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.

Lake Anna Totally Red

Winemaker's description

No red cherries. No spicy berries. No toasty nuances. No suggestive notes. JUST Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Chambourcin.

Price:  $9.99 at Total Wine

A nice full nose with a mellow hint of tar.  Served at room temperature it did have a bit of harshness. We would recommend serving this a little chilled. 

It had a bit too much tannins for us to enjoy on its own, but with a little cheese bread and marinara sauce this wine was a nice compliment.  We also believe this wine would be nice with semi-sweet foods.

Those who enjoy a drier red wine with a dish like spaghetti and meatballs, will find  this to be an ideal selection.  One taster felt this wine compared favorably to a dry Italian Chianti. 

Our ratings:  

Flavor:   3 out of 5 stars –Good

It does have a good classic red wine flavor.

Drinkability/Versatility:   2.5 out of 5 stars – Fair to Good

This wine would not be one you would serve to guests on its own, but only as a compliment to certain foods.

Value:  4 out of 5 stars –Very Good

For $10, this wine should definitely be on your short list for classic Italian dishes and with some semi-sweet foods.

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

A nice classic red that could possibly use a bit more aging to smooth out, but for fans of drier reds, this is a nice Virginia selection.

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.

Rockbridge 2008 Pinot Noir

Winemaker's description

Really hitting its stride at age four, this Virginia Pinot Noir is very Burgundian with moderate tannins and nice fruit aromas and flavors.  Serve slightly  chilled as a delightful summer white wine alternative.

Price:  $12.49 at Total Wine

After reviewing their Chardonnay last weekend, and now their Pinot Noir, Rockbridge Vineyard is becoming one of our favorite Virginia wineries

The nose could be described as peppery black currant, and very nice. The first sip is pleasant with just enough tannin to give this wine just enough red wine bite.

We give Rockbridge a lot credit for holding this wine until the tannins have smoothed out to an ideal level. The days of recommending customers to cellar wine for a couple years is gone.

The taste is of rich blackberry and currant, with just a touch of spiciness.

We have found another Virginia wine that can be served to out of town guests, or anyone that would shun Virginia Wine. And again we’ve found a wine with a great drinkability, that can be enjoyed alone, or with a wide variety of foods.

We’re looking forward to a nice rack of lamb and this wonderful Pinot Noir.

Our ratings:  

Flavor:    4 out of 5 stars – Very Good

The right touch of tannin with rich black currant

Drinkability/Versatility:   5 out of 5 stars –Excellent

The tannins have smoothed enough so there is no bitter aftertaste. Yet enough there to hold up to meats like lamb and pork. I would disagree with the winemaker’s description of this being a “summer” wine, this would be great at any time of the year.

Value:  4 out of 5 stars – Very Good

$12,49 for a really nice Virginia Red. .

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

Give me some smoked cheese, some smoked salmon (not lox) and some rack of lamb, and some good friends, this wine would be the only one needed. When you want to relax with a nice medium bodied, smooth red, here it is.

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.