Tasting - Taz Pinot Noir, Frontera Malbec, Arbor Crest Merlot, BV Signet Cabernet Sauvignon, Wild Gaucho Malbec "Club"

Tasting #1: Taz Pinot Noir

Varietal: Pinot Noir
Region: California
Country: United States
Vintage: 2008
Price: $17.95

Online Review: "The 2008 TAZ Santa Barbara County Pinot Noir is a classic. The nose is rich and complex with aromas of wild strawberry, black tea, dusty cherry and cinnamon. The palate follows through with notes of red cherry, vanilla and clove." (http://www.wine.com/v6/wineshop/Detail.aspx?product_id=110591&state=VA)

My Review: Even at the closeout price listed above, I thought this wine to be very overpriced. It was a mediocre wine. Having never spent more than $20 on a bottle of wine, I have no idea what an expensive pinot noir would taste like. This wine had nice fruity notes and a strong tannic structure but didn't make me that excited.

Tasting #2: Frontera Malbec

Varietal: Malbec

Region: Mendoza

Country: Chile

Vintage: 2010

Price: $5.95

Online Review: "Purple red. Fresh red fruits folded with coffee notes. Mouth filling black cherry and dark plum flavors wrapped with subtle spice and gentle tannins. Goes well with hearty meat dishes such as roast beef, grilled steak and barbecued ribs." (http://www.winelegacy.com/ItemDetail.aspx?Item_ID=843)

My Review: For no particular reason, I don't drink a lot of Malbecs. I really like them but I suppose I rarely come across ones that I want to buy. This wine was rockin! It really took me by surprise. It had a great deep color, a really luxurious and smooth mouthfeel, great cherry flavors, and a fantastic finish. At $5.95 a bottle, this wine was a steal!

Tasting #3: Arbor Crest Merlot

Varietal: Merlot

Region: Washington

Country: United States

Vintage: 2009

Price: $11.95

Online Review: "91 Points - Wine Enthusiast. Tart and bright, with an almost-jammy mix of raspberry and strawberry preserves, this concentrated, fruit-powered Merlot overdelivers for the price. Along with the luscious fruit are darker streaks of iron, coffee grounds and char, all in a classy, well-designed, four-vineyard blend. - P.G." (http://www.northwest-wine.com/Arbor-Crest-Merlot.html)

My Review: This was actually quite nice! It was one of maybe 3 of the 14 wines we tasted, that we liked. We didn't end up buying this one, but we debated it! It was a little strawberry-y with a nice raspberry color. Nice tannins. Overall, it was pretty good!

Tasting #4: BV Signet Collection Cabernet Sauvignon

Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon

Region: California

Country: United States

Vintage: 2007

Price: $9.95

Online Review: No online write-up available.

My Review: My parents have had a lot of BV in the past. This is one of those vineyards that seems to roller coaster. Some of the wines are solid and/or a good value and others are just mediocre or completely tank. This was pretty close to the tanking side for me. It was okay. Seemed to lack a little depth. Not much else to say about this one.

Tasting #5: Wild Gaucho Malbec "Club"

Varietal: Malbec

Region: Mendoza

Country: Argentina

Vintage: 2009

Price: $7.95

Online Review: No online write-up available.

My Review: This wine was pretty funky. I don't know what flavor there was in it that I didn't like, but there was something strong in it that I didn't like. It almost tasted like maybe the bottle had been open for too long or something? The flavor was so overpowering that I couldn't pick up much else for this wine.

Winery Visit - "James River Cellars Winery"

Unfortunately, due to its location, Richmond, Virginia isn't home to many wineries or vineyards. There are only a few in the general area. It just so happened that one of those few was within 30 minutes of my house. James River Cellars Winery is located just off Route 1 in a very unconventional location. Anyone who is familiar with route 1 knows it is reminiscent of early highway development. Running parallel to I-95, route 1 is lined with rundown or abandoned gas stations, car dealerships, restaurants, and motels. There are a few businesses that have survived closer to a more developed area of the road. A driving range and batting cage business is one of those businesses. Directly next to the range lies the vineyard. I have driven by this stretch of road my entire life and have never noticed this winery before.

