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.