Tasting - Marchesi Antinori Fattoria Aldobrandesca Vie Cave Maremma Toscana

Name: Marchesi Antinori Fattoria Aldobrandesca Vie Cave Maremma Toscana
Variety: 100% Malbec

Region: Tuscany
Country: Italy
Year: 2011
Price: €16

Winery Review: A deep and intense ruby red in color, the wine’s fruity aromas mingle and leave ample space to spicy notes, particularly of cloves and vanilla. The palate is balanced and supple, long and with polished, velvety tannins. The finish and aftertaste, dominated by flavors of blueberries and ripe black fruit, are accompanied by subtle notes of dark chocolate.

My Review: After pouring in a glass, the wine was a deep, velvety red. The nose was of red berries and black currants with hints of slight oak and soggy wood. The taste was quite a treat as raspberries and currants were present throughout. It had some big flavors. It was slightly acidic with some quality tannins in the mouthfeel. The finish was long and smooth. This was an all-around amazing wine.

Tasting - WhiteBarrel BIN #127

Name: WhiteBarrel BIN #127
Variety: White Wine and mango puree

Region: Virginia
Country: USA
Year: NV
Price: $18

Winery Review: This is a white wine and then blended with mangos. It is sweet, soft, and amazingly tropical. 12.5% residual sugar, 15.0% residual sugar.

My Review: The nose was full of tropical fruit and mangoes. The taste was much the same with more tropical notes including mango. It was silky smooth and quite sweet. It was like drinking fruit juice. It was very delicious. This wine finished short. This was an interesting entry on WhiteBarrel’s list seeing it is white table wine with mango puree in it. I found it enjoyable.

Tasting - WhiteBarrel BIN #101

Name: WhiteBarrel BIN #101
Variety: 50% apple and 50% white wine

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

Winery Review: This sweet apple wine brings a rich, brilliant color and vibrant aromatic flavors with soft undertones of bourbon. 12.5% alcohol, 4% residual sugar.

My Review: The nose was filled with cinnamon and crisp apple similar to a cider. The taste carried more apple and cinnamon. I could taste the alcohol with probably owes itself to the bourbon undertones. It was silky smooth with a short finish. It had a nice sweetness. I prefer the Sudden Downpour that I had previous to this one but still a quality entry.

Tasting - WhiteBarrel BIN #260

Name: WhiteBarrel BIN #260
Variety: Raspberry and grape

Region: Virginia
Country: USA
Year: NV
Price: $18

Winery Review: This deep, mellow red blend has a sweet start, with a dry finish and velvety texture. 12.5% alcohol, 2.25% residual sugar.

My Review: The nose is filled with red berries specifically raspberries. There was a lot more raspberry on the palate than the last one. Some slight cherry came through as well. It finished long with vanilla coming through there. This was a very good wine and the flavors were quite complex with a slight sweetness to it. I really liked this wine.

Tasting - WhiteBarrel BIN #997

Name: WhiteBarrel BIN #997
Variety: Raspberry and grape

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

Winery Review: This wine has raspberry undertones and a sweet fruity flavor. 12.5% alcohol, 3.0% residual sugar.

My Review: The nose was of melon and crisp green apple. The taste was similar with some more melon with stone fruit and raspberries. It is a very subtle wine. It had a short finish. I thoroughly enjoyed this wine and it was pleasant to drink. 

Tasting - WhiteBarrel BIN #704

Name: WhiteBarrel BIN #704
Variety: 67% Riesling and 33% Chardonnay

Region: Virginia
Country: USA
Year: NV
Price: $18

Winery Review: This is a blend of white wines, which is mellow, slightly sweet, and bright. This wine has a sweet, mineral and citrus characteristics. 12.5% alcohol, 1.75% residual sugar.

My Review: The nose was interesting with a bit of what smelled like overripe grapes and melon. The taste was slightly sweet with citrus notes, melon, and wet cardboard. This wine had a short finish. It was a so-so and nothing special to me. It was okay.

Tasting - WhiteBarrel Vidal Blanc Reserve

Name: WhiteBarrel Vidal Blanc Reserve
Variety: 100% Vidal Blanc

Region: Virginia
Country: USA
Year: NV
Price: $22

Winery Review: This wine is made in the traditional Kakhetian style, where the skins are aged in the wine during fermentation, providing a bold, orange- colored white wine with strong tannins and bold flavors. 12.5% alcohol, 0% residual sugar.

My Review: This was a very interesting wine. It was an orange color that I haven’t seen before from a Vidal Blanc or a white wine. The nose was slightly floral with hits of bourbon and vanilla. The taste was quite bold and tannic. Floral components came through immediately with oak following. I couldn’t taste many fruit components of this wine. It had a long finish. This wasn’t my kind of wine and didn’t really care for it.

Tasting - WhiteBarrel Chambourcin

Name: WhiteBarrel Chambourcin
Variety: 100% Chambourcin

Region: Virginia
Country: USA
Year: 2014
Price: $19

Winery Review: This Chambourcin is brilliantly colored with vibrant cherry undertones, this wine is made in an old world style, with soft tannins. 12.5% alcohol, 0% residual sugar.

My Review: The red wines from WhiteBarrel all have big aromas and this was no exception. The nose is very fruit forward with cherry and hints of vanilla and oak. The taste was fruity with soft tannins and a light to medium body. I got hints of raspberries and cherries throughout and it finished short. I’ve a good history with the Chambourcin varietal and this fell in line. Quality wine.

