Tasting - Louis Marsannay

Name:  Latour Marsonnay
Variety:  Pinot Noir
Year:  2010
Region:  Cote de Nuits
Country:  France
Price:  $35 on sale at VC for $17.95

Winery Review:  "Light medium cherry red color with pale meniscus; reduction, floral, tart red fruit nose; tasty, tart red fruit, floral, mineral palate; needs 2 years; medium-plus finish"

My Review:  This wine had floral aromas, with hints of cranberry.  On the palate it was much more earthy than I expected, the Pinot Noir also brought a good spice.  It was medium dry with a long peppery finish.  I did not taste this wine with food.

Tasting - Granrojo Garnacha

Name: Granrojo Garnacha 
Variety: Garnacha
Year: 2011
Region: La Tierra de Castilla
Country: Spain
Price: $18 on sale at VC for $9.95

Winery Review:  "The 2011 Rojo Garnacha has the colour of blackberry with blue tones, almost opaque. Intense and pleasant aromas of licorice and wild red and black berries fill the nose, with mineral undertones. Well-rounded and balanced on the palate, it is elegant and fresh. Red fruit, minerals and a hint of fresh thyme linger on the finish. It’s surprisingly silky and full-bodied, with a rich varietal expression."

My Review:  This red wine had very dark berry aromas with hints of baking spices.  On the palate it was surprisingly earthy and full-bodied with a very slight hint of plum.  It was spicy and dry on the finish.  I did not taste this wine with food, but I think it would have paired nicely with a red meat.

Tasting - Ca' Momi Blanco Di Nappa

Name:  Ca' Momi Blanco Di Nappa
Variety:  Chardonnay, Viognier, Muscat, Sauvignon Blanc, Gewurztraminer
Year:  2012
Region:  Nappa Valley
Country:  USA
Price:  $22 - on sale at VC for $11.95

Winery Review:  "This Ca' Momi Bianco di Napa 2012 is a100% Napa Valley blend has a diverse flavor profile with intense orange blossom and grapefruit on the nose. The aromas of the nose echo in the mouth with perfect harmony existing between its alcohol and acidity."

My Review:  This white wine had very citrusy aromas with a hint of honey.  I picked up orange and lemon.  On the palate it was very acidic from the citrus, with a medium dry finish.  It was slightly overwhelmed from the citrus, and seemed to have a lot of tannins for a white wine.  I did not taste this wine with food.

Winery Visit - Beliveau Estate Winery

Beliveau Estate Winery Visit

My obsession with Beliveau Estate grew every moment I spent there.  I'm not even kidding - I spent the entire time walking around planning my wedding!  It's a very small winery tucked in the hills about 25 minutes outside of Blacksburg that just opened in May 2012.  They grow a few different grape varieties and have the rest imported from various places around the country.  I went with my boyfriend, Ryan, who is hands down the funniest person to watch swirl a wine glass.

A panoramic view of the winery from our lunch seats

The winery does not do tours, but I asked a few questions about their wine making and walked around the building to see the facility.  

Behind the tasting room is where they grow their grapes.  The winery grows a few different grapes, but the two mentioned were Vidal Blanc and Traminette.  The Traminette is a French-American and German hybrid that is used in their Reflection wine.  They are having a planting ceremony this Sunday, so I would imagine they are branching out and planting more vines.

The hillside behind the winery where the grapes are grown

After the grapes are grown/imported, they are processed in the small building.  The rest of the wine-making facilities were off-limits to customers, but they are fermented in stainless steel and some of the wines are aged in oak.

The wines at Beliveau were delicious.  They were all very dimensional and described perfectly by the lady who ran the tasting.

The tasting room

The first wine we tasted was the Destiny 2012, a dry Vidal Blanc.  It was a white wine that was described as being "full-mouthed".  It had peach and apricot aromas, but on the palate it hit every part of your tongue (what I took to mean "full-mouthed") and had a long finish.  It had a very light spicy flavor that brought some depth to the wine, and balanced well with a slight hint of lemon and apricots.  The wine was very complicated, and I could have spent much more time thinking about all of the flavors I tasted on my palate.  I almost wish we had started with a more simple wine so that I could have warmed up my palate before tasting it.  This wine was on reserve and is not usually open for tasting most day, but I appreciated that they let us taste it!

