Wine Recs From Local Winos
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Lucinda Smith |
2008 Thibaut-Janisson Winery “Cuveé d’État” Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut Light • Acidic • Crisp • Dry • Fruity |
This is a great Virginia wine because: this very dry sparkling wine can stand proudly amongst any sparkling wine produced from any of the “better” known regions for bubbly. |
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Mike Carroll |
2010 Catoctin Creek Cabernet Franc Medium • Dry • Earthy • Peppery |
This is a great Virginia wine because: it has beautiful color, good fruit, peppery flavors, hints of raspberry, well balanced and a nice lingering finish. A great example of Virginia Cabernet Franc. |
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Warren Richard |
2009 Linden Vineyards Hardscrabble Chardonnay Medium • Acidic • Dry • Floral • Fruity |
This is a great Virginia wine because: it provides the best expression of terroir; it is a well-made, focused wine. |
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Charlie Chill |
2003 Sans Soucy Vineyards Gold Leaf Traminette Light • Acidic • Crisp • Fruity • Sweet |
This is a great Virginia wine because: of the hints of gardenia in the bouquet, and honeysuckle on the palate. Reminiscent of the days as a child when you took the honeysuckle flower and put in it your mouth; It’s the exact same taste. The name says it all with its beautiful color. |
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Doug House |
2011 Glen Manor Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc Medium • Acidic • Citrusy • Crisp • Dry • Fruity • Herbal |
This is a great Virginia wine because: the flavors are bright and citrusy with just a hint of tropical fruit and a juicy, mouthwatering finish. The 2011 is even more crisp and vibrant than usual, with opening aromas of fresh herbs and grass, some white grapefruit and a hint of boxwood. Excellent wine. |
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Frank Morgan |
2010 Ankida Ridge Pinot Noir Medium • Dry • Earthy • Fruity • Spicy |
This is a great Virginia wine because: Ankida Ridge highlights the importance of matching vineyard site and grape selection to produce fine wine from varietals not typically associated with Virginia. This wine displays aromas of earth, cherry and hints of baking spice followed by tart cherry flavors on the palate, leading to a lengthy finish of cherry and tea. |
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Nancy Bauer & Rick Collier |
2008 Jefferson Vineyards Meritage Medium • Fruity |
This is a great Virginia wine because: of its balance and rich fruit, making it our top pick this past summer—and we could buy it at our local grocery store. |
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Christian G.E. Schiller |
2010 Otium Cellars Blaufraenkisch Full • Dry • Earthy • Floral • Fruity • Peppery • Spicy |
This is a great Virginia wine because: while it’s still a little young, it is already showing great fruit flavors with some spice. The wine is rich in tannin and will certainly become more velvety and supple with age. |
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Jessica Milby |
2007 Barboursville Vineyards Octagon Full • Dry • Earthy • Floral • Fruity • Peppery |
This is a great Virginia wine because: it showcases great quality, fine wine making, ability to age and it’s delicious. |
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Shannon Jones |
2011 Blenheim Vineyards Rosé Medium • Citrusy • Crisp • Fruity |
This is a great Virginia wine because: it’s big bouquet and flavor of strawberry, honey and a touch of cinnamon is a great example of the fabulous work Kirsty Harmon is doing and of the great affordable wines available in Virginia. |
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Munchkin & Pomeroy |
2010 Rappahannock Cellars Cabernet Franc Reserve Medium • Dry • Fruity • Peppery • Spicy |
This is a great Virginia wine because: it exhibiting the best qualities of Virginia’s signature red grape: rich and pawsitively satisfying, it’s a wine you want to hold in your mouth and enjoy as long as possible–with a nice finish that sets your tail wagging when you do let go. Hint of vanilla, deep color, and fuller feel than some Cab Francs. |
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Jason Meringolo |
2009 Loudoun Valley Vineyards Traminette Medium • Acidic • Citrusy • Crisp • Dry • Floral • Spicy |
This is a great Virginia wine because: it is a crisp, balanced and well rounded food-friendly wine. It has wonderful honey and apricot flavors with a spicy finish. It is perfect with all kinds of spicy Asian cuisine. |
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Allan Liska |
2007 Breaux Vineyards Nebbiolo Full • Dry • Earthy |
