Tasting - Sophenia Malbec Altosur

Name:  Sophenia Malbec Altosur
Variety: Malbec
Region: Mendoza
Country: Argentina
Year: 2013
Price: $11

Winery Review: Attractive red color with violet hues. Aromas of intense ripe fruit: cherries, blackberries, blueberries, and fresh plums, combined with spicy and floral hints. In the mouth the sweet and round tannins increase its fruit sensation and balance. Wine of good intensity, concentration and long after taste.

My Review: This was a nice wine. Pretty big aromas consume the nose. Blackberries and raspberries come through most. The taste was pleasant with hints of cherries, blackberries, plums, and some spice on the back end. It was well-balanced with a smooth, medium finish. I’ve had better Malbecs at or below this price point but not bad on the whole. 

Tasting - Bricco Dei Tati Piemonte Barbera

Name:  Bricco Dei Tati Piemonte Barbera
Variety: Barbera
Region: Piemonte
Country: Italy
Year: 2013
Price: $7

Winery Review: This is a young, fresh, lively Barbera with a persistent and attractive bouquet of black cherries and a bit of spice on the palate. It has few tannins which is typical of the Barbera varietal, and a medium finish. Delightfully approachable, it is great with medium to strong cheeses, barbecue and game.

My Review: This had nice aromas, not too big but good. Red fruit hits the nose with some black cherries. The taste was similar with that red fruit really through with maybe some blackberries. The finish was medium but subpar with some acidity on the end. I’d like to see a Barbera had a higher price point/quality and see what it really should be like. I felt like this wine went away from me too quickly. 

Tasting - Redwood Creek Winemaker’s Reserve Rich Red Blend

Name: Redwood Creek Winemaker’s Reserve Rich Red Blend
Variety: Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Syrah
Region: California
Country: USA
Year: NV
Price: $5

Winery Review: A flavorful combination of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah, our Redwood Creek Rich Red Blend has luscious flavors of dark cherry and brown spice. Melding three celebrated varietals means countless food options: think spicy pizza, baby back ribs or marinated flank steak.

My Review: This was a nice little wine. The smell starts off very nicely with a fruity nose with hints of blackberries, raspberries, light chocolate, and pepper. It smells distinctly Merlot to me. It’s pretty aromatic. The taste is of red fruit, dark chocolate, and currants. It has the taste qualities of a Cab Sav but the tannic structure of a Merlot, and the heat of a Syrah. The tannins are nice and it had a long finish. This is a well-crafted wine especially at this price point. Good quality and I like it.

Tasting - Ecco Domani Pinot Grigio

Name: Ecco Domani Pinot Grigio
Variety: 100% Pinot Grigio
Region: Veneto
Country: Italy
Year: 2013
Price: $11

Winery Review: Our Pinot Grigio is crafted from 100% Pinot Grigio grapes harvested at optimal maturity levels. The wine was made "in bianco" or "in the white," referring to the vinification process that transforms the blue-gray colored berries into delicate white wine. A soft pressing was used to enhance flavor extraction while imparting minimal color from the skins. The juice was fermented in temperature-controlled tanks and a selection of specific yeast was added at a temperature of 18ºC.  After settling, the wine was cold stabilized, filtered and bottled under sterile conditions, avoiding malolactic fermentation and preserving the fruit characteristics of the wine. This wine has a clear, straw yellow color, with light golden reflections. Notes of light citrus and delicate floral aromas are complemented by hints of tropical fruit flavors. The wine is full bodied, with a pleasantly soft palate and a long finish.

My Review: It has a distinct floral smell to it. I get notes of green apple, melon, tropical fruit, and a little citrus on the end. The taste is a bit subtle with more acidity than I would’ve thought. Light taste of apple, mango, and pineapple dance on the back palate. It is silky in its finish and short. Not a bad wine. One of the better Pinot Grigios that I’ve had although that’s not saying a whole lot.