Destiny 2012

The second white wine we tasted was the Reflection 2011.  It was a dry Taminette with lychee and tropical fruit aromas.  On the palate it was very citrusy with hints of lemon and tangerines with acids on the finish.  The acidic flavors were well-balanced with a very slight sweetness.

Reflection 2011

The third white wine was Lovers Quest, a semi-sweet wine made of Vidal Blanc grapes.  It had apricot and honeysuckle aromas that overall smelled very sweet.  However, on the palate it was much more complicated.  The sweetness was off-set by a very slight tang that I could not quite place the flavor of.  It had a long finish and was slightly dry.  Overall I found it to be very well-balanced. 

The tasting lady did not recommend rinsing glasses with water between whites and reds, or between any wine for that matter.  She said you should rinse your glass with the next wine, but did not give us the opportunity to do so.

The first red wine was Silhouette 2012, a Cabernet Sauvignon.  On the nose it had dark berries and cherries with a hint of chocolate.  Overall very sweet aromas.  I was surprised when I tasted it and was immediately hint by spicy pepper.  The peppers were a little overwhelming on the palate, but they blended nicely with the hint of chocolate and plums.   (I missed a picture of the label of this wine.)

A picture of me during the tasting

The second red wine we tasted was the Sunset Sipper.  It had slight peppery aromas that were hinted by plum.  On the palate it was dry, with a tannic finish.  I picked up on plums and sweetness, but there were undertones of spices.  The wine had a very cool aromatic pourer that I almost bought, but chickened out at the last second reminding myself I rarely drink a whole bottle of red wine myself.

Sunset Sipper

The aromatic pourer on the wine

The third red wine was Sweet Surrender, a Concord grape wine.  It smelled exactly like grape juice, and tasted very similar.  Surprisingly it was 16% alcohol, but I still found it to be extremely sweet.  The grape juice taste was complimented by hints of baking spices that reminded me of jam.

Sweet Surrender

The final red wine I tasted was Serenity, a sweet dessert wine made of Chambourcin grapes.  It had dark berry, cherry, and plum aromas that seemed to match it dark purple coloring.  On the palate I picked up on cherries and baking spices.  They gave us a piece of dark chocolate to try with it, which made the wine much more tannic and picked up and complimented nicely on the cherry flavors.

Serenity

After we were done with the tastings, we decided to grab some food and sit up by the gazebo and eat.  They had a very limited menu, so we ordered the only TWO things they offered:  a bacon, spinach, tomato panini and a cheese platter.  We spent the rest of the time taking pictures and roaming around the estate.

a picture of me in front of the main winery building

Ryan petting the super adorable dog

an unnamed dog who walks around the winery

The Bed and Breakfast

A picture of me sitting on their bench by the sign

A picture of my boyfriend (Ryan) and I after we enjoyed out delicious lunch!

Tasting - Rosemount Estate Moscato

Name:  Rosemount Estate Moscato
Variety:  100% Muscat
Year: 2012
Region:  South Australia
Country:  Australia
Price:  $12 - on sale at VC for $3.95

Winery Review:  Clear, medium-lemon yellow in appearance; lovely citrus and honeysuckle aromas with lemon, honeysuckle, apple and ripe yellow plum flavours.  Serve chilled with angel food cake or fresh fruit and mild cheeses.

My Review:  This slightly sparkling white wine had apple, grass, and honeysuckle aromas.  There was also a hint of green apple and peach.  On the palate it was simple and clean, with honeysuckle and citrus flavors.  The finish was nice and sweet.  One of the VC workers said he bought three cases for his wife and keeps it at home.  I bought three bottles to sip on this summer at the river.  I did not taste this wine with food.

