Cabernet and Chocolate Tasting at Breaux

I am introducing a new feature to CellarBlog today: video interviews. I've always contended that people read this blog not for my opinions but to know what experts think. So, while I can write about an event or a wine, the people who are actually in the wine industry are the true experts.

In keeping with that philosophy, the video interviews are going to be simple. I am going to give the person a topic (off camera) and let them talk about it for a minute or two. This way you get their unvarnished opinion, without listening to me. Jen Breaux graciously agreed to be my guinea pig for this launch, but I have more lined up (apologies for the weird lighting). My writeup of the event is after the video:





Like cheese, chocolate is one of those foods that seems designed to pair with wine. In fact, many of the terms used to describe chocolate also apply to wine, so it really is a nice match. That is why I get so excited when Valentine's Day comes around. It seems every winery has a wine and chocolate pairing that they bring out on Valentine's Day.




But, none of them do it quite as good as Breaux Vineyards, and this year was no exception. The chocolates were all carefully selected to match the Cabernet Sauvignon (and a Cabernet Sauvignon based Meritage) and the wine (as always) was excellent.




But it is not just the wine and the chocolate, the barrel room was also well-adorned for the occasion and it gave off a romantic ambiance. It really made the afternoon special.

Breaux Snow

Now that everyone in the DC area is dug out, some pictures of Breaux under mountains of snow. The first picture is the view outside from the window in Dave Collin's lab (and yes, the entire lab is above ground). The rest are from the grounds, including the buried tables on the patio:

Breaux Cabernet Sauvignon Vertical

Jennifer Breaux always does an outstanding job with the events at Breaux Vineyards and this weekend's Cabernet Sauvignon Vertical was no exception. This year we were able to taste the 2001, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008 vintages along with a special treat, their 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Rose -- directly from the fermenting tank.




We started off with the 2008 and 2007 vintages, directly from the barrel. These wines were paired with Beef Ribs that were also braised with the Cabernet Sauvignon and a chocolate truffle. The 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon is a standout wine. It is an intense wine with lots of black fruit and tannins. After letting the glass sit for a bit I also picked up hints of vanilla. The 2008 on the other hand was much more concentrated and is not showing the fruit or the intensity that the 2007 vintage is. Fortunately, it has several more years in the barrel to help bring out its flavors.

The second course consisted of the 2006 and 2005 vintages. These have been bottled, but not yet released and were paired with pork wellington and some really good cheddar. The 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon had a very dark color and lots of spice on the nose, not a lot of fruit, but strong tannins. The 2005 vintage had more red fruit and a lighter color and light tannins.

The final course was a grilled salmon served over saffron with a side of pecorino romano cheese. This was paired with the 2002 and 2001 vintages. The 2002 has smoothed out nicely as it has aged in the bottle. It has a medium body and complex aromas. In contrast, the 2001 vintage is darker in color and has more body. The black fruits and the tannins in this wine are equal partners.



As a special treat, we were also able to try the 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Rose. This wine is still in the tank and hasn't been clarified yet, but even this early it is really good and I can't wait to see what it tastes like once it has been bottled.

For me, the standouts of the day were definitely the 2001 and 2007 vintages, but all of the vintages were very good.

Brane-Cantenac Part II

After my tour of the property, I was invited to have lunch at the Chateau. Keep in mind that (as I am sure you all are aware) I'm nobody. I am not a buyer and while I write about Bordeaux a lot on this site a good day for me is 100 visits, so I have no influence in the wine world whatsoever and yet Henri, Corinne and Maria took time out of their day to have lunch with me.

This is one thing that stood out during my trip to Bordeaux: just about everywhere I went I was met with warmth and openness. Everyone was friendly and accommodating - which was especially nice considering how bad/non-existent my French is. In America, we often see French people portrayed as snotty and stand-offish. That may be true in some parts of France, but it was definitely not true in Bordeaux and the surrounding regions.




Lunch started off with hours hors d'oeuvres served with Champagne. This was followed by a 4 course meal, each course paired with a vintage of Chateau Brane Cantenac, selected by Henri. It was excellent, and by far the best meal I had while I was in Bordeaux (i didn't have any bad meals while I was there, this was just the best :)).

