Barboursville Vineyards 2008 Virginia Cabernet Franc Reserve

A visit to the Gaylord National hotel in Washington DC provided me with a chance to again enjoy wine from one of Virginia’s most acclaimed wineries: Barboursville Vineyards. The National is actually across the Potomac in National Harbor, Maryland. But since I could see Virginia right across the river from our restaurant table, it was an opportune time to introduce the rest of our dinner group to Virginia wine.

We were at the Old Hickory Steak House, a classy restaurant with a diverse wine list. We enjoyed a Duckhorn Merlot to go with our cheese course and for our entrees I selected the 2008 Barboursville Reserve Cabernet Franc. I chose a salt brined pork chop while the rest of the group made their picks from the stellar lineup of steaks.

Virginia primarily hangs its hat on two main grape varieties: Cabernet Franc and Viognier. Viognier earned the title of official state wine – but their Cabernet Franc has won the hearts of many a wine drinker. Barboursville grows their Cab France from Bordeaux and Loire clones and the wine has a very polished European feel.

A signature of Cab Franc is the pepper taste that differentiates it from Cab Sauvignon (along with a lighter body). But pepper isn’t part of the flavor profile of the Barboursville Cab Franc. It is soft-pedaled while the ripe red berry flavors take center stage. The deep garnet wine also has wisps of caramel and fig. Aging for 14 months in French Oak adds complexity but never overwhelms the smooth approach and tongue tantalizing finish.

This is a smooth, sophisticated wine that is a great match for roasts and steak. It’s one of the very best wines I’ve tasted from Virginia. Rated **** of *****.

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35° South 2010 Reserve Sauvignon Blanc

This is a value wine from Chile. Green Dragon loves Sauvignon Blanc, especially from the Marlborough region of New Zealand. She decided to explore new terrain and picked this bottle up for some casual evening sipping.

The name of the wine company alludes to the latitude of 35° South where the vineyards are located. 35° South is one of the labels of Vina San Pedro, which has been making wine in Chile for 150 years. San Pedro has some high end brands, but also produces Gato Negro, which is absolutely awful.

The grapes come from the Curicó and Elqui valleys, which is said to balance the fruitiness with minerality. The wine is aged In stainless steel tanks. Grapefruit and tropical fruit dominate this wine, but it is a pale shadow of a good, crisp Sauvignon Blanc. At $9 per bottle,what did you expect?

Chase the moths from your wallet and upgrade to a nicer Sauvignon Blanc! Rated *+ of *****.

 

Technorati Tags: wine,Sauvignon Blanc,Chile

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Duckhorn 2008 Napa Valley Merlot

A whirlwind business trip landed me at the Old Hickory Steak House in the Gaylord National in Washington, DC. Not only does the restaurant have a great wine list and well prepared food, but it also excels in cheese. Diners can open their meal with a cheese course with rare and delicious cheeses from around the globe.

The maître d’ of cheese had prepared a succulent selection of cheeses ranging from smooth and buttery cheese from France to award-winning blue veined cheese from Wisconsin. The cheeses were paired with local honey, a tangy cranberry spread and nuts. The challenge was to find a wine that would pair well with this spectrum of fromage.

My first inclination was to go for a Riesling, but nothing from the wine list jumped out at me. Instead I opted for a medium bodied red. I was going for a wine in the mid-point of the prices, but my host urged me to “not hold back.” I didn't need much urging and selected the Duckhorn 2008 Napa Valley Merlot. It’s a rich and rewarding wine that ranged into the triple digits on the wine list.

The wine is a blend of several Napa vineyards and so can be considered an “index wine” reflecting the best of the Napa 2008 vintage. It’s a deep wine that is a blend of 86% Merlot, 9.5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3.5% Petit Verdot and 1% Cabernet Franc. It has a velvet touch with a streak of earthiness. Red berries mingle with oak and blueberry in a complex blend.