Tasting - Ironstone Old Vine Zinfandel

Name:  Ironstone Old Vine Zinfandel
Variety:  100% Zinfandel
Year:  2011
Region:  Lodi, CA
Country:  USA
Price:  $15 - on sale at VC for $7.95

Winery Review:  Grown in vineyards that are over 45 years old, this medium-bodied Zin has exceptional varietal character with lovely aromas of dark fruit and blackberry. Subtle pepper spice mingles with richly concentrated fruit flavors of blackberry, ripe plums and fresh red raspberries. Barrel aging created its smooth, silky finish and unprecedented depth.  A wonderful wine pairing for variety of dishes. Any type of meat - whether its pork, beef or game - is ideal with this wine. Cioppino is another amazing complement or try it with tomato-based pastas, hearty stews or a plate of strong, aged cheeses.

My Review:  This was one of the most complicated and deep wines I have tasted.  It had so many different flavors and aromas I could have tasted it several times and found something new each time.  I immediately picked up on the spicy and dark berry aromas.  The second time I noticed a hint of earthiness.  On the palate, this red wine was very full-bodied and slightly tannic. It was well balanced and had a smooth, long finish.  The acids in the wine complimented the taste of cherries and plums, with a slight hint of chocolate.  The earthiness in the wine also went well with the strong pepper flavors. I did not taste this wine with food.

Tasting - Librandi Ciro Rossa Classico

Name:  Librandi Ciro Rossa Classico
Variety:  100% Gaglioppo
Year:  Not Given
Region:  Ciro
Country:  Italy
Price:  $14 - on sale at VC for $3.95

Winery Review:  Don’t let the pale garnet color fool you:  this is a substantial wine.  Aromas of red fruits and spice complement undertones of cranberries, wild berries, and plums.  On the palate, ripe tannins and good body make for an incredibly rich, yet easygoing red wine.  Pair this wine with sausage, spicy curry sauces, hot soppressata, and tandoori chicken.

My Review:  Personally, I did not enjoy this wine. It had baking spice aromas that were accented by dark berries.  On the palate, it was very disappointing.  I found it to be very hard and tannic, with hints of tart cranberry.  The baking spice aromas changed to cooking spices like pepper.  I did not taste this wine with food.

Tasting - Angove Viognier

Name:  Angove Viogner
Variety:    100% Viogner
Region:  South Australia
Country:  Australia
Year: Not Given
Price: $15 - on sale at VC for $5.95

Winery Review:  Bright light straw in colour with some green hues, this wine has a lush ripe tropical fruit aroma. This is a fuller bodied white which fills the mouth with heady flavours of apricot, peach and citrus.  Angove Nine Vines Viognier is perfect for today's relaxed life-style and is the ideal accompaniment to grilled prawns with chilli and garlic or roast pork.

My Review:  This wine had pineapple and citrus aromas.  It seemed refreshing and light with acids and sweetness.  On the palate I picked up on the tropical fruits, mainly pineapple.  There was also a green apple accent and some peaches on the finish.  I did not taste this wine with food.

Tasting - Yealands Estate Sauvignon Blanc

Name: Yealands Estate Sauvignon Blanc, Seaview Winery
Variety:  100% Sauvignon Blanc
Region:  Marlborough
Country: New Zealand
Year:  2008
Price: $21 - sale at VC for $7.95

Winery Review:  This aromatic wine shows lifted flavours of blackcurrant with underlying notes of wet stone and thyme. The palate is elegant yet full with sufficient weight and texture, balanced by a flinty minerality. This wine is a fantastic match with foods such as cheese salad, poultry dishes and a wide range of seafood dishes including freshly shucked natural oysters, prawns, green lip mussels and creamy scallops.

My Review:  This white wine had very earthy aromas.  I picked up on some type of grass and minerals.  On the palate, it was surprisingly acidic, but not overwhelming.  It was medium bodied, with lots of earth on the finish.  I did not taste this wine with food.

Wine Cheese Pairing

Last week, a few of my friends and I were hanging out and decided to do a wine cheese pairing.  We bought three wines for about $20 from the Vintage Cellar, and about six cheeses from Natural Foods for about the same price!

The first wine:  Omo Ze Bel Merlot

This Merlot had tobacco and pepper aromas.  On the palate it was very spicy, with a kind of leather finish.  It was full bodied, rough on the palate, and tannic with a medium finish.