One of the entry signs

To the right is the netting from the driving range and just beyond the cars are the vines

The house where the tasting room was located was very pretty. The grounds are nicely landscaped and maintained. In the far left of the picture below, you can begin to make out the area where the actually winery facility was.

My boyfriend, Chris, in front of the main building

The winery has an event every Friday during the summer called "Fridays on the Patio." Each Friday features a tasting of their full list of wines, live local musicians, and tours. Local vendors sell their food but guests are allowed to bring their own. Most people there had their own spread of cheeses, crackers, fruits, and other munchies. We had planned on eating dinner afterwards so we didn't eat anything there. The cost of admission was $10, which included a souvenir glass. I was so excited about the glasses they gave because they were stemless! We don't have any stemless wine glassware and already have a wide collection of souvenir wine glasses from other vineyard visits that all look very similar. These glasses were really nice and cute!

Stemless glass! Cool!

The winery had a tent set up over the patio area with tables and chairs underneath for patrons. The tasting table was also located under the tent.

The tent and tasting area

The winery had their entire list of wines available for tasting. Fourteen wines total! Holy moly! They only poured about a quarter of an ounce in each glass though. Due to the high volume of people wanting to do the tasting, we had to go through each wine relatively quickly. That was one thing I didn't like. I didn't really have much of an opportunity to truly delve into each wine (let alone write down my thoughts!). Therefore, I only have a couple quick words to describe each wine. I will list each wine and those words below. A write up on each wine can be found at the following two links: Whites - http://jamesrivercellars.com/white_wines.html, Reds - http://jamesrivercellars.com/red_wines.html.

1. 2010 Chardonnay - smooth, no oak, green apple and pear on the nose and palate

2. 2010 Gewurztraminer - very floral nose, lots of tropical fruit smells and flavors

3. 2011 Vidal Blanc - no real depth in flavor, sharp, high alcohol, little peach on nose

4. 2010 Chardonel - hybrid chardonnay grape, sweet-ish, tangy, light, nothing special here

5. 2010 Rad Red - Cab Franc & Merlot, very very jammy, spicy, smoky, tobacco

6. 2008 Cabernet Franc - very yummy, spicy, currants, great tannins, great deep flavor

7. 2008 Merlot - cherries, tannic, peppery, 

8. 2009 Petit Verdot - minerally, oaky, some leather, wasn't much of a fan

9. 2009 Hanover - sweet, cherry, little bit of cedar

10. 2011 Chambourcin - tasted like a light port but not a very good one, very sweet

11. 2008 Colonial Red - LOTS of cinnamon, tasted like wassail, apple flavors, weird

12. 2008 Montpelier Blush - very sweet but not sickeningly, honeysuckle, not for me

13. 2011 Hanover White - lots of pear, smelled like someone squeezed a pear and bottle the juice

14. 2010 Divino - concord grapes, welch's grape juice, sweet

Chris and his parents talking about the wines

We really liked the Cabernet Franc! We ended up buying a bottle to share and enjoy the music on the lawn. 

We went in for a second taste on a few of the reds to pick which bottle to buy

Me enjoying some wine!

Overall, the experience was average. The facility looked nice, but its unlikely location made it a little off-putting. The staff was pretty nice and the music was okay. The wines were okay as compared to other Virginia wines. This is our 5th VA vineyard/winery visit. I would say this one falls probably last in atmosphere, tied at 4th in wine quality, and 4th in overall experience. It was a nice evening out, but we likely would not go back for a second visit.

