Rappahannock Cellars 2010 Seyval Blanc

Winemaker's description

None

Price:  $16.99 at Total Wine

We had no experience with any Seyval Blanc wine, so we had no preconceptions about what to except from this wine. 

The first impression is a crisp nose of grapefruit with a touch of menthol or eucalyptus.  To us, the flavor was that of a dry, light and crisp German style wine.  We feel this wine would go great with light appetizers, salads with any vinegar based dressing, as well as shell fish or grilled shrimp.

Our ratings:  

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

While we would have enjoyed a slightly bolder flavor, we enjoyed the unique, crisp quality of this offering.

Drinkability/Versatility:  3.75 out of 5 stars –Good to Very Good

We would limit this wine to salads and lighter fare, but on its own, it does just fine. 

Value:  3 out of 5 stars –Good

The only thing close to a drawback to this wine is the $17 price tag.  While not outrageous, just difficult to call it a great value at that price.

Overall:  3.75 out of 5 stars - Very Good

This unique wine definitely deserves a place in your wine rack.  A great choice to breakout of the cycle of Chardonnay and Pinot Grigio.  Impress your guests with a grilled shrimp appetizer with pico de gallo and this crisp dry and easy drinking selection.

Mountain Cove Skyline White

Winemaker's description

This wine is a semi-dry Vouvray style wine. Made from hearty Villard Blanc grapes, it goes well with light meals, poultry and fish.

Price:  $12.99 at Total Wine

A nice, pleasant earthy and floral bouquet is the first introduction to this selection.  And when the winemaker claims to be one of the last using Villard Blanc grapes, after the first sip, we hope they continue doing so.  This wine is unique and crisp and is ideal with any appetizer.  In an evening of food and wine, this would be a great fist glass.

Given its unique flavor, we believe this is a must try for all Virginia wine lovers.

Nose is grassy and earthy.

Our ratings:  

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

It’s unique floral flavors are light and satisfying.  Oh, and did we mention it is unique.

Drinkability/Versatility:  3.5 out of 5 stars –Good to Very Good

Wonderful by itself or with appetizers, but not something we would recommend with entrees.

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

Finding a wine of an unique grape, such as this, well worth the $12.99 we spent.

Overall:  4 out of 5 stars – Very Good \

Simply put, this is an unique easy drinking white that can be enjoyed on a summer’s day, by a fire in the winter or any time.  We recommend this wine without hesitation.

Pearmund Cellars 2011 Old Vine Chardonnay

Winemaker's description

Warm, butter flavor with hints of pear and ripe apple. 100% malolactic fermentation..

Price:  $23 at the winery

A nice deep If you are looking to make a good first impression with guests this holiday season, slice some French baguette, top it with shaved parmesan and smoked Gruyère cheese, and serve it with Pearmund Cellars Old Vine Chardonnay

With a nose of strong oak, this is a bold chardonnay with a buttery texture, and nice flavors of ripe pear.

This selection will also complement just about any food that can be paired with a bold white wine. This Chardonnay is as good, if not better than many California offerings at this price.

Our ratings:  

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

Bold pear, with just the right amount of oak.

Drinkability/Versatility:   4 out of 5 stars – Very Good

For those who enjoy a full-bodied white, this can be enjoyed alone.

Value:  3.75 out of 5 stars – Good to Very Good

Well worth the $23, but we have a hard time calling $20+ a great value.

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

For those times you want to splurge for a bottle wine over $20, no need to look further than Pearmund Cellars.

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.

Barboursville 2012 Pinot Grigio

Winemaker's description

A dry white wine with delicate citrus and pear aromas.  Light crisp acidity with apple, pear and fig flavors.  A simple yet elegant wine for light hors d’oeuvres, simply prepared seafood an poultry.

Price:  $11.99 at Total Wine

“This has more flavor than most Pinot Grigios,” was one comment after tasting this nice full-bodied selection.  Barboursville’s Pinot Grigio was not as light as many of the Italian offerings, which was a pleasant surprise.  With just the right level of dryness, we found this to be another Virginia white we don’t hesitate recommending. 

This wine has a nice full bouquet, which is pleasant yet difficult to describe other than to say it smells like a real nice Pinot Grigio.  The finish is dry with a touch of bite. 

Our ratings:  

Flavor:    4.25 out of 5 stars – Very Good

Not shy, this is a full flavored wine.  It does posses nice fruit flavors, but is not a fruity wine.