Out the windows there was a spectacular view of the Potomac at night with the lights of Old Town Alexandria twinkling across the water and out the side window there was a view of the expansive Gaylord National atrium. The opening cheese course was sumptuous. I took bread, placed a slice of cheese on top and then a dollop of either honey or the cranberry. This was followed by a warming sip of the Duckhorn.

Duckhorn has a well deserved reputation for superb wines. It’s built upon outstanding wines like the Napa Valley Merlot. It’s an elegant wine that’s the right choice for an evening of fine dining. Rated **** of *****.

Technorati Tags: wine,Merlot

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Toledo Area Wine Tastings & Events: October 26-29, 2011

Image of Seven Deadly Zins via Snooth

Wednesday, October 26

The Andersons, Sylvania, Wine Tasting. 6-8 PM. Spooky Wine Tasting. 1. Killibinbin Shiraz/Cabernet, 2. Killibinbin Cabernet Sauvignon, 3. Vino Family Vineyards “Don Vino” Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, 4. Orin Swift Abstract. $10 per flight or nominal fee per sample.

Beer and Wine Cave, 4400 Heatherdowns, (419) 382-6221. 6-9 PM. Cabernet Sauvignons Wines. $15.

Thursday, October 27

The Andersons, Maumee, Wine Tasting. 5-7 PM. Nominal fee per sample.

The Andersons, Talmadge Road. Wine Tasting. 6-8 PM. The Prisoner and other Orin Swift Wines
Orin Swift is one of the west coast’s premier winemakers. The Prisoner has captured the American wine drinkers imagination and taste buds. 1. Melville Chardonnay, 2. Melville Pinot Noir, Orin Swift Wines: 3. Saldo Zinfandel, 4. D – 66, 5. Abstract, 6. The Prisoner, 7. Papillon. Nominal fee per sample.

The Andersons, Woodville Mall. 5-7 PM. Wines and Liquor for Halloween. 1. Skeleton Gruner Veltliner, 2. Big Red Monster, 3. Seven Deadly Zins, 4. Fulton’s Pumpkin Pie Cream Liqueur. $2.25 per flight or nominal fee per sample.

Beer and Wine Cave, 4400 Heatherdowns, (419) 382-6221. 6-9 PM. Cabernet Sauvignon. $15.

Corks Wine and Liquor, Promenade Plaza, 27250 Crossroads Pkwy., Rossford – (419) 872-6800. 6-9 PM. Special guest: Nick Kubiak from Pere Jacques Wine Imports. 1. Brandborg -- Pinot Blanc, 2.
Husch -- Pinot Noir, 3. E. Boeckel -- Pinot Noir, 4. Vino Con Brio -- Pinot Grigio, 5. Brandborg -- Pinot Gris. $2 per sample.

TREO Wine Bar, 5703 Main St., Sylvania, (419) 882-2266. Wine & Cheese Thursday. Explore the wonderful world of wine and cheese. Try four different wines with a sample platter of the day’s cheese.

Friday, October 28

* Special Event * Toledo Museum of Art Wine by the Glass Pavilion series: Veneto! Wines from Northern Italy. 7:00 to 9:30 PM in the Glass Pavilion. Enjoy four wines, light snacks, and a view of glassmakers working in the Hot Shop. Prices are $15 for members and $20 for nonmembers.
Aficionado Wine and Cigars, The Shoppes at RiverPlace, 26567 N. Dixie Highway, Suite 135, Perrysburg, (419-873-4444). 5:00 – 8:30 p.m. California Cabernet Sauvignon: 1. Alias Cabernet, 2. Fox Glove Cabernet, 3. BV Napa Cabernet, 4. Franciscan Cabernet. $10 tasting.