Me with Chris's parents outside the festival

Tasting - Poysdorfer Saurussel Gruner Veltliner, Oak Vineyards Chardonnay, Canyon Road Pinot Noir, Cortenova Primitivo, Morada Sangria

Tasting #1: Poysdorfer Saurussel Gruner Veltliner

Varietal: Gruner Veltliner
Region: N/A
Country: Austria
Vintage: 2010
Price: $7.95

"Vintage Cellar" Review: "Crisp lime flavors, white pepper and lentils, followed by a mouthful of mineral notes and gooseberry. A long lingering finish. A great accompaniment to any Asian or fresh seafood dishes."

My Review: This wine had a very fruity nose although I couldn't pick out what specific types of fruits. The taste was tart, medium to full bodied, very floral, with a slight mineral flavor. It also had something odd on the palate that I couldn't quite place. The only word that came to mind was coffee. It tasted almost like a Gewurztraminer.

Tasting #2: Oak Vineyards Chardonnay

Varietal: Chardonnay

Region: California

Country: United States

Vintage: 2010

Price: $5.95 - 750 mL, $10.95 - 1.5 L

"Vintage Cellar" Review: "This light straw-colored Oak Vineyards 2010 Chardonnay expresses smokey aromatics with nuances of apple and lemon zest that continue onto the palate where they flourish into citrus, orange blossom, and smoked oak flavors until meeting a crisp, medium finish.

My Review: This wine had a very light yellow color as compared to other chardonnays. It looked a little more like a pinot grigio to me. It had typical California Chardonnay flavors - oak, butter, slight vanilla. The nose had some citrus (particularly orange) notes. The butter really came through on the finish. I found this to be a nicely rounded wine with some good flavors!

Tasting #3: Canyon Road Pinot Noir

Varietal: Pinot Noir

Region: California

Country: United States

Vintage: 2010

Price: $6.95

"Vintage Cellar" Review: "This Pinot Noir expresses tantalizing flavors of ripe cherry and wild raspberry, and finishes with brown, vanilla spices and smooth finish."

My Review: This wine had a very jammy smell. If I didn't know it was a pinot noir, I would have thought it was a zinfandel. It also didn't really look like a pinot noir. It had a little more depth of color. The best part about this wine was the smooth mouthfeel! It also had nice fruit flavors. For a $6.95 pinot noir, I was impressed!

Tasting #4: Cortenova Primitivo

Varietal: Unknown

Region: N/A

Country: Italy

Vintage: 2010

Price: $7.95

"Vintage Cellar" Review: "Dark, ruby-red color with violet highlights. Intense and fragrant bouquet with a rich array of red and black fruit aromas and flavors. Harmonious and velvety on the palate. Great balance and structure. Excellent with grilled or roasted meats, game and cheeses."

My Review: There was something weird on the nose of this wine that was very off-putting. I couldn't put my finger on what it was, but it made it slightly unappealing to me. The tannins were very mild in this wine as well. I'm not sure what the varietal was, but my guess is that had something to do with it. Definitely had strong tobacco and leather notes. Nothing to jump up about with this one.

Tasting #5: Morada Sangria

Varietal: Sangria

Region: N/A

Country: Spain

Vintage: No Vintage

Price: $4.95 - 1 L

"Vintage Cellar" Review: "A traditional Spanish drink made with red wine and citrus extracts. Garnet color and fresh on the palate. Serve well chilled, on its own or with lemonade and slices of fruit like peach, banana or apple."

My Review: Whoa, baby! This wine had a ridiculous amount of citrus in it. I should have known from the label. It smelled just like Sprite to me. Then when I tasted it, it tasted like a cross between orange soda and Sprite. It was orange Sprite. There was so much citrus, it was overpowering. The orange certainly overpowered the nose as well. It almost didn't taste like wine. Very odd sangria to me.

Winery Visit - "Attimo Winery"

Attimo Winery is located about 5-7 minutes off 81 near Christiansburg, Va. It is tucked way back on a rural road that seems like it will wind through the hills forever. The road is lined with houses until the winery suddenly appears.