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

Unlike other Pinot Grigios, this will easily stand up to light and even some more hearty entrees.  Yet alone, is as enjoyable, if not more so, than many lighter whites.

Value:  4 out of 5 stars – Very Good

Simply put, this wine was well worth the money spent..

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

Serve this at your next dinner party and watch your guest’s expressions when you tell them that this is indeed a Virginia wine.

White Hall 2011 Chardonnay

Wine maker's description

No description available from Winemaker.

Price:  $13.99 at Total Wine

This is a dry crisp Chardonnay that more resembles a Sauvignon Blanc than a oak barreled Chardonnay.  It starts with a very refreshing full nose with strong hints of orange zest.   The taste is light, dry and very pleasant to the palette. 

We enjoyed this wine with pizza, and it held up just fine.  The wine is smooth and when enjoyed alone finishes dry.  With food, it had a smooth, easy after taste. 

This wine would be a great choice on a warm day with appetizers or light entrees that are complimented by a crisp dry white. 

Our ratings:  

Flavor:   3 out of 5 stars – Good

Smooth with hints of citrus. 

Drinkability/Versatility:  4 out of 5 stars –Very Good

We actually enjoyed this selection more on its own than with the pizza.  But with lighter or spicy foods, this wine is ideal.

Value:  3 out of 5 stars – Good

At $13.99 it is worth the money, yet we can’t say we would want to pay more for this wine.  We enjoyed it, but can’t say it stands out when compared with other $14 - $15 bottles of Virginia Chardonnays.

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

Sitting outside on a nice day this clean, crisp, dry Chardonnay would be a real treat.  Keeping in mind that it has qualities similar to Sauvignon Blanc.  This wine definitely has a place on our short list of appetizer and light dinner Virginia wine whites.

2012 Rockbridge Chardonnay

Winemaker's Description

No description available yet from Winemaker.

Price:  $12.49 at Total Wine

This wine starts with a mild nose of wheat grass with a touch of citrus.  The first sip is pleasant, on the drier side of medium body and slightly acidic.  Alone it has a dry after taste, yet with food it has as nice an after taste that could be expected from any Chardonnay.  Similar to its 2011 offering this Chardonnay also has flavors of lemon and is clearly not aged in oak.

We enjoyed this wine with a French roll, Swiss cheese, pepperoni and Dijon mustard and have no complaints with how it paired with each.  We think this wine would be most enjoyed by those who enjoy a crisp citrus accented Chardonnay as opposed to heavier or “buttery” oaked Chardonnays.

Our ratings:  

Flavor:   4 out of 5 stars – Very Good

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

Very enjoyable on its own. yet even better when complimenting food.  This would stand up to even heavier entrees such as pork.

Value:  3.75 out of 5 stars –Very Good

Maybe not an excellent value at $12.49, but definitely worth the price.  If you can find this wine for $10 or less, stock up!

Overall:  4 out of 5 stars – Very Good

When an event or meal calls for a good unoaked Chardonnay, Rockbridge Vineyards 2012 offering will not disappoint.  Add this to the list of wines that can change the minds of those who turn their noses up at Virginia wines. 

Rapidan River Dry Riesling

 

Winemaker's Description

Made in the traditional Alsatian style, our Dry Riesling boasts aromas of fresh cut flowers and mangos with full fruit flavors of apples and apricot balanced by delightful crispness.

Price:  $9.49 at Total Wine

Very fresh smell that is refreshing and resembles mangos and fresh cut flowers as the winemaker describes.  The first sensation, when tasting, is light and crisp yet the wine then takes on a heavier feel at its finish and after-taste.  While not a sweet wine, we would not consider it dry.  For us it is much closer to a semi-dry. 

This wine is best served colder than most and compliments light cheese very well.  We enjoyed it with a soft Swiss cheese and crackers.  We do not believe this Riesling would be suitable to be served with an entrée.

Our ratings:  

Flavor:   3 out of 5 stars –Good

Not weak, the winemaker’s assessment of apricot flavors is accurate.

Drinkability/Versatility:  2 out of 5 stars –Fair

A nice compliment to soft cheeses, however, limited in the types of food we would pair this wine with.

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

If you enjoy semi-dry wines that are a bit heavy, this wine is actually a pretty good value.

Overall:  3 out of 5 stars - Good

We personally prefer a somewhat drier Riesling, but for those who enjoy Rieslings a bit sweeter will surely enjoy this offering.  Our recommendations are based on our personal tastes., so wine-lovers who enjoy this style of Riesling will find this a very good value and great offering.