Saturday, October 29
* Special Event * Toledo Zoo Halloween Vineyard Adventure Saturday, 7:00 to 11:00 PM, in the Nairobi Pavilion. Wine tasting, hors d'oeuvres, and dancing. Guests are encouraged to wear costumes and masks for costume contest. Tickets $40 non-members and $35 for Zoo members. Reservations can also be made by calling 419-385-5721, Ext. 3092. Tickets are limited and must be purchased in advance. Online sales of tickets are discontinued at 3:00 PM on the day before the event. You may purchase tickets online here.
Aficionado Wine and Cigars, The Shoppes at RiverPlace, 26567 N. Dixie Highway, Suite 135, Perrysburg, (419-873-4444). 5:00 – 8:30 p.m. California Cabernet Sauvignon: 1. Alias Cabernet, 2. Fox Glove Cabernet, 3. BV Napa Cabernet, 4. Franciscan Cabernet. $10 tasting.

Walt Churchill’s Market, 3320 Briarfield. Maumee, (419) 794-4000. 12:00 – 5:00 PM. Nominal fee per sample.

Walt Churchill's Market, 26625 Dixie Hwy, Perrysburg, (419) 872-6900. 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM. Nominal fee per sample.

Zinful Wine Bar & Restaurant, (419) 878-9463, 7541 Dutch Road, Waterville. 6-9 PM “Halloween tasting! Creepy crawly things ‘n such!” Cost is $15.

AREA WINE BARS

• Tres Belle Wine and Martini Lounge, (419) 874-4555, 3145 Hollister Lane, Perrysburg (Levis Commons).
• Vino 100 Wine Bar & Restaurant, (419) 866-8466, Promenade West, 3355 Briarfield Blvd, Suite C, Maumee.
• Zinful Wine Bar & Restaurant, (419) 878-9463, 7541 Dutch Road, Waterville.

Technorati Tags: wine

[Information on tastings can be sent to TWAV@ATT.NET.]

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Bliss Family Vineyards Schoolhouse Red, Mendocino

Schoolhouse Red is the “pizza and pasta” wine from Bliss Family Vineyards, whose winery in California's Mendocino County dates back to the 1930s.

The wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, Merlot and Syrah. I had passed by this wine every morning for about a month as I stopped into Walt Churchill’s Market in Perrysburg to get my morning muffin on the way to work. Green Dragon had made a comment that she didn’t know what wine to drink and didn’t want to open a “special” bottle accidentally.

So I grabbed this bottle for a casual sipper. At $12, it seemed a small price to pay to finally know what that bottle I saw on the closeout shelf each work day tastes like.

Alas, we didn’t pair this with pizza, but instead uncorked it while I caught the latest episode of Top Shot. Although the guns were blazing on the show, the wine seemed to miss the target. It was tight and unremarkable.

A couple days later we poured a couple glasses and were surprised. The glass offered up the flavor of warm berries with a touch of tartness and a medium to long finish. Bull's-eye!

This is an enjoyable non-vintage wine that’s a good value. Rated **+ of *****.

Technorati Tags: wine

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20th Annual Wine Affair to Benefit Kidney Foundation Scheduled November 18 at Parkway Place

The 20th Annual Wine Affair will take place Friday, November 18, at Parkway Place in Maumee beginning at 6:30 PM. Master of Ceremonies is Chrys Peterson of WTOL Channel 11. Honorary Chairman is Jim Murray. Wine Chair is Austin Beeman of Walt Churchill’s Market.

The Wine Affair includes a silent auction, a live auction conducted by auctioneer Beth Rose and a sampling of fine wines from area wine distributors. Appetizers will be supplied by notable area restaurants including: Abuelos, Bar 145, Edible Arrangements, Kotobuki, Manhattans, Sofo’s, Super Suppers, the Melting Pot, Wixey Bakery and Zoup!

Tickets are $90 per person until November 11 and $100 thereafter. To register online go to www.kfnwo.org or call (419) 329-2196. The event is black tie optional.

Photo by Jessica Melling

Technorati Tags: wine

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