Tasting - Barboursville Paxxito (Malvaxia)

Name: Barboursville Paxxito (Malvaxia)
Variety: 50% Moscato Ottonel and 50% Vidal
Region: Orange County, Virginia
Country: USA
Year: 2010
Price: $32 (for 375 mL)

Winery Review: A distinctive wine created in the traditional Passito process, the grapes are carefully hand-selected and set aside to rest and air-dry for up to 120 days before crushing and pressing. Six months of slow, cool fermentation followed by extended barrel aging produces an intense, rich, balanced wine of luscious sweetness and good acidity. Vibrant with echoes of tropical fruit, the wine exudes a bouquet and palate of pineapple, apricot and pear.

My Review: This is the big boy of dessert wines. Coming in at 15% alcohol and 11% residual sugars, this wine packs a punch. The aromas are absolutely huge! They combine apricot and a smell of alcohol. The taste is super sweet almost liqueur like with just a hint of pineapple. It is a very balanced wine though and very smooth. This is one of my all-time favorites and would return to in a heartbeat. Fantastic wine.

Tasting - Barboursville Phileo

Name: Barboursville Phileo
Variety: 60% Moscato, 30% Vidal, and 10% Traminette
Region: Orange County, Virginia
Country: USA
Year: NV
Price: $17

Winery Review: A truly beautiful and friendly dessert wine, with a brightly refreshing sweetness indebted to a carefully preserved fruit acidity, for a clean and disarmingly elegant finish.

My Review: The smell was super fruity, almost over the top. Some citrus notes came through as well. The taste was very sweet. Definitely something to drink in small amounts. Contains 8% residual sugars and it shows. It finishes silky smooth.

Tasting - Barboursville Rosato

Name: Barboursville Rosato
Variety: Chardonnay, Riesling, and Cabernet Franc
Region: Orange County, Virginia
Country: USA
Year: NV
Price: $10

Winery Review: A dessert style rose wonderful with fruit desserts, light cheeses, and strawberry shortcake. Rich and fruity with hints of strawberry, plum, and spice.

My Review: This wine had a fruity smell to it. Nothing very distinctive on the nose. The taste was super, super fruity. I got strawberries on the taste. It had a smooth finish and was an easy drinker. This is a wine to sip on the porch on a hot summer’s evening. It was pleasant. 

Tasting - Barboursville Nebbiolo Reserve

Name: Barboursville Nebbiolo Reserve
Variety: 100% Nebbiolo
Region: Orange County, Virginia
Country: USA
Year: 2012
Price: $35

Winery Review: Elegant and complex, aromatically enthralling depth of violets, forest loam, dark berry and tobacco notes. Full body, a firm, dense structure followed by a seamless, sustained finish.

My Review: This a big time red that Barboursville was offering. It had BIG aromas. It was very fragrant and had hints of berries and tobacco. The taste also had hints of berries along with light spice or herbal notes. It had a very smooth finish. I was very impressed with this wine and thoroughly enjoyed it. 

Tasting - Barboursville Cabernet Franc Reserve

Name: Barboursville Cabernet Franc Reserve
Variety: 100% Cabernet Franc
Region: Orange County, Virginia
Country: USA
Year: 2012
Price: $25

Winery Review: A Virginia classic. With layers upon layers of ripe berries, plum, currant, cherry and cedar, woven together perfectly by twelve months of French oak aging. Cabernet Franc’s great character combines intense flavors with remarkable softness.

My Review: Now this is the wine that I was highly anticipating when I came here. Cab Franc has become one of my favorite varietals and this one did not disappoint. It was fruity on the nose with hints of cherry and plum. The taste was big and complex with cherry and general red fruit coming through with a spiciness defining the flavors. It had a lingering finish. This was one of my favorite wines that I’ve had and worth the price point at which they are offering. 

Tasting - Barboursville Cabernet Sauvignon

Name: Barboursville Cabernet Sauvignon
Variety: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Region: Orange County, Virginia
Country: USA
Year: 2013
Price: $15

Winery Review: This elegant red is complex and inviting, showing currant, mint and herbal tones. Twelve months of oak aging produce a well-balanced structure with supple and refined tannins.

