-a wine blog
Jefferson Vineyards 2010 Pinot Gris sells for $19 is made about 70% stainless, and produces a lovely wine that smacks of pears. A litle Riesling is blending in there as well and just a touch of secondary gives it a touch of fizz. There is also a smattering of Viognier for fun.
I love pinot gris and this is really a classic pinot gris that I would buy. The pear component gives way to peaches and other stone fruit, and this tastes like dessert in a glass!
2008 Michael Shaps Viognier is made just outside of Charlottesville, at Virginia Wine Works. VWW is the first custom crush in Virginia! YAY custom crush!
This wine is a blend of 2 vineyards, and Michael has been making it since 2000 here in Virginia. Creamy and rich, it’s got a lot of stone fruit and grapefruit structure. On the skins overnight, there is a great mouthfeel in the wild yeast wine fermented in stainless. This is quite a classic viognier.
Virginia Wine Works has 23 brands currently, and they are all small time producers and new wineries.
$32
Boxwood Winery Rose, from the northern part of VA. Cabernet and merlot sanigee rose, all estate fruit.
This vineyard is 17 acres and is sustainable, growing only red Bordeaux varietals.
2010 Rose has nice crisp notes, never seeing oak this is a great alternative to some of the other roses, namely syrah and pinot. The team of winemakers makes this rose in all stainless, and has some honey notes on the end.
The consulting winemaker from Bordeaux assists in the winemaking, and he only works on Boxwood and Rubicon Estate in Napa. 180 cases were made, $14.
Rose rose rose! Thank god because it’s hot. Damn hot. So hot you could do some crotch pot cooking. *for those of you who never saw Good Morning Vietnam, I apologize but you really need to.
Slightly sweet, wish it were drier. Notes of rose petals and orange blossom. $14 Chambourcin rose, is new to me. Could be interesting but I really want it to be more crisp for my taste.
Afton Mountain Methode Champonoise 2008 not released yes, 50% pinot noir 50% chardonnay. Traditionally hand riddled bubbly.
All estate fruit. Nice crisp green apple, bubbles are a bit big but this is really impressive for a Virginia wine. YES you CAN change a wine brats mind! Retails for $30, and only 200 cases were produced.
This is a great example of sparkling wine that is not either Champagne or sparkling from California which I love, but from an alternative region. This is a nice sparkler that could be a tad colder – but – in 100degree heat and 100% humidity, what can I say.
