Tasting - Wagner Finger Lakes Riesling Ice

Name: Wagner Finger Lakes Riesling Ice
Variety: 100% Riesling

Region: New York
Country: USA
Year: 2014
Price: $30

Winery Review: Gently pressing frozen grapes extracts only the juice while leaving water behind in the form of ice. The result is this luxurious, full-bodied dessert wine. Full bodied, aromatic and zesty, each sip explodes with vibrant fruitiness & leaves behind a lively, lingering finish.

My Review: I love ice wine and this is a really great wine. The nose was interesting with a zesty, citrusy smell with hints of stone fruit and apricots. The taste was more apricot with peach and liquid candy. It was silky smooth throughout with a short finish. 

Tasting - Stanburn Winery Poorhouse

Name: Stanburn Winery Poorhouse
Variety: 100% Chambourcin

Region: Virginia
Country: USA
Year: 2014
Price: $16

Winery Review: Contains 100% Chambourcin. Fermented in stainless steel and aged in neutral barrels. Black cherries, raspberries, blackberries, and chocolate notes. Nice smooth, fruity palate with a fresh fruit finish. Pairs well with cheesecakes or death by chocolate desserts.

My Review: I don’t come across the Chambourcin varietal much but this was a pleasant one. Red fruit is quite noticeable on the nose with berries and oak. On the palate there is more red berries specifically raspberries. It was pretty sweet but pleasantly so. I enjoyed it and would get it again.

Tasting - Stanburn Winery Meadow Breeze

Name: Stanburn Winery Meadow Breeze
Variety: 100% Vidal Blanc

Region: Virginia
Country: USA
Year: 2015
Price: $16

Winery Review: Contains 100% Vidal Blanc. Fermented and aged in stainless steel. Sweet and fruity. Aromas of peaches and tropical fruits, with a crisp, clean finish. A great porch wine. Pairs well with desserts. Perfect for lazy afternoons or summer cookouts.

My Review: This was a very nice sweet wine. I love Vidal Blanc as it’s one of my favorite white wine varietals. The nose was fruity with hints of peach and candy. The taste was also fruity with more peach. It was a silky sweet wine with a nice mouthfeel. The finish was short. I really liked this one.

Tasting - Stanburn Winery Big A Red

Name: Stanburn Winery Big A Red
Variety: Cabernet Franc and Chambourcin

Region: Virginia
Country: USA
Year: 2015
Price: $19

Winery Review: Contains Cabernet Franc and Chambourcin. Fermented in stainless steel and aged in neutral barrels. Aromas of strawberries and cream, red raspberries, blackberries, and violets. Soft, creamy palate with a fruity mid-palate. Fine, dusty tannins, with earthy hints. Smooth and persistent finish. Pairs well with grilled meats, raspberry cheesecake, BBQ, and medium to hard cheeses.

My Review: This was a great wine. It was similar to a varietal Cab Franc. The Chambourcin mellows it out a bit to make it really nice. The nose is of cherry, spice, and green pepper. The taste has spice and cherry with an earthy and tannice component. The finish is smooth and long. This was quite similar to their Cab Franc but a bit better I think. I really enjoyed this wine.

Tasting - Stanburn Winery Cabernet Franc

Name: Stanburn Winery Cabernet Franc
Variety: 100% Cabernet Franc

Region: Virginia
Country: USA
Year: 2015
Price: $17

Winery Review: Contains 100% Cabernet Franc. Fermented in stainless steel and aged in neutral barrels. Chocolate, cherries, strawberries, and violets on the nose. Smooth, spicy tannins and fruity mid-palate. Bright and lively, drink young. Pairs well with hard cheeses, grilled meats, herbed stews, and chocolate covered strawberries.

My Review: The nose on this wine was full of spice with cherry and green pepper. The taste was similar with more spice and cherry coming through. It was an earthy, tannic Cab Franc. The finish was pretty smooth though. I thought this was a nice Cab Franc and thoroughly enjoyable.

Tasting - Stanburn Winery Bull’s Blush

Name: Stanburn Winery Bull’s Blush
Variety: Chambourcin, Cabernet Franc, and Vidal Blanc

Region: Virginia
Country: USA
Year: 2014
Price: $16

Winery Review: Semi-sweet blush that contains Chambourcin rosé, Cabernet Franc rosé, and Vidal Blanc. Fermented in stainless steel and aged in neutral barrels. Sweet raspberry and strawberry notes with melon and peach aromas. Fruity and crisp upfront with a smooth and creamy finish. Pairs well with Spicy Mexican and ethnic dishes. Great for picnics. It’s like summer in a bottle!