My Review: This Cab Sav showed good complexity but herbal notes on the nose. The taste was of cherry and currants. It was well balanced and showed a couple layers of flavors. I had a short finish. This was enjoyable but not over the top. It was a good wine but Barboursville has better offers. As a mid-range Cab Sav though, it is a good pick up.

Tasting - Barboursville Merlot

Name: Barboursville Merlot
Variety: 92% Merlot and 8% Cabernet Franc
Region: Orange County, Virginia
Country: USA
Year: 2013
Price: $15

Winery Review: Limited oak aging, offers elegant berry flavors with distinctive tones of mint and plum. Has medium body combined with extremely soft tannins.

My Review: This was the surprise wine. With its price point comparative to the other reds and Merlot’s reputation (although I enjoy them), I expected this to be just okay and nothing of real note but was greatly surprised. There was plum and cherry on the nose. It followed with a light and smooth fruity taste. It had a short finish with soft tannin structure. I really enjoyed this and thought it was worthy of a higher price point.

Tasting - Barboursville Sangiovese Reserve

Name: Barboursville Sangiovese Reserve
Variety: 80% Sangiovese, 16% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 4% Petit Verdot
Region: Orange County, Virginia
Country: USA
Year: 2013
Price: $22

Winery Review: The king of Tuscan viticulture, gentle and elegant, with plenty of cherry and plum aromas that are well integrated with a lingering finish and a round structure.

My Review: This was a pretty good wine. Vegetal on the nose with red fruit mixed in. The taste was predominantly cherry. It was acidic on the finish. This was a nice wine but I wasn’t impressed with it. Nothing about really stood out.

Tasting - Barboursville Barbera Reserve

Name: Barboursville Barbera Reserve
Variety: 100% Barbera
Region: Orange County, Virginia
Country: USA
Year: 2013
Price: $22

Winery Review: One of the most popular red wines of Northern Italy, Barbera is elegantly earthy, with raspberry, chocolate and plum notes. Medium bodied with well integrated tannins and lively acidity.

My Review: The Barbera has an earthy smell with chocolate and plum coming through. The taste was of raspberries with light chocolate on the back palate. It had a short finish. This was an amazing wine and I was thoroughly pleased with this wine. I was left wanting more. It had a nice body with a nice tannin structure.

Tasting - Barboursville Riesling

Name: Barboursville Riesling
Variety: 100% Riesling
Region: Orange County, Virginia
Country: USA
Year: 2013
Price: $12

Winery Review: A long and cold fermentation is the secret of this wine’s refreshing and floral character, with pear and ripe nectarine tones. Off-dry, well balanced, and a nice clean finish.

My Review: This Riesling was floral on the nose. It had an orange, citrusy taste. It was a well-rounded wine and off-dry leaning. The finish was crisp. It didn’t excite me but it wasn’t offending either. It was just an okay Riesling. I expected a bit more.

Tasting - Barboursville Vintage Rose

Name: Barboursville Vintage Rose
Variety: 45% Cabernet Franc, 35% Barbera, and 20% Nebbiolo
Region: Orange County, Virginia
Country: USA
Year: 2013
Price: $15

Winery Review: Extravagantly pretty stone fruit nose and palate, with hints of pineapple and mango in a vivacious, pleasingly dry and astringent profile.

My Review: This wine has a nice floral nose. The taste is light and pleasant with some tropical fruit on the palate. I was excited to taste this when I saw the variety makeup. Not that this was a bad wine but I was a bit disappointed as these three grapes made for big wines on their own but didn’t really have the same effect when blended. Still a quality wine though.

Tasting - Barboursville Chardonnay Reserve

Name: Barboursville Chardonnay Reserve
Variety: 100% Chardonnay
Region: Orange County, Virginia
Country: USA
Year: 2013
Price: $16

Winery Review: Barrel fermented and aged for eight months, the wine is exploding with rich and complex flavors of apple and vanilla. A good acidity is well proportioned with the generous body, allowing extended aging.

My Review: This is the Chardonnay that could ruin other Chardonnays for me. This is what I want in a Chardonnay. It had an oaky smell with light fruits on the nose. There was green apple on the palate with vanilla throughout the tasting to the finish. I thoroughly enjoyed this wine and would be curious to see how it responds to aging. 

