Veramar Vineyard 2012 Cabernet Franc

Winemaker's description

The nose opens with sweet, dark fruit aromas and rounds out with a hint of vanilla and oak. The black cherry, blackberry and touch of cinnamon aromas carry through to the flavors.

Price:  $14.99 at Total Wine

Veramar’s Cab Franc starts with a delightful nose of rich blackberries and burnt oak, and presents great color. The first taste offers rich blackberries, with very pronounced, and very good vanilla overtones.

While red wine is rarely considered “creamy,” this wine could be described as such, or maybe more appropriately, “velvety.” The texture is absolutely awesome!

The flavor is bold, but not overpowering. Given the age of this wine, it understandably has well-defined tannin, but not too much. This wine should age very well, and peak in a year or two.

But make no mistake, this wine is outstanding right now.

Without a doubt this belongs on your list of holiday wines that will impress any wine loving guest. Just sit back and watch the look on their face when you tell them it is indeed a Virginia Wine!  

Our ratings:  

Flavor:  4.75 out of 5 stars –Very Good to Excellent

Complex yet smooth, the vanilla rounds out the blackberries and oak in outstanding fashion.

Drinkability/Versatility:   4.25 out of 5 stars – Very Good to Excellent

When the tannins smooth out in a year or two, this just might rank 5 stars.

Value:  4.5 out of 5 stars – Very Good

It would be hard to find a better red at this price.

Overall:  4.75 out of 5 stars – Very Good to Excellent

One of the highest ratings we’ve given to any wine. I can’t wait to enjoy this wine again. A true delight.

Tarara Winery 2010 Charval White Wine

Winemaker's description

Definitely the roundest, biggest style of Charval made to date.  The vintage really shows in this wine with intense aromatics of tropical fruit like mango and papaya blend with more classic citrus and crisp apple notes.  The palate is dry, with still some fresh acidity from the Petit Manseng holding together the fuller bodied fruit forward wine.  The crisp character of the wine leads to a long citrus driven finish.  This is best in its youth but will drink well for another couple years.

Price:  $13.99 at Total Wine

With Thanksgiving just around the corner, here is a Virginia white wine that would compliment any Thanksgiving offering. .

This is a nice bold blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Sauvignon Blanc, and Viognier, that can definitely be enjoyed on its own, yet with its lingering dry after taste, we enjoyed it more with food. 

The winemakers description of this wine possessing big style hits the mark.  Unlike some of its lighter Virginia counterparts, this white has bold flavors. 

We have found another Virginia wine that can be served to guests who would question the quality our Commonwealth offers. 

Our ratings:  

Flavor:  4.25 out of 5 stars –Very Good to Excellent

Complex yet smooth, with hints of bold tropical fruit.

Drinkability/Versatility:   4.5 out of 5 stars – Very Good to Excellent

On its own with appetizers or traditional white wine entrees, this wine fits the bill.

Value:  4 out of 5 stars – Very Good

Simply put, well worth the $14.

Overall:  4.25 out of 5 stars – Very Good to Excellent

Whenever the occasion calls for a good white wine, you can’t go wrong with this selection from Tarara.

Breaux Chere Marie 2012 Vidal Blanc

Winemaker's description

This light, fresh, and summery white wine is off-dry and made from the French-American hybrid grape: Vidal Blanc. It is crisp and refreshing, and pairs perfectly with anything spicy... or just a hot day. Bright acidity keeps the wine from being cloying, and drinkable by both sweet wine fans and dry wine fans alike. Chill, drink, enjoy!.

Price:  $12.99 at Safeway

A light nose with hints of lemon and wheat grass.  This wine should be enjoyed by those who prefer a sweeter, semi-dry whites.  Although a bit too sweet for our preference, the winemaker’s description is very accurate, and this wine would be a very good choice for those who enjoy Rieslings that are on the sweeter side.

The wine worked well with smoked Gruyère cheese and sourdough baguette.

We enjoyed the wine more as it warmed a bit.  At the higher temperature, it was more balanced, more flavorful, and just didn’t seem as sweet. 

We suggest letting the wine warm to over 50 degrees before serving.

Our ratings:  

Flavor:   3.5 out of 5 stars –Good to Very Good

After warming up, the flavors were more complex and quite enjoyable.

Drinkability/Versatility:   3 out of 5 stars – Good

This is not a wine we would drink on its own, and while very good with selected foods, it is very limited in the foods it will compliment.

Value:  3 out of 5 stars – Good

After enjoying Williamsburg Winery’s American White Riesling for $6.99, it is hard to call this more than a good value at twice the price.

Overall:  3.25 out of 5 stars –Good to Very Good

After letting it warm up a bit, this wine was impressive and definitely lives up to the Winemaker’s description.