Wine Tasting in Virginia

Two days ago, we returned from a trip to Maryland and Virginia. While in Virginia, we visited a few wineries north of Charlottesville and found some respectable wines, and some not so respectable ones. Here are some highlights.

Barboursville Vineyards - Located in Barboursville, about 20 miles north of Charlottesville, this winery makes a wide range of estate grown wines. The 2011 Viognier Reserve ($22) was floral and tropical, a pleasant wine. 17.5/20 points. The 2010 Cabernet Franc Reserve ($25) was smoky, ripe and supple, with bright medium-bodied raspberry, cherry and currant flavors. 18/20 points.

Reynard Florence Vineyard - A few miles south of Barboursville, this winery is owned by Dee and Rae Allison. Their specialty is Petit Manseng, a white variety originating in the southwest of France. The 2012 ($24) exhibited intriguing aromas of pear, peach and litchee nuts, with flavors of dried fruits and tangerine, followed by a crisp, faintly honeyed finish. 18/20 points.

Horton Cellars - Situated between Gordonsville and Barboursville, this winery produces a range of dry and sweet wines. The most interesting wine was a 2011 Norton ($15) from a native (non vinifera) variety. It showed a crimson color and attractive aromas of rose petals and smoke with well rounded plum and cherry flavors, finishing sweet-dry. 17.5/20 points.

Prince Michael Vineyard and Winery - We stopped here, north of Madison, on the way to Dulles. The best wines were a 2009 Mountain View Estate Cabernet Franc ($30) which was Loire-like with supple medium-boded raspberry and blueberry flavors, with notes of anise and chocolate. 18/20 points, and the 2007 Mt. Juliet Estate Petit Verdot ($30) which showed raspberry, cassis and rose petal aromas and well focused dark fruit flavors. 18+/20 points.

Some said that Viognier and Cabernet Franc are Virginia's most promising varietals. I would agree. The Viogniers were pleasant and floral. The Cabernet Francs resemble Loire Valley versions in their medium-bodied, raspberry-like flavors.

 

The Alsace Grand Cru Riesling Tasting

Last night, I joined the Sons of Bacchus (SOB's) for a tasting of Grand Cru Rieslings from the best vineyards in the fifty mile long strip of the Alsace Appellation Controlée area. Ten wines were tasted (one corked wine was eliminated). Here are the top wines.

2005 Trimbach Clos Ste Hune - Officially, this is not a Grand Cru, but it should be. It showed a floral bouquet, steely classic flavors and a long, finish. 19/20 points.

2008 Michel Fonné Grand Cru, Mambourg - This tied with the Clos Ste. Hune for first place. It showed aromas of pear, peach and wildflowers with citrusy, steely flavors and notes of lemon custard and nuts, all exquisitely styled. 19/20 points. At $25 (half the price of the Ste. Hune) this was clearly the best buy of the tasting.

2010 Beck-Hartweg Grand Cru, Frankstein - This showed an intense nose of pear and peach with oriental perfumes and precise, minerally flavors and a long steely finish. 19/20 points.

2011 Hubert Meyer Grand Cru, Winzenbrg - This one showed a somewhat less floral nose, with a hint of petrol, but with a penetrating, minerally palate that led to a lingering nutty-dry finish. 18.5/20 points

One wine stood out as being "different" from the others, the 2010 Zind-Humbrecht Heimbourg, also not officially a Grand Cru. It showed a rich peach and papaya nose with scents of butternut and banana and a bit of botrytis and creme brulée, although not labeled as a vendage tardive. It was an over the top sort of wine. For what it is, it gets 19/20 points.