Tasting - Barboursville Viognier Reserve

Name: Barboursville Viognier Reserve
Variety: 100% Viognier
Region: Orange County, Virginia
Country: USA
Year: 2013
Price: $22

Winery Review: A smoothly textured, elegant wine showing tropical and floral tones. The full structure and long finish are magnified by a light acidity that gives it generous aging potential.

My Review: This wine was light on the nose with not too many smells coming through. The taste had citrus notes but they weren’t overpowering. The finish had a light acidity. This wasn’t a bad wine but I expected more from this varietal in this location. Maybe some aging would provide this wine with more definition. 

Tasting - Barboursville Sauvignon Blanc

Name: Barboursville Sauvignon Blanc
Variety: 100% Sauvignon Blanc
Region: Orange County, Virginia
Country: USA
Year: 2014
Price: $16

Winery Review: Effusively fragrant, crisp, juicy and bright with distinctive pear and passion fruit flavors. Hints of citrus appear on a gently herbal frame.

My Review: This wine had BIG aromas. It was very fragrant with herbal, grassy notes missed with pear. It had the undeniable taste of passion fruit which was a new wine flavor for me. It was short on the finish. This was a very enjoyable wine. This was the youngest wine of Barboursville that I tried but it didn’t matter. I would drink more of this.

Tasting - Barboursville Chardonnay

Name: Barboursville Chardonnay
Variety: 100% Chardonnay
Region: Orange County, Virginia
Country: USA
Year: 2013
Price: $13

Winery Review: Cold fermentation in stainless steel yields a fresh and exuberant wine with crisp acidity and clean varietal flavors of apple, pear and lemon.

My Review: This wine had nice aromas to it. Fruity with hints of pear, apple, and citrus on the nose. The taste was slightly buttery with more of those apple and citrus notes. It had an acidic finish but was smooth. This was a dynamic wine. I was a bit impressed with this Chardonnay as I’ve had trouble finding a good one. It was enjoyable.

Tasting - Barboursville Pinot Grigio

Name: Barboursville Pinot Grigio
Variety: 100% Pinot Grigio
Region: Orange County, Virginia
Country: USA
Year: 2013
Price: $15

Winery Review: Romantic and youthful-spirited, made in a true Italian style of winemaking. Extremely flavorful, with apple, pear and a touch of pineapple. Dry and well balanced with a glowing and poignant finish.

My Review: The Pinot Grigio had a nice subtle smell to it. Not overly fruity but it is there. The taste was better than the aromas. I got hints of pear and citrus. I found it to be off-dry to sweet which was nice. It had a long finish. It was pleasant but not over the top.

Tasting - Barboursville Brut Rose Cuvee 1814

Name: Barboursville Brut Rose Cuvee 1814
Variety: 100% Pinot Noir
Region: Orange County, Virginia
Country: USA
Year: NV
Price: $25

Winery Review: A collaboration with our founder’s Tenuta Il Bosco estate in Oltrepò Pavese, this sparkling wine is created in the metodo classico and is 100% Pinot Noir of DOCG designation. A true rosé, the radiant color is imparted by brief contact with the skins, after pressing. Ideal for celebrations as well as for fine companionship with dining, the Cuvée 1814 honors the date of Thomas Jefferson’s design for Governor Barbour’s landmark mansion at our estate, a Virginia historic landmark.

My Review: This was a lot like the other Barboursville Brut that I tried. It was fruity on the nose also with that red wine smell. It was really dry but not as dry as the other Brut. This had a little bit of underlying sweetness to it. It was subtle though. I liked it better than the other one but again it was just okay and nothing I would return to.