Entrance to the winery

Without knowing anything about the winery, it was obvious that it was relatively new. The grape vines were teeny tiny. They were cute!

The Vines

More vines behind the building

The tasting room and restaurant

The winery was actually located in a separate building that we were not able to see. There was a "tour" we could take, but the facility was relatively small and the tour cost $10. It didn't really seem worth it at this juncture. We did however do the tasting and liked one of the wines so much that we each got a glass at the end with a cheese tray!

We tasted 9 wines total. I will list them below and put my comments next to each.

1. "Sonnet 98" Vidal Blanc (2010): The nose had vegetable and floral notes and a sweet palate. The fruit flavors were slightly subdued and there was an overwhelming alcohol flavor. This was slightly underwhelming to me.

2. "I do" Traminette/Petit Manseng (2010): I had never heard of either of these grapes before. The nose was very similar to a riesling in my opinion. It had floral and citrus notes and also an odd bitter flavor. A little sweet for me, but nice!

3. "Deep Silence" Cabernet Franc (2010): This wine was a delightful surprise! I have had a few other cab francs at other VA vineyards, so I am familiar with the flavors. This one was very nice! It had a vegetable quality on the nose, great tannins, great legs, a wonderful peppery flavor, it was very round and well balanced. This is the glass we bought at the end!

4. "AD 325" Chambourcin (2010): This is another grape that I had never heard of! The wine had a VERY deep purple magenta color. It was really quite amazing! The flavor wasn't quite as amazing. It was harsh, sharp, bitter, spicy, with an overwhelming alcohol flavor and strong tannins. I wasn't a fan.

5. "Sweet Berry Sunset" Raspberry/Red Blend: A dessert wine! Woo-wee! Very strong raspberry smell and flavor. Almost a jam quality. I also got some strawberries in it too. Very tart and sweet. Not for me!

6. "Sudden Downpour" Apple/White Blend: Another dessert wine. This one was even sweeter than the last. The winery actually offers this wine to be served in a glass with a caramel laced rim. Very decadent! Someone at the table next to us got a few. The apple definitely came across on the nose and the palate. It made my mouth itch a little like apples themselves usually do. Too sweet for me.

7. "Masquerade" Chardonnay (2010): The nose on this was nicely oaked with good fruit. It had that wonderful butteriness that I love in chardonnays. It had a nicely pronounced alcohol setup with nice fruit flavors. Tasty!

8. "Vertex" Cabernet Sauvignon (2010): I was a little disappointed with this one. The oak and currant flavors were strong but the fruit flavors were not. Both the tannins and the alcohol were super overwhelming. I was hoping for something a little better than this wine turned out to be.

9. "Seduction" Fortified Wine (2010): This "port" had tinta madera, touriga nacional, and souzao grapes in it. I am personally not a fan of port. I think I would say it was bad no matter what. The brandy was really strong in both the smell and flavor. It was very sweet with a really strong raisin smell and flavor. It actually smelled like the cereal Raisin Bran Crunch, which was bizarre. Definitely not a fan of this one.

Tasting sheet

My tasting sheet

The atmosphere of the place was nice! Definitely had a "new" feel. The staff was very nice and welcoming. The inside was nicely decorated as well.

Nice wine storage area inside

We liked the Cabernet Franc so much that we bought a glass! Then we saw other people had cheese trays so we thought we would get some of that too! The tray had rosemary bread with a dipping oil, some olives, swiss, gouda, and parmesan cheeses. It was absolutely fabulous! Not a bad way to kick off the weekend!

