Looking to celebrate Mardi Gras with some Virginia wine this weekend? You are in luck, both Fabbioli Cellars and Breaux Vineyards are having Mardi Gras celebrations on Saturday (Feb. 2nd).

The wine club will be at the Fabbioli celebration, en masse, but both events look like a lot of fun!

Wine: 2004 Doukenie Winery Cabernet Franc



Review: This is the last Cabernet Franc vintage from Windham before they changed their name to Doukenie. I believe this is also the last vintage that was influenced by Doug Fabbioli (though, don't quote me on that).

The wine was dark purple in color with hints of smoke on the nose flavors of pepper and other spices. The wine had a full body with medium tannins that did not linger. Certainly a decent every day wine, but not the best vintage from Doukenie.

Price: $17

Grade: 85

Are you looking to re-stock your wine cellar after a winter spent emptying it out? There are three really good opportunities coming up over the next three months:

1. The Virginia Wine Showcase is coming up February 9th to the Dulles Expo Center. Dezel says there may be a blogger's booth there (I won't be in the booth, I have drinking to do ;)) and Deidra will also have a booth. It looks like a lot of fun, but it is the first year this has been done...so be patient.

2. Later in the same month, and spilling over into March is the 9th Annual DC Food and Wine Festival. This festival attracts wineries from all over the world, and 1000s of people. Last year it was a little crowded, so I recommend getting there early. Also, while the sampling of wines is great, it is light on the food part (at least it was last year), so eat before you go.

3. Moving to the end of April, the St. Michael's Food and Wine Festival runs from April 24th to the 27th. I've never been but I have heard really good things about it and I am trying to set up an interview with the organizers to get more information for you all.

The wine club went to Naked Mountain Winery a couple of weekends ago. During the winter, Naked Mountain offers a lasagna lunch. For $16 you get your choice of either a vegetable or sausage lasagna and your choice of wine.

The lasagna is excellent, a great way to warm up on cold winter days and the selection of wines is very good. Naked Mountain is famous locally for their Chardonnays, they are currently tasting their 2004 and 2005 Chardonnays, both of which are good.

I opted for the Raptor Red which is a blend of 47% Merlot, 27% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Cabernet Franc, 4% Tannat, and 3% Petit Verdot. It is a strong wine, with pepper and cherry flavors and firm tannins. A good pairing with the slightly spicy lasagna.

Wine: 2005 Lulu B. Pinot Noir



Review: I've written about Lulu B. wines before. It's an attempt by Lulu, the daughter of famed French winemaker Louis Bernard, to make French wines more accessible. Focusing on varietal rather than region (though it does mention Pays d'Oc on the bottle) and sporting a screw cap, this is absolutely not a traditional French wine.

The other thing that is not traditional about this wine is the price, at just under $13 this is a good everyday wine.

It is a garnet-colored wine with aromas of cherries and spices, a light wine with low tannins and a soft finish. It is a sharp contrast to the bolder American Pinot Noirs, but a very pleasant wine.

Price: $13

Grade: 85

Happy belated New Year! I know its been a while and my apologies. I have been sick and not really up to drinking wine, and a wine blog with no wine doesn't really work :). I'll make it up to you over the next couple of days, I pomise.