Tasting - Barboursville Brut Cuvee 1814

Name: Barboursville Brut Cuvee 1814
Variety: 100% Pinot Noir
Region: Orange County, Virginia
Country: USA
Year: NV
Price: $25

Winery Review: A collaboration with our founder’s Tenuta Il Bosco estate in Oltrepò Pavese, this sparkling wine is created in the metodo classico and is 100% Pinot Noir of DOCG designation. Our winemaker developed this wine in collaboration with his counterpart in Italy and in consultation with Nicolas Seconde, from Champagne. Ideal for celebrations as well as for fine companionship with dining, the Cuvée 1814 honors the date of Thomas Jefferson’s design for Governor Barbour’s landmark mansion at our estate, a Virginia historic landmark.

My Review: It was fruity on the nose. Even though it was a white wine it had the typical smell of a red wine possibly owing to the fact it was made from Pinot Noir. It was really dry. I didn’t get a lot of flavors from the wine. It was just okay and nothing I would go back to. 

Tasting - Yalumba The Signature

Name: Yalumba The Signature
Variety: 52% Cabernet Sauvignon and 48% Shiraz
Region: Barossa
Country: Australia
Year: 2010
Price: $54

Winery Review: A seductively aromatic wine, this is one of the very best Signatures. Opening with very cool, bright and almost fresh menthol aromas that merge with red currant fruits, tobacco leafy notes and cedary spices all supported with fine violet and cherry florals.

My Review: This was the big boy from Yalumba. Also this was the second Cab-Shiraz blend I tasted from them. This was big wine right from the nose. Very aromatic with currants and cherry and tobacco. The taste was super smooth and was just great. More cherry hit the palate with currants and some spice. I could pick out the Cab Sav and the Shiraz taste in the wine. Just a beautiful wine all around. 

Tasting - Yalumba The Scribbler

Name: Yalumba The Scribbler
Variety:  54% Cabernet Sauvignon and 46% Shiraz
Region: South Australia
Country: Australia
Year: 2011
Price: $18

Winery Review: The Scribbler opens with a savoury nose full of earthy tones followed by bloodplums, cedar and smouldering dark aromatics. This is a generous wine with great concentration and a tight frame.

My Review: This was the first of two Cab-Shiraz blends I tasted by this winery. This one was crafted nicely. Even the label catches the eye with its creative design. The nose opens with plums and cherries some raspberries. The taste is much the same with the raspberries taking more notice. The finish was medium-long. It was a quality wine but maybe a little hot that disrupted the flavor profile. Not a bad effort though.

Tasting - Yalumba Patchwork Shiraz

Name: Yalumba Patchwork Shiraz
Variety: 100% Shiraz
Region: Barossa
Country: Australia
Year: 2012
Price: $20

Winery Review: This wine opens with lush and juicy dark cherry, licorice spice and wild flower notes that lead into a brambly herbal savour with smoky earth tones. On the palate a satin textured dark mulberry and plum fruit appears with a succulent jazzy acidity lifting the gravelly fruit. A ferrous minerality runs through the palate leaving it savoury and moorish.

My Review: This was a very well-crafted wine. The aromas were big. There was an earthiness with an herbal quality to it. I also smelled cherries and spice. The taste was just so smooth. I tasted cherries and plum. The finish was long and smooth. I want to have this with a nice, juicy ribeye. 

Tasting - Yalumba Y Series Shiraz Viognier

Name: Yalumba Y Series Shiraz Viognier
Variety: Shiraz and Viognier
Region: Barossa
Country: Australia
Year: 2011
Price: $13

Winery Review: Mid crimson in color, the Yalumba Y Series Shiraz Viognier 2011 opens with alluring aromas of Turkish delight, white pepper and summer puddings – highlighting this exotic blend. The palate is medium bodied and full of juicy summer berries that lead to a supple tannin finish. Try with barbequed American style pork spare ribs or steamed pork buns.

My Review: I was intrigued by this blend out of Australia. The nose had a peppery spice with some red fruit playing around. The taste was actually pretty good with more red fruit and some heat coming through. The body was middle of the road and tannic structure was quite a delight. The finish is short. This was a nice wine with a nice price point. 