The second wine:  Cantina Casteggio Pinot Grigio

The Pinot Grigio had a slight tart nose that I could not really pick up exactly what the scent was.  It was possibly asparagus, but I do not think it was exact.  On the palate it was smooth and buttery, with a slight tobacco finish that was short.

The third wine:  James Goddard Barossa Shiraz

The Shiraz had leather aromas with a hint of chocolate and spices.  On the palate it was spicy, but sweet with dark berries.  It was also very smoky and earthy tasting, and reminded me of a barbeque.  It was harsh initially but the sweetness balanced it out, and dry on the finish.

The six cheeses:  (starting with the circular white one and moving clockwise) goat cheese, manchego, gouda, brie with walnuts, pepper jack, and muenster

The Merlot and the Cheeses:

Gouda:  The Merlot was sweet, with almost on spiciness.  The entire pepper and leather flavor was gone.

Manchego:  The wine was spicy on the finish, and very harsh and tart with no sweetness.

Muenster:  It was more sweet than spicy.  The cheese was soft but not overwhelming so it absorbed a lot of the tannins, a very good pairing. 

Brie:  The Merlot was much more sweeter than it was alone.  Like the Gouda, it had almost no spice.

Goat Cheese:  It was very spicy and rough compared to the way the wine tasted with the brie.  Overall it was an awful pairing.  The cheese was much too soft and tangy for the wine.

Pepper jack:  The spiciness of the wine was well-accented by the peppers in the cheese.

The Pinot Grigio and the Cheese:

Gouda:  The smokiness of the cheese completely overwhelmed the wine.  I could barely taste anything except the cheese.

Manchego:  The acids of the wine were accented.  The cheese was much more tart, and together they were very harsh.

Muenster:  The wine was much more mild (less acidic).  However, they really did nothing to improve or remove from each other.

Brie:  The brie overwhelmed this wine.  

Goat Cheese:  The goat cheese made the wine much sweeter.  It was a great pairing, the tanginess of the cheese seemed to bring out the sweeter notes of the wine.

Pepper jack:  The wine was super spicy, and the cheese brought out the smokiness and tobacco tastes.

The Shiraz and the Cheeses:

Gouda:  This cheese took away the entire smokiness of the wine and down played the spices.  I thought it was a great pairing.

Manchego:  The wine was less spicy, smoother, and had a longer finish.

Muenster:  The wine was spicy and smooth on the finish.  The pepper flavors were greatly accented.

Brie:  The Shiraz was dry.  The brie really overwhelmed the wine, and it was an awful pairing.

Goat Cheese:  The goat cheese made the wine very spicy, acidic, and harsh.  Similar to the Merlot, the cheese was much too soft and tangy for the wine.

Pepper jack:  Similar to the Merlot, the spices in the wine were accentuated on the finish from the pepper in the cheese.

Overall, I think brie and goat were the hardest to pair with because they were a little too tangy.  The manchego and muenster were very flavorless and it was easy for them to absorb any harsh tannins and make the wine smooth on the finish.

Selfie Sunday with my Merlot

Wine Dinner - Lucky

For my second wine dinner, my friend Allison and I made a trip out to Roanoke to try Lucky.  It was the second time I had been there, and I knew they were known for their wide variety in alcohol beverages.  

I forgot to snag a picture of the front, but this one was found at: http://www.downtownroanoke.org/go/lucky

In order to save money, Allison and I each got on entree and a glass of wine and shared.  We then decided to order a dessert and choose a wine after we had a chance to figure out which ones would pair best.  Allison ordered duck, and I ordered fried chicken.  

The menus - wines on the left, food on the right, with desserts on top

A picture of me checking out the menu, trying to decide what to order

Their wine list was very long, and was mostly served by the bottle, but we asked our server which two wines to order with each of our meals and he suggested the Chateau Du Coing Chardonnay from Loire, France for my fried chicken, and the Corteo Tempranillo from Lisboa, Portugal for the duck.

The Corteo

The Chardonnay

We took our initial tasting on each wine before our food came.