My Review: This was an interesting combination of grapes for a rosé. I wanted to try this very much. The nose was kind of earthy, off fruit sort of thing with red berries. The taste was similar with more red berries and a slight tannic component to it. The fruit component was slight. The finish was smooth. This was a really interesting wine to behold.

Tasting - Stanburn Winery Highfly

Name: Stanburn Winery Highfly
Variety: Vidal Blanc and Traminette

Region: Virginia
Country: USA
Year: 2015
Price: $16

Winery Review: A semi-sweet blend of Vidal Blanc and Traminette, the nose displays intense tropical, rose petal, and fresh lychee notes. The palate is rich and mouth-coating with orange blossom, fig, and apricot flavors. Pair with spicey Asian dishes, light pastas, roast pork, and poultry dishes.

My Review: This was a really nice wine. The nose had floral notes with hints of peach and stone fruit. The taste was fruity with a slight sweetness. I got some tropical notes possibly pineapple. It had a smooth short finish and was quite tasty. 

Tasting - Abingdon Vineyard and Winery Appalachian Autumn

Name: Abingdon Vineyard and Winery Appalachian Autumn
Variety: 50% Traminette 50% Chambourcin

Region: Virginia
Country: USA
Year: 2015
Price: $15

Winery Review: A terrific blend of Traminette and White Chambourcin – a great sipping wine

My Review: This was a very nice blush wine. Very easy and drinkable. The nose is of red fruit and berries. The taste is of red berries especially raspberries. It is quite sweet. Nice finish. This would be a nice summer sipping wine.

Tasting - Abingdon Vineyard and Winery Traminette

Name: Abingdon Vineyard and Winery Traminette
Variety: 100% Traminette

Region: Virginia
Country: USA
Year: 2015
Price: $16

Winery Review: Slightly sweet with a hint of spice from its Gewurztraminer parent.

My Review: This was a delightful white wine. The nose was floral with notes of honey. The taste was silky and slightly sweet. Notes of honey and stone fruit come through. Nice finish.

Tasting - Abingdon Vineyard and Winery Misty River

Name: Abingdon Vineyard and Winery Misty River
Variety: 100% Chardonnel

Region: Virginia
Country: USA
Year: 2015
Price: $16

Winery Review: a dry, white table wine made from Chardonel grapes and aged only in stainless steel tanks.

My Review: I’ve never had the Chardonnel varietal before so this was going to be an interesting wine for me. The nose was floral smelling with hints of honeysuckle. The taste was a bit different as it was citrusy with notes of honeydew. It had a good balance with a crisp finish. It was a solid wine. 

Tasting - Abingdon Vineyard and Winery Red Hawk

Name: Abingdon Vineyard and Winery Red Hawk
Variety: Chambourcin and Chardonnel

Region: Virginia
Country: USA
Year: 2014
Price: $20

Winery Review: A soft fruity low tannin red wine which has become a wine for all occasions.

My Review: This was an interesting combination of grapes. I was excited to try it. The nose was of red fruit specifically berries. The taste was slightly sweet with more berries present and finished with a slight oaky flavor. The finish was long and smooth. This wine wasn’t very complicated and it was enjoyable. 

Tasting - Abingdon Vineyard and Winery Cabernet Franc

Name: Abingdon Vineyard and Winery Cabernet Franc
Variety: 100% Cabernet Franc

Region: Virginia
Country: USA
Year: 2015
Price: $26

Winery Review: A full flavored red wine with a smooth finish able to handle red meats or pasta.

My Review: Cab Francs are my favorite varietal. The nose on this one was cherry with some slight spice and oak. The taste was similar with more cherry and spice but with some leather component. It was quite tannic. The finish was short. I didn’t really like this wine. It was too acidic and didn’t provide me with a whole lot of flavor. It wasn’t enjoyable. 

Tasting - Beliveau Estate Reflection

Name: Beliveau Estate Reflection
Variety: 100% Traminette

Region: Virginia
Country: USA
Year: 2014
Price: $16

Winery Review: Notes of tropical fruit and flowers.