Tasting - Yalumba Y Series Viognier

Name: Yalumba Y Series Viognier
Variety: 100% Viognier
Region: South Australia
Country: Australia
Year: 2014
Price: $13

Winery Review: Pale straw with green hues. Honeysuckle and jasmine with poached quinces and mandarin peel. Grapefruit pith, lemongrass and stonefruit flavours while the texture adds layers of fruit persistence. The wild yeast fermentation and ageing on lees are responsible for delivering a rich silky mid palate whilst the wine maintains a refreshing quality that make it a pleasure to drink.

My Review: The nose was a little difficult to extract but there were hints of grass and citrus with tiny herbal component. The taste was of mainly stonefruit with grapefruit behind it with some herbal trimmings. It was silky on the palate and went down smooth with a short finish. It was refreshing but left me wanting something more. Not the best Viognier I've had and not my go to but it had some nice qualities and upside. It's just not for me.

Tasting - Yalumba Y Series Shiraz

Name: Yalumba Y Series Shiraz
Variety: 100% Shiraz
Region: South Australia
Country: Australia
Year: 2012
Price: $16

Winery Review: The 2012 Shiraz is deep crimson red in colour. It displays aromas of boysenberry and cherry ripe, complemented by a hint of cinnamon oak. The palate shows a core of sweet fruit that make this variety so beloved. Flavours of boysenberry and cherry ripe continue with a moderate level of tannin, full body and hearty finish mean this wine is ready to be enjoyed now. Try it with baked eggs served on a chorizo and tomato sauce.

My Review: This is a big wine. The nose is present from the initial pour with cherry, blackberry, and a bit of oakiness coming through. The cherry continues through to the taste along with some sweet red fruit and with a bit of spice. There is some heat on the long finish but it adds to a somewhat complex wine. Above average Shiraz for moderate price point. Solid.

Tasting - Yalumba Y Series Pinot Grigio

Name: Yalumba Y Series Pinot Grigio
Variety: 100% Pinot Grigio
Region: South Australia
Country: Australia
Year: 2013
Price: $10

Winery Review: The 2013 Y Series Pinot Grigio has aromas of nashi pear with baked apple and orange blossom. On the palate there is a succulent mix of the baked apple and feijoa initially with a fresh cream and poached pear mid palate and a tight cinnamon and oatmeal finish.

My Review: This is an interesting little wine. Apple hits the nose first with a bit of orange following. The taste follows with more of that apple coming through with pear on the back end. The finish is somewhat short but altogether smooth. Nice little wine especially at the price point. 

Tasting - The Cover Drive Jim Barry Cabernet Sauvignon

Name: The Cover Drive Jim Barry Cabernet Sauvignon
Variety: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Region: Coonawarra
Country: Australia
Year: 2012
Price: $20

Winery Review: This wine is deep garnet in colour with high clarity. The nose is very aromatic, displaying primary characters of cassis and dark berries with subtle hints of dried herbs. The palate is medium bodied and generous, showing fine tannins, highlighted by flavours of blackcurrant, mint and morello cherries. As with previous releases of ‘The Cover Drive’, the wine displays harmonious balance and can be enjoyed now or will reward cellaring for 5 years.

My Review: Big aromas on the nose. Black fruit and berries dominate the nose with some herbal components. The taste had a nice tannic structure that aging would only improve. The primary fruit on the palate is black fruit and cherries with a faint hint of a vegetal component. It was a nice wine but didn't excite me as much as I hoped it would.

Tasting - Langmeil Three Gardens SMG

Name: Langmeil Three Gardens SMG
Variety: 52% Shiraz, 31% Mataro, 17% Grenache
Region: Barossa
Country: Australia
Year: 2011
Price: $20

Winery Review: Lifted, fresh and bright fruit leaps out of the glass with dark cherries, Turkish delight and white pepper dominating the aroma. The bright and juicy fruit coats the palate and is well balanced with peppery and sweet spice. Medium bodied in structure with great complexity and lovely silky tannins which flow through the lengthy and savoury finish.

My Review: The nose is quite nice with red fruit and pepper spice filling the air. The taste was similar with more red fruit specifically raspberries and pepper on the palate. It was medium bodied with an underlying complexity. The heat from the Shiraz was coming through. It had a nice tannic structure with a long smooth finish.