable. It is sweet, but has medium high acidity which will allow it to age well for some time. This wine will be perfect with poundcake, cheesecake, and even neutrally flavored hard cheeses. Perfect for a dinner party or a holiday dessert.
NEXT WEEK: 2007 Seval from Linden Vineyards in Linden, Virginia. The wines from Linden are found in many wine shops in Virginia, but can be purchased at The Cork and Fork in Gainesville, Virginia.
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Local Wines for Your Thanksgiving Table
November 24, 2008Turkey = white meat = white wine? Not necessarily. When choosing a wine for your Thanksgiving feast don't forget to consider all of the sumptuous side dishes that will garnish the big bird. Typically, white wines are paired with white meat, but lighter bodied reds will not overpower the turkey either. Also consider the savory herbs in your stuffing, the rich gravy, and tart cranberries. Look for full bodied whites or light bodied reds that will compliment the full range of foods. A dry rosé will also work well. Here are my picks for local wines that will be perfect with your spread and will impress guests if you are traveling for the holiday. Be safe and enjoy!
1) Black Ankle Vineyards 2007 Chardonnay
2) Black Ankle Vineyards 2006 Passeggiata (light bodied Syrah)
3) Mediterranean Cellars Matina's Rosé
4) Jefferson Vineyards 2006 Vineyards Cabernet Franc
5) King Family Vineyards 2007 Roseland (Viognier/Chardonnay blend)
6) Rappahannock Cellars 2006 Glenway Vineyard Chardonnay
7) Boordy Cellars Cabernet Franc
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Thirsty Thursday - 2005 Basignani Cabernet Sauvignon
November 20, 2008This week's Thirsty Thursday selection is the 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon from Basigiani Winery in Sparks, Maryland. I purchased it directly from the winery for about $15. It is 12.7% alcohol by volume. For this special edition of Thirsty Thursday, I enlisted 2 other wine enthusiasts to contribute their thoughts on the wine - my good friends and neighbors, Ben and Betsy.
Betsy: A good "Tuesday night wine" that would be great with a pizza. It smelled good and tasted good but was not particulary complex. Has a decent finish.
Ben: Medium dark and clear. Nose is one-dimensional, berry, red-fruit. Fairly light bodied and lean with aromas of currant and sour cherry. It has a short medium finish and is rather simple. Try with grilled meat. Ok, but there are lots of wines under $10.00 that offer as much or more.
Jen: Opaque ruby in color. Medium intensity on the nose smelling of black fruit, something herbal, and slight vanilla notes from the oak. Its taste had medium high acid, medium tannins and medium length. The pervading taste was of sour cherry and black fruit. The alcohol was not as integrated as I would have liked and overpowered the fruit a bit. Overall the taste was one dimensional.
Generally, we agreed that the wine was simple and pleasant, but that there are many wines out there for the same price or less that are more interesting and are better values.
Now, if you know Ben, Betsy, or myself - and particularly if you know us together - you know that just tasting ONE wine is not our style. Ben opened a $10 Bordeaux blend for us to sample next. Bordeaux is a region in France where only certain grapes are permitted by law. Cabernet Sauvignon is a Bordeaux grape, so this second wine is at least in the same neighborhood as the Basignani wine that we sampled. While still simple, the Bordeaux had more complex flavors, was smoother on the tongue, and was well rounded. As I have said in previous posts, often one of downfalls of local wine is that in order to produce a large quantity of wine, the grapes are full of water and the wines taste thin and lack flavor. The Basignani wine is a step in the right direction and worth a visit to the winery, but will unfortunately get priced out in the global market.
NEXT WEEK: 2006 Nektar from Keswick Vineyards in Keswick, Virginia, located just outside Charlottesville. This is a sweet wine that will hopefully be perfect with holiday desserts. Grab a bottle from these retailers and add your comments you next weeks Thirsty Thursday blog!
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Barrel Thief Wine Shop and Cafe, Richmond, Virginia
November 19, 2008A recent trip to wine country VA brought me to the Barrel Thief located just outside Richmond, Virginia. It is located in a strip mall in an area known as Short Pump. Primarily a wine retail shop, it also includes a cafe and blends nicely the concepts of wine bar and retail store.
The majority of the store is dedicated to shelving for the retail sales of bottles of wine. However, there are also a number of tables and chairs set up in cafe style where you can sit and enjoy wine along with a selection from their menu. The menu is simple but has a decent variety of foods including olive and cheese plates, salads, paninis, wraps, and small plates that include beef tenderloin and ahi tuna. The breads and greens are all provided by local vendors. The best part of the cafe experience? The wine that you purchase from the shop to accompany your meal will be sold to you at the retail price - no restaurant markup! But get there early if you are looking for dinner. The Barrel Thief does not take reservations and fills to capacity in the evenings.