The fried chicken with the Chardonnay

The nose on the Chardonnay was light, acidic, and refreshing with a slight hint of citrus.  On the palate, I picked up on asparagus that was well balanced with citrus and acidic notes.  The finish was dry, but not long, with a little bit of sweet.  When I tasted it with the fried chicken, I thought the pairing was decent.  The taste of the wine did not balance with the peppers in the skin of the chicken, but the acids did cut through the fat very well.  The seasoning on the chicken accented the spicier, more peppery flavors of the wine.

The duck and the Coreto

The Corteo appeared to be very purple, and looked almost like dark grape juice.  It had aromas of peppers and tannins.  On the palate it was dry, full-bodied, and juicy.  I picked up slight peppers that were balanced with plums.  Tannins on the finish.  With the duck, it was much sweeter, with the spices taking the background to the dark berries.  The fattiness of the duck went great with the dryness of the wine.  Overall it was a great pairing.

About halfway through the meal, our waiter suggested a third wine to pair with a cinnamon pot de creme for dessert.  He brought it over to the table, set it down, AND gave it to us free of charge!  It was the Chateu Vieux Manor Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon from Bordeaux, France.

Our free Bordeaux, with our awesome waiter in the background

cinnamon pot de creme

The Bordeaux had cherry, plums, pepper, and tannic aromas.  On the palate, it was very dry, harsh, acidic, tannic, and peppery. However, it was still much sweeter than the Corteo.  I was very intrigued to try it with the Pot de Crème because it seemed too spicy and overpowering for the dessert.  I was pleasantly surprised by the way they complimented each other.  The chocolate accented the spiciness of the wine, and there were no tannic flavors at all.  It made the wine very smooth and the finish long and sweet.

Overall, I would definitely recommend taking a trip out to Lucky to enjoy some nice wines and delicious foods.  The staff was very nice, and our waiter was really nice to accommodate all of our pairing questions.  He made a lot of great suggestions, and we loved them all!

A close up on the white wine menu

A close up on the red wine menu (sorry, I got it to turn on my computer but when I uploaded it here it kept turning back on its side)

Winery Visit - "Chateau Morrisette"

For my friend's 23rd birthday, a group of my friends and I decided to take a trip out to Chateau Morrisette.  After a few missed turns in the pouring rain, we ended up walking into the restaurant instead of the wine tasting room.

Seniors at the Chateau for wine tasting

We started off by tasting, 10 wines for $8 (a really good deal!).  The man who lead our tasting even let us taste wines that weren't on the tasting menu, all we had to do was ask.  It was definitely worth the drive and the money to make the trip out there.
Overall, I felt the quality of the wine was decent.  I have had better wines at the Vintage Cellar tastings.  However, I went in with the mindset the wines would be awful, and was pleasantly surprised they were not as bad as everyone made them seem.  I would describe them as one-dimensional and harsh in their flavorings.

A picture with the birthday girl

After the tasting, we went on a tour of the winery.  It was a short tour that really involved three major parts.  The first was where the grapes are initially processed, its outside to because the winery does not grow 100% of their wines.  This area is where the stems are separated from the grapes, and they press the grapes.

The grape processing area and machine

The second area is a very large room where they ferment, age, and bottle the wines.  There were massive steel barrels that were used to ferment the wine, along with continue to age it after.  Some of the wines are aged in oak barrels, while others are aged in stainless steel.

The fermenter and oak barrels they use to age the wine

wine ready to be shipped out

The third area was the bottling room.  It was a very small room on the side of the massive aging/packaging room.  One person works for several hours at a time to ensure all of the wine is bottled before it continues to age in the wrong vessel.

The bottling room

Selfie on the wine tour

The bag of corks I would have stolen if I ever lifted at the gym

Finally, the wines are packaged and sent out to their designated distributers for sale.  I would have liked the wine tour better if they had a larger facility, but with everything shoved in to one place, the tour seemed short and rushed.  If the facility had been larger, it may have allowed for the separation of each step of the fermenting and aging process, which would have allowed the tour guide to explain each step more in depth as they lead the group through the facility.

The wine storage/packaging room

Creepin' on our tour guide