My Review: I’ve noticed that Virginia does Traminette well and this was a nice entry into the varietal. The nose had notes of overripe fruit and peach. The taste continued with more stone fruit specifically peach. This wine finished short but was silky smooth and had a nice mouthfeel. Solid wine.

Tasting - Beliveau Estate Soul Singer

Name: Beliveau Estate Soul Singer
Variety: 100% Chambourcin

Region: Virginia
Country: USA
Year: 2013
Price: $26

Winery Review: Old world earthy taste. Style, dry, Chambourcin with notes of cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove.

My Review: This was an interesting wine. The nose was spicy with hints of cherry and vanilla. The taste had similar spice to it with cherry and maybe leather. There’s bite to it. It finished short. I don’t have much experience with this varietal but I am intrigued by it.

Tasting - Beliveau Estate Mystique

Name: Beliveau Estate Mystique
Variety: 100% Chardonnay

Region: Virginia
Country: USA
Year: 2014
Price: $20

Winery Review: Dry UNOAKED Chardonnay: Flavors of lemon, ginger, honey, and custard.

My Review: I am not a fan of Chardonnay. I’ve only ever had one or two good ones. This was solid. It was decent. The nose was floral and citrusy. The taste had lemon and stone fruit. It finished long and smooth but devoid of much flavor or excitement. It was okay.

Tasting - Beliveau Estate Portal

Name: Beliveau Estate Portal
Variety: Zinfandel

Region: Virginia/California
Country: USA
Year: 2013
Price: $32

Winery Review: Full-bodied and smooth with tastes of cherry, vanilla, pipe tobacco, and leather.

My Review: This was an interesting wine. The grapes come from California because Zinfandel can’t grow in Virginia but the wine was produced in Virginia. The nose was vanilla and cherry and super fruit forward. It tasted earthy with some cherry. Some leather components and some oakiness came through as well. It finished long and smooth. It was decent.

Tasting - Ravenswood Old Vine Zinfandel Lodi

Name: Ravenswood Old Vine Zinfandel Lodi County
Variety: 76% Zinfandel, 24% Petite Sirah

Region: California
Country: USA
Year: 2014
Price: $15

Winery Review: Blueberries, black plums, vanilla, and cocoa. Lush and mouthfilling, with incredibly silky tannins that slide into a long, flavorful finish. Our Lodi Zin explodes with blueberries, black plums, vanilla, and cocoa. Lush and mouthfilling, with incredibly silky tannins that slide into a long, flavorful finish. Uncork now for a tempting taste, or cellar for up to 10 years of flavor development.

My Review: The aroma of this wine was very potent and filled with plum, currants, and raspberries. The palate was full-bodied, fruity, and bold. I tasted mainly red fruit, berries, and boysenberry. It finished long and smooth. This was a very nice wine. I was pleasantly surprised. I bought it with the intention of using it in a beef stew. It turned out very nicely too.

Tasting - Horton Vineyards Cabernet Franc

Name: Horton Vineyards Cabernet Franc
Variety: 79% Cabernet Franc, 14% Tannat, 7% Merlot

Region: Virginia
Country: USA
Year: 2014
Price: $15

Winery Review: This wine was 100% steel fermented and then barrel aged (new and once used American & French oak) for 8 months. Aromas of violets and tar combine with spicy oak flavors in this robust wine.  Horton Cabernet Franc was the first in the United States using the traditional blending variety, Tannat. The result is a wine with a firm structure, ripe fruit and a spicy finish.

My Review: I was looking forward to this Cabernet Franc. Cab Francs are my favorite varietal. The nose was of oak and spice with some rotten grape thrown in. The taste was mainly red berries with more spice coming through ending with vanilla. The finish was smooth. The wine was just okay. It is not my favorite Cab Franc.

Tasting - Biltmore Christmas at Biltmore Red Blend

Name: Biltmore Christmas at Biltmore Red Blend
Variety: Red Blend

Region: North Carolina
Country: USA
Year: 2016
Price: $15

Winery Review: A seasonal favorite, this soft fruit-forward red wine, with flavors of berry and spice is an excellent complement to your favorite holiday dishes.

My Review: The nose is slightly oaky with light red berries specifically cherries and raspberries. The wine itself was light bodied and slightly sweet. I tasted red and black cherries and some vanilla. It had a short smooth finish. This was a nice easy drinking wine, not offending or anything.