I’ve been ransacking my cellar for weeks now, trying to get the biggest, gutsiest red wines I can find, going through Spanish, Rhone, and California Zinfandels. In Virginia wine, I’ve been enjoying Petit Verdot and blends of that with Tannat. Tonight though, I’d like to celebrate a straight varietal Virginia Cabernet Sauvignon, a reserve at that, and a decade old, from the fine 2014 vintage, by Gray Ghost Vineyards in Amissville, who last year celebrated their 30th anniversary.
For folks who like big, well-oaked, tannic West Coast reds, this is a Cabernet that will surely please. I had tasted it a few years ago and it was way too young and oaky then, but with a polar vortex and a hearty stew, it was time to give this gutsy Cab another try, and it was the right time.
Color: still deep ruby. Nose: ripe black cassis, new French oak, a hint of black pepper and cigar box. Palate: very chewy, new oak prominent (aged 30 months in barrel! In Bordeaux, the maximum is usually 20 months). Firm tannins, full and rich but with a fresh, clean finish. Despite a decade of age, this hefty wine hasn’t reached its peak yet, and needs another year or two to fully open up. Will reward further aging and will last another decade.