My boyfriend, Chris, enjoying the wine

Me with my glass of Cabernet Franc

Mmm, cheese and wine

Tasting - Barone Fini Valdadige Pinot Grigio, One Hope Zinfandel, One Hope Cabernet Sauvignon, Villa Pozzi Moscato

Tasting #1: Barone Fini Valdadige

Varietal: Pinot Grigio
Region: Nosio Spa Mezzocorona
Country: Italy
Year: 2010
Price: $12.99

Internet Write-Up: "Soft, round fruit fills the mouth with ripe, juicy flavors. A long finish glides into flavors of ripe apples and lichee nuts. A wine to be enjoyed alone, as an apéritif, or with shellfish, fowl and light meals that include vegetarian dishes." (http://www.snooth.com/wine/berone-fini-pinot-grigio-valdadige-2010/)

My Review: This wine had a great light, fruity, apple flavor. It was much lighter than any other pinot grigio I've had before. It was actually closer to room temperature so it was little warm for me. If it had been cooler, it would have been great! It actually probably would have reminded me of a sauvignon blanc.

Tasting #2: One Hope Zinfandel

Varietal: Zinfandel

Region: California

Country: United States

Year: 2010

Price: $13.99

Internet Write-Up: "WINEMAKER ROB MONDAVI JR. - ONEHOPE California Zinfandel, created in partnership with Rob Mondavi Jr., starts with the foundation of an all-American grape, then custom blended with Syrah from select vineyards throughout Napa, Sonoma and the Central Coast of California. ONEHOPE Zinfandel is a rich red color with loads of juicy dark fruit flavors including plum and black cherry, with hints of pepper and a spicy finish. This delicious wine is versatile and pairs well with dishes such as pizza, barbeque ribs and lamb." (http://www.onehopewine.com/our-wines/red-wine/zinfandel/2010-onehope-california-zinfandel)

My Review: This wine maker is pretty neat. Most of their proceeds made off each wine bottle goes towards supporting our troops. This zinfandel was actually surprisingly good! I think most Mondavi wines are fairly decent for the price. $14 may be a bit much for this wine for me, but considering the cause, it's not a bad deal. We bought 2 bottles! It had a great jammy smell and flavor and it was really smooth and velvety. The oak in it was fabulous and the mouthfeel was rockin'! Definitely an easy drinking wine!

Tasting #3: One Hope Cabernet Sauvignon

Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon

Region: California

Country: United States

Year: 2010

Price: $13.99

Internet Write-Up: "WINEMAKER ROB MONDAVI JR. - ONEHOPE California Zinfandel, created in partnership with Rob Mondavi Jr., starts with the foundation of an all-American grape, then custom blended with Syrah from select vineyards throughout Napa, Sonoma and the Central Coast of California. ONEHOPE Zinfandel is a rich red color with loads of juicy dark fruit flavors including plum and black cherry, with hints of pepper and a spicy finish. This delicious wine is versatile and pairs well with dishes such as pizza, barbeque ribs and lamb." (http://www.onehopewine.com/our-wines/red-wine/zinfandel/2010-onehope-california-zinfandel)

My Review: As compared to the zinfandel, this was actually a little disappointing. It was probably the most mellow cabernet sauvignon that I've ever had. The fruit flavors were not super bold. It was dry with nice tannins, but it was much lighter than I would have expected. It had a little oak flavor and a slight bite to it. Not something I would get myself. Just a little underwhelming.

Tasting #4: Villa Pozzi Moscato

Varietal: Moscato

Region: Sicily

Country: Italy

Year: 2011

Price: $11.99

Internet Write-Up: It appears that this is a relatively newly released wine so I couldn't find a good write-up on it.

My Review: I didn't write this down but I don't believe this wine was carbonated. Most moscatos are so this was a little surprising. It had typical moscato flavors though - lemon, floral bouquet, sweetness. It wasn't quite as sweet as some other moscatos I've had, which was nice! It also only had 7.5% alcohol which is probably the lowest I've seen on a wine.