Tasting - WhiteBarrel Cabernet Sauvignon

Name: WhiteBarrel Cabernet Sauvignon
Variety: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon

Region: Virginia
Country: USA
Year: 2014
Price: $21

Winery Review: Rich tannins, black currant, and smooth French oak flavors. 12.5% alcohol. 0% residual sugar.

My Review: This wine also had big aromas and was very fruity mainly of berries. I got hints of red berries predominantly raspberries and currants. This had a short finish. It was a decent wine, one that I could see myself drinking again. It was good but not particularly memorable.

Tasting - WhiteBarrel Cabernet Franc

Name: WhiteBarrel Cabernet Franc
Variety: 100% Cabernet Franc

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

Winery Review: This is a smooth and smoky Cabernet franc, which provides pepper, smoke, blackberry, and currant. 12.5% alcohol, 0% residual sugar.

My Review: This wine has some big aromas. The smoke and spice came through right away along with hints of black fruit. The wine was dry and tannic on the palate with hints of blackberries and boysenberry. There is a spice component present throughout. It finished short but pretty smooth. This was similar to BIN #214 but turned up a few notches. It was enjoyable but a little much. This wine would benefit from some decanting for a bit. 

Tasting - Famiglia Pasqua ‘Romeo & Juliet’ Passione e Sentimento Rosso Veneto

Name: Famiglia Pasqua ‘Romeo & Juliet’ Passione e Sentimento Rosso Veneto
Variety: Merlot, Corvina, and Croatina

Region: Veneto
Country: Italy
Year: 2014
Price: $15

Winery Review: Of a deep ruby red color, intense and persistent nose with marked notes of red fruits and hints of spice. The taste is balanced, round, soft, enveloping the palate with velvety tannins.

My Review: The nose is very fruit forward with hints of red berries and raspberries. The taste is similar with red fruit and raspberries and cherry. The finish is short and smooth. This is a very nice wine. This was my first experience with the Corvina and Croatina grapes and they pleasantly surprised me. I will have to venture out more into the grapes and wines of Northern Italy.

Tasting - WhiteBarrel BIN #214

Name: WhiteBarrel BIN #214
Variety: Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Chambourcin

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

Winery Review: This is a blend of red wines and offers smooth, fruity, dark jam flavors with smoky, peppery flavors on the finish. 12.5% alcohol, 0% residual sugar.

My Review: Right off the bat I got smoky and spice on the nose with hints of red berries and green pepper. The taste was quite jammy with more smoke and spice throughout mixed with red berries. It finished short. This is one of my favorite offerings from WhiteBarrel. It reminds me of a toned down Cabernet Franc varietal. I thoroughly enjoyed this wine.

Tasting - WhiteBarrel Vidal Blanc

Name: WhiteBarrel Vidal Blanc
Variety: 100% Vidal Blanc

Region: Virginia
Country: USA
Year: 2014
Price: $18

Winery Review: This has floral bouquet and vanilla undertones and fresh greens and herbs. This wine has a delicate flavor profile with a clean finish. 12.5% alcohol, 0.25% residual sugar.

My Review: I love the Vidal Blanc varietal and was quite excited to try this out. The nose was definitively floral with notes of peach and wet rock. The taste was crisp and light with notes of stone fruit and greens. It was quite subtle and not as silky as I’ve come to expect from Vidal Blanc. It had sort of a medium length finish. All in all I was a bit disappointed by this offering of Vidal Blanc. It is not bad but did not reach of the potential of the varietal. 

Tasting - WhiteBarrel Chardonnay

Name: WhiteBarrel Chardonnay
Variety: 100% Chardonnay

Region: Virginia
Country: USA
Year: 2014
Price: $19

Winery Review: Mellow with soft bouquet of honey, vanilla, and green apple. Dry and crisp with pear on the palate. Aged in VSOP oak to give it a slight tannin finish. Great with fruit, cheese, light appetizers. 12.5% alcohol. 0% residual sugar.

My Review: The nose is tropical with some passionfruit and pear. The taste was very crisp with a slight oakiness and apple. The wine had a long finish. I typically do not like Chardonnay but I actually enjoyed this one. The flavors were not overpowering and worked well.

Tasting - Chateau Morrisette Archival I

Name: Chateau Morrisette Archival I
Variety: 35% Merlot, 31% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Cabernet Franc, 10% Petit Verdot

Region: Virginia
Country: USA
Year: 2012
Price: $21

Winery Review: Aroma: Vibrant bouquet of rose petals and fresh roasted coffee. Palate: Black cherries, currants, and rich caramel notes. Finish: Balanced spice and clove, well-structured. A vibrant bouquet of crushed rose petals and fresh roasted coffee give way to dark, black cherries and currants. Rich caramel notes lingered into a well-structured finish balanced spice & clove. Definitely a steak lover’s choice (medium rare, please), yet hearty enough to stand next to baked lasagna or gorgonzola mushroom risotto.

My Review: The nose was very fruit forward with mostly red berries specifically cherries with slight oak on the back. The taste is similar with more cherries coming with more red fruit and some raspberries. I get slight oak and slight vanilla throughout. This is a quality full bodied wine. It has solid tannins and finishes long and smooth. Paired well with a nice steak.