If private events are your thing, you can purchase a package for your group that includes wine, food, and a wine education experience. If you are simply looking for a place to hide away with a good book and a glass of wine, stop by on a week day where the cafe is relatively quiet and private. For those simply looking to purchase a bottle to go, the staff is very friendly and knowledgeable. They answered all of my questions, took time to make sure I was waited on appropriately, and were happy to help. The store has also tagged the wine displays well so that you know the price, region, and even what flavors to expect from a given wine.
The Barrel Thief has a serious, high end wine program with prices to match. But bargains can be found and the more expensive wine is likely worth it. The owners take great pride in providing high quality wines. Unfortunately, they do not have much by way of local wines, but you will have no problem making a choice from the wide selection of wines from around the world.
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Thirsty Thursday - Three Fox Vineyards 2006 Il Volpe Sangiovese
November 12, 2008I purchased the Three Fox Sangiovese directly from the winery at the Mt. Vernon Wine Festival for $15.00. Sangiovese is a red Italian grape that is usually the main component in wines labeled Chianti. This one is 12% alcohol by volume.
The wine was clear with a medium garnet color. It had a medium intensity nose with aromas of strawberry, spice, cedar, and something herbaceous. The wine was dry with medium-high acidity and light to medium tannins. It tasted of red fruit, cedar, and had an underripe medicinal quality to it. There was also a strange but distinctive flavor that I associate with inferior Virginia wines.
Overall, this wine quality was, unfortunately poor. It was thin, flavorless and watery except for the strange flavor that just kept hanging on. Not my best pick in the area.
NEXT WEEK: Cabernet Sauvignon from Basignani Winery in Sparks, Maryland. Please go to their website to find retailers and restaurants near you that carry their wine and then add your comments to next week's blog!!
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Soup in the Cellar at Boordy Vineyards
November 10, 2008Yesterday I visited Boordy Vineyards in Hydes, Maryland with some friends. We went for the Soup in the Cellar event that Boordy is hosting each Sunday in November from 1 pm - 5 pm. For $12 you gain entry to the property, a keepsake glass, unlimited tastings of their wines, and unlimited soup. Additionally, there is live music each Sunday in their barn.
We were lucky because we had fantastic weather and arrived on the early side of the event. As such, we were able to quickly run through a tasting of most of their wines, go on a short tour of the property, and then sit outside and enjoy a bottle while sampling the soups. The soup was very good and included lentil, seafood chowder, tomato basil, and chicken fajita. The music was decent as well and there were plenty of people inside taking advantage of the dance floor. When you are done with the soup, head over to the firepit where you can roast yummy marshmellows.
As for the wines, they were all decent. There is no shortage of variety with 18 different wines to sample. Five of them are "Just For Fun" wines which we did not try which include things like Chilled Apple, Tango Peach, and Jazz Berry. Their more traditional wines include Vidal Blanc, Riesling, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Shiraz, and Merlot just to name a few. All of the wines have good aromas and pleasant tastes. Some are better than others. In particular, the Riesling has a lovely lime aroma and good flavor and mouthfeel. It is a bit too sweet for me with 3.5% residual sugar, but Riesling fans will undoubtedly enjoy it. By far my favorite was the 2006 Merlot. I have previously posted on this wine for a Thirsty Thursday blog, and the wine continues to impress. It was the most full bodied and well balanced of the reds.
My chief complaint of the wines at Boordy is the same complaint I have of many local wineries. It seems as though in an effort to produce more quantity, the quality suffers in that the wines taste thin and watery. It is not that the flavors are bad, but that they are not full enough or particularly complex. However the overall experience at Boordy was great. You will undoubtedly find a wine that you can enjoy with friends while sampling the soup, music, and overall atmosphere. I strongly encourage you to take a drive in the Baltimore County countryside before this event runs its course. Can't make it in November? Starting on weekends in December you can enjoy seasonal music, sip their hot Wassail spiced wine, and nibble on holiday cake from 1 pm - 5 pm at $5 per person.
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Is drinking on Sunday so wrong?