This is a great Virginia wine because: the Breaux 2007 Nebbiolo is the heir to the much vaunted 2001 Breaux Nebbiolo. It is a powerful wine, aged 4 ½ years in the barrel, with strong tannins and concentrated black fruit. This is a Virginia Wine that will age 20 years or more and is worthy of the title “Wine of Kings.” |
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Andrew Stover |
2011 Chrysalis Vineyards Albarino Medium Acidic Citrusy • Crisp • Dry • Floral |
This is a great Virginia wine because: the wine shows intense varietal character reminiscent of the great wines from Rias Baixas, Spain. Pairs amazing with Rappahannock River Oysters and seasonal salads. |
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Anthony Marocco |
2009 Rappahannock Cellars Meritage Full • Dry • Floral • Spicy |
A Bourdeaux style blend in Virginia? Seriously? Yes, seriously! Comprised of 42% Merlot, 27% Cabernet Franc 15%, Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Petit Verdot, and 4% Malbec, this traditional Bourdeaux style blend packs some pretty intense aromas and flavor. The nose offers aromas of oak, spice, cassis, and strong coffee, while the palate is caressed with a subtle plethora of floral and spice notes mixed with roasted coffee, dark fruit, and a hint of oak. The finish is perfectly balanced with gentle tannins and light acidity, highlighted with undertones of oak that lingers to provide you with the most unique, tranquil feeling that could possibly bless your taste buds. |
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Hagan Barnett |
2009 Delaplane Cellars Melange Rouge Full • Earthy |
This is a great Virginia wine because it is the embodiment of what Virginia wine has become: complex, delicious, and worthy of respect. |
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John Hagarty |
2011 Rappahannock Cellars Viognier Light • Citrusy • Crisp • Dry • Fruity |
This is a great Virginia wine because it’s a perfect expression of the Viognier grape with a juicy palate of peach and apricot notes and a moderate food friendly 12.5% alcohol. |
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Julie Mater |
2010 Chester Gap Cellars Viognier Reserve Light • Citrusy • Crisp • Dry • Fruity |
Crispy, Spicy but with a smooth oak finish This is a great Virginia wine because Viognier is one of the Commonwealth’s best varietals and Chester Gap has it mastered with a balance of a spice and smooth oak; it’s a white that red wine drinkers will be pleasantly surprised by. |
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Kat Schornberg Barnard, PhD |
2010 Trump Winery Kluge SP Blanc de Blanc / 100% Chardonnay Light • Acidic • Citrusy • Nutty |
This is a great Virginia wine because its simple yet elegant and it makes any occasion feel special. |
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Kurt Jensen |
2010 Chester Gap Cellars Petit Manseng Full • Acidic • Citrusy • Crisp • Fruity • Sweet |
This is a great Virginia wine because it showcases one of our unique white varietals with intense pineapple fruit flavor and sweetness, yet balanced by the naturally high acidity. |
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Melissa Watt |
2010 Veritas Rose Light • Acidic • Crisp • Dry • Fruity |
This is a great Virginia wine because it is delightfully refreshing for warmer weather, and is one of the drier Roses found in Virginia. The 2010 vintage has a bright pink color, is perfectly crisp, and has aromas of strawberry. My favorite cheese pairing with this wine is Purple Haze goat cheese by Cypress Grove. The tanginess of fennel pollen and lavender, combined with the acidity of the Veritas Rose makes a fantastic combination. I also recommend trying this pairing with freshly sliced melon. |
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Todd Godbout |
2011 Glen Manor Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc Acidic • Citrusy • Crisp • Dry |
This is a great Virginia wine because, even in a wet season, Jeff White was able to produce a quality vintage featuring lemon grass and citrus flavors, as well as a shade of minerality, before culminating in a lasting acidic finish. |
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Dezel Quillen |
Delaplane Cellars 2007 Old World Cabernet Franc |
This is a great Virginia wine because, it has a splash of Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon for added structure and complexity. It’s a fairly restrained wine that offers soft cherry, wild berry, olive-like and dried herbal scents that are balanced by leather, sweet tobacco leaf and dusty minerality/earthy aromas/flavors. In the mouth, the wine is light-to-medium in body with supple tannins and good supporting acidity, ending with a lightly bitter finish of medium length. It paired nicely with my pepper-crusted pork loin dinner. |
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