Tasting- Sierra Cruz Sauvignon Blanc, Lost Vineyards Chardonnay, Sierra Cruz Carmenere, Senda 66 Tempranillo, Opera Prima Sweet White

Tasting #1: Sierra Cruz Sauvignon Blanc

Varietal: Sauvignon Blanc
Region: N/A
Country: Chile
Year: 2011
Price: $6.95

"Vintage Cellar" Review: "This Chilean Sauvignon Blanc just oozes with bright citrus flavors and a nose of herbs and grass. Stylistically, it is a cross between the herbal, grassy wines so prevalent in Sonoma County and the riper, more fruit forward products of New Zealand. Match it with pasta sauced with arugula, pine nuts, mushrooms and parmesan."

My Review: There was a distinct fruit smell on this wine but I couldn't quite pinpoint what it was. It also had a very herby scent, like the write-up suggested. It was very light bodied and crisp. Other than that, I wasn't able to pick out many other discriptors. To me, this wine didn't have much going on.

Tasting #2: Lost Vineyards Chardonnay

Varietal: Chardonnay

Region: N/A

Country: Argentina

Year: No vintage

Price: $3.95

"Vintage Cellar" Review: "Pale golden color. Perfumed peach, pineapple, and nougat aromas. Round and soft with fruit-yet-dry medium body. Tangy apple skin and lemon zest notes lift the fruit nicely on the finish."

My Review: This was a weird wine. Very different for a chardonnay. It had a slight vanilla nose and a very smooth and buttery flavor. I wonder if this wine was not oaked because it definitely didn't have an overwhelming oak flavor.

Tasting #3: Sierra Cruz Carmenere

Varietal: Carmenere

Region: N/A

Country: Chile

Year: 2009

Price: $6.95

"Vintage Cellar" Review: "As a member of the cabernet sauvignon family, carmenere (pronounced car-men-yare) originated in Bordeaux as one of the grapes permitted for use in the red blends of that storied region. Chilean winemakers have embraced it and several wineries in that country produce it as a single varietal. The '09 Sierra Cruz is a very pleasant, soft, medium-bodied wine that has fresh cabernet-like aromas and flavors of spice, dark fruit and black pepper. It is a great value and also would be a nice match with marinated and grilled skirt or flank steak."

My Review: This wine was spicy but also slightly sweet which was a nice balance. It was surprisingly smooth for a red and also had a slight smoky flavor to me. This was only my second experience with a carmenere, so I'm not too familiar with the characteristics of the grape.

Tasting #4: Senda 66 Tempranillo

Varietal: Tempranillo

Region: N/A

Country: Spain

Year: 2008

Price: $8.95

"Vintage Cellar" Review: "90 Points, Robert Parker. 'The 2008 Senda 66 spent 8 months in new French oak. Purple/black in color, it sports a fragrant nose of spice box, lavender, blueberry, and blackberry. Smooth-textured, layered, and remarkably rich on the palate for its humble price, this lengthy effort will drink nicely over the next 5-6 years.'"

My Review: There was something very distinct on the nose of this wine but I could not put my finger on what it was. It had really strong tannins that made it very dry. There was also something distinct in its flavor, which I would imagine to be the same thing on the nose. Different. I think 90 points is a little high for this one for me.

Tasting #5: Opera Prima Sweet White

Varietal: Unsure

Region: N/A

Country: Spain

Year: 2010

Price: $5.95

"Vintage Cellar" Review: "Flowery and sweet smelling, then round and fairly smooth in the mouth. The flavor package of tropical fruits galore is pleasant and shouldn't be offend anyone. Finishes clean and easy. A mango boat of flavor."

My Review: This smelled a lot like a Moscato to me. It actually smelled like a cross between a Moscato and a Riesling. It had that strong floral bouquet of the Moscato, but that fruity sweet smell of a Riesling. It was a pleasant surprise that it did not taste as sweet as it smelled. It was very light, very fruit and floral, but not overwhelmingly sweet and it was almost smooth. This is still not my type of wine, but for someone who likes sweeter wines, this would be a great summer wine!