The Virginia Wine Marketing Office has declared October “Virginia Wine Month”, and across the Commonwealth wineries are celebrating with special events in addition to their regular hours. For more details, visit https://www.virginiawine.org/virginia-wine-month.
Book Signing, Friday 10/18, Basic Necessities, Nellysford
Virginia wine author Richard Leahy will autograph copies of the third edition of his definitive book, Beyond Jefferson’s Vines: the Evolution of Quality Wine in Virginia, Friday, Oct. 18th, at Basic Necessities, the gourmet restaurant and wine shop in Nellysford (2226 Rockfish Valley Hwy, Nellysford, VA 22958; basicnecessities.us), from 4:30 – 7:00 pm (coincides with the establishment’s happy hour). Richard will be joined by fellow local author Marta Tice, signing copies of her historical romance Allegiance to Alsace, a coming-of-age story about a young ingenue with conflicted loyalties during the Napoleonic Wars.
Monticello Wine Trail Kicks Off the Month with a Red Wine Showcase
On Friday, October 4th, the Monticello Wine Trail held a Red Wine Showcase tasting at Eastwood Vineyards near Charlottesville. Seventeen wineries participated, and red wine-friendly hors d’ oeuvres were featured by Chef Andrew. I was impressed not only by the quality of the wines, but by stylistic diversity, some of which was from different vintages, but mostly from the goals of the winemakers, as well as tasting varietal wines and blends.
My Favorite Wines of the Tasting – Varietals
Hark Merlot 2019: Smooth and elegant, with subtle, ripe black fruits; like drinking velvet.
King Family Vineyards Cabernet Franc 2022: Subtle, fresh, no oak flavors, pure Cabernet Franc.
Jefferson Vineyards Merlot Reserve 2019: Rich, juicy black fruits, well-integrated with oak.
Southwest Mountain Vineyards Cabernet Franc 2021: very dark color. Nose: graphite/pencil shavings, which is actually a quality marker for varietal Cabernet Franc. Palate: rich, dark, and smooth, no noticeable oak flavor, a classic Virginia varietal style.
Southwest Mountain Vineyards Petit Verdot 2021: (20% Merlot). Nose: subtle black fruits. Palate: a lot like the Cabernet Franc (previous entry) but with more depth; stylish!
Stinson Vineyards Mourvedre 2023: Winemaker Rachel Stinson used a lot of whole cluster (stem inclusion) fruit in this fermentation, resulting in a lighter, fruitier varietal style, that still has a smokiness to it. Palate: fine acidity, lightly fruity, a late summer red wine great for food pairing.
Stinson Vineyards Cabernet Franc 2023: Some whole cluster inclusion. Nose: faint. Palate: juicy, but dry. Elegant, round, easy to quaff but still high quality. A fun, new style.
My Favorite Wines of the Tasting – Blends
Hark “Spark” 2019: This rich yet elegant blend won a gold medal, and placed in the Governor’s Case (top 12 wines in the competition) this year. Blend: 46% Cabernet Franc, 30% Merlot, 24% Petit Verdot. Fruity, yet complex, all components skillfully integrated. Showcases this excellent vintage well, also the separate varietals’ component flavors. Drinks like a Chopin waltz.
Loving Cup “Lucky Break” 2022: all wines by Loving Cup winery in North Garden are certified organically grown and produced, and this was the most impressive of the 2022 vintage reds I tasted at this event. Blend is 60% Corot Noir,
37% Marquette (both red U. MN hybrids) and 4% Norton (a Virginia hybrid circa 1825). Named after a shelter dog the owners adopted, this wine is richly fruity, fresh, and original, being a versatile food wine or for sipping slightly chilled.
King Family Vineyards Meritage 2021: (51% Merlot, 23% Cabernet Franc, 23% Petit Verdot, 3% Malbec). Nose: racy black fruits, elegant. Palate: juicy, plump, richly fruity yet with fine, racy acidity to balance. Stylish.