November 7, 2008Recently the voters of Garrett County, Maryland had the opportunity to change the current laws that keep the County dry on Sundays. The issue failed 52.85% to 47.15%. Interesting. I would have thought that a law like that would be something archaic that people would overturn if given the opportunity. So if you like to keep your Sunday's dry, consider a nice vacation in Deep Creek Lake. (You can visit delicious Deep Creek Cellars on Saturday).
http://www.times-news.com/local/local_story_310090503.html
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Thirsty Thursday - Afton Mountains 2005 Tête de Cuvée
November 6, 2008Tête de Cuvée is the name that Afton Mountains Vineyards has given their 2005 sparkling white wine. What is the difference between sparkling wine and Champagne? Location, location, location. Champagne is sparkling wine that is made in the Champagne region in France. Other regions around the world are not permitted to use the term Champagne - in fact it is a legally protected term ever since the Treaty of Madrid signed in 1891. Spain uses the term Cava, Italy calls their sparkling wine Asti or Prosecco, and Germany uses the term Sekt. Even other regions of France are forbidden to call their sparkling wine Champagne, instead sometimes using the term Cremant.
Traditional Champagne and other sparkling wines are usually produced from Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and/or Pinot Meunier. But typically, the variety of grape is not listed on the bottle. This is often because the wine is made from a blend and not 100% of any one grape. The Afton Mountain Tête de Cuvée is no exception - it is a blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. It was purchased directly from the winery for $30.
This sparkling wine is a clear, medium intensity lemon color with a steady stream of bubbles. It does not have much of an aroma, but has a fresh, crisp, apple taste. It is dry and light bodied and the bubbles dance across the tongue. The wine is a pleasant but not complex sparkling wine. Very easy to drink, this wine will be enjoyed by a wide range of sparkling wine enthusiasts. I recently read that bubbly pairs well with popcorn. I found the proposition to be true. A lightly buttered and lightly salted popcorn is the perfect accompaniment. But true fans know that a good sparkling wine goes with just about anything!
NEXT WEEK: Sangiovese from Three Fox Vineyards in Delaplane, Virginia. Click here to find retailers and restaurants favored by Three Fox.
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Maryland v. California - Chardonnay
November 2, 2008What is a better way to evaluate wine than in a blind tasting? I had a bottle of Black Ankle Vineyards Chardonnay at home to try, so I visited my trusty wine merchant, Gary, at Frederick Wine House to get a bottle compare it with. I knew ahead of time that the Black Ankle Chardonnay was lightly oaked, so I made sure to ask for a medium priced Chardonnay that was lightly oaked. I didn't tell Gary what I was going to be doing with the wine or any other details. I figured that would ensure that he recommended a good quality wine as to not sway the results of the blind tasting. He recommended the 2006 Special Reserve Chardonnay from Michael Pozzan Winery in Sonoma County, California.
Now when I say blind tasting, I mean BLIND tasting. Both bottles had been chilling in the fridge, so I got my glasses out, marked one A and one B, and then got the bottles out with my eyes completely closed, opened the bottles with my eyes completely closed, and poured a tasting of each with my eyes completely closed. It was a sensory exercise to be sure. The suspense was killing me.
Now on to Wine A: it had a clean, gold appearance with a nose of green fruit, citrus, and oak. As the glass warmed up there was noticable hints of peaches, green apple, and blossoms. There was also something a bit sweet in the smell. As for the taste, it has a smooth, buttery and creamy taste. There was medium acidity and was a medium-full bodied wine given the buttery feel in the mouth. It tasted of green fruit and the oak was well integrated into the flavor. The wood does not stand out nor overpower the fruit at all. Despite the good characteristics, it didn't bowl me over, but was a solid Chardonnay. It's "mouthfeel" is probably it's best quality. It just sits well on the tounge and has a pleasant overall feel in the mouth. Very smooth.
Wine B: Again the appearance was clear and gold. In fact, the two wines are indistinguishable in the glass. The smell was of citrus with grassy notes and something a bit sour. The taste was crisp and refreshing with medium-high acid and medium body. It tasted of apple and citrus wiith a bit of wood. The flavors were blended well but the oak stood out more in this wine than in Wine A. It was enjoyable, but unremarkable - nothing really stood out.
Drumroll please.........it's time for the results. After tasting these two wines I was sure I knew which was which. As much as I wanted the winner to be the local wine, I was sure that California had won the day. In my biased mind, despite my desire for local wines to do well, I didn't think that the Maryland Chardonnay would have the well rounded flavor and body that Wine A had. So I trudged back to my kitchen thinking that I was going to have to concede the victory to California. I WAS SO WRONG! The Black Ankle Chardonnay was Wine A!! I was pleased to say the least. It is really exciting to find good wines in the local area. Even more, it was fun to prove myself wrong. I had completely convinced myself that the superior wine had to be from California because how could Maryland have pulled off such a delicious wine?? The Black Ankle Chardonnay had more complexity, flavor, and imagination. the Michael Pozzan, while a good Chardonnay, did not have nearly as much going on. Congrats to Maryland - the industry is well served by high quality wines like those from Black Ankle.
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