Aside from the great food and superb wine what made the meal great was how quickly the conversation ramped up. Very quickly it felt like I had known these people for years and the two hours I had set aside for lunch passed so quickly that I almost missed my appointment at Chateau Margaux.

One of the advantages of being a blogger and not a wine journalist is that I get to show my love for wine properties that I think do everything right. You read that here in my constant posts about Breaux Vineyards, Fabbioli Cellars and when I write about Chateau Brane Cantenac. To me, these wineries not only make great wine but do a tremendous job of taking care of their fans and I have no problem repeatedly telling the world how great they are :).

Review: 2005 Breaux Nebbiolo

Wine: 2005 Breaux Nebbiolo



Review: In honor of the Breaux Sneaux Sale I thought I would offer my review of the 2005 Nebbiolo. I've reviewed the the 2001 Nebbiolo and found it to be excellent. The 2005 is heading along that path as well. Nebbiolo is a wine that needs to age to bring out its full potential.

In that regard the 2005 is still a little young, but progressing nicely. It has more fruit on the nose than the 2001 does, specifically raspberries and even some chocolate. This vintage is blended with a little bit of Barbera, which I think makes it different than the 2001 and 2002 vintages.

This is a wine that is very drinkable now, but if its older cousins are any example will be even better if you lay it down for 2-3 more years.

Note: If you take advantage of the Sneaux Sale at Breaux you can pick up the 2001 Nebbiolo for $60, the 2002 for $44 and the 2005 for only $30 (all three are excellent values and only being offered today).

Price: $48

Grade: 95

Breaux Open House

Breaux had their open house this past weekend and i got to go out and sample some of their reserve wines. The winery was beautifully decorated for the season, including a fresh blanket of snow.

Bruce conducted the tasting in tank room. Breaux was showing off their Free Run Merlot, 2002 Cellar Club Meritage, 2006 Barrel Select Nebbiolo, a barrel sampling of the 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon and the newly released 2006 Meritage.

I've had barrel tastings of the 2006 Meritage over the last year and been very impressed. The wine is a blend of 38% Merlot, 24% Petit Verdot, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Malbec and 6% Cabernet Franc. The Petit Verdot adds a lot of great color to this wine. It is a full-bodied wine with lots of tannins and a long finish.

I'll post a more detailed review later.

Weekend Wine Activities

I haven't done a WWA post in a while, but there is so much going on this weekend, I figured you all should know about them:

1. Fabbioli is having an open house this weekend. Lots of good food, good wine and even some barrel tastings.


2. Breaux is also having an open house...and there are some special treats for cellar club members.


3. Loudoun Valley continues with their soup weekends on Saturday.


4. Corcoran Vineyards has two events happening on Saturday. First they are having an open house, then they are doing a Sparkling wine tasting with Mary Watson.


5. Veramar is continuing their Deck the Halls Event...pick up Christmas wreaths ornaments and drink mulled wine!!
   

These are just some of the events, definitely check out your favorite winery to see what is going on!

Breaux in the Fall

One of the things that I love about Virginia wineries is that they really do change with the season. Fall visits to Virginia wineries are a real treat, the changing colors makes for a fantastic background to the day, not to mention a great ride out to your destination.

There are many good choices, but yesterday I went out to Breaux here are some pictures I took:

Hunters Run Wine Tasting Barn

Route 9 is has become one of best wine routes in the area. With wineries like Loudoun Valley, Sunset Hills, Notaviva and, of course, Breaux Route 9 has a lot of unique wineries and good diversity of wines.

The latest addition to this group of wineries is the Hunters Run Wine Tasting Barn (another barn turned into a tasting, it really is a trend here in Loudoun). The Hunters Run Wine Tasting Barn is owned by Geri Nolan, who was on hand to pour for me when I went out for a recent visit.

HRWTB does not serve its own wines, instead they pour wines from Corcoran Vineyards. This is similar to the tasting rooms I've seen in California, Washington and Oregon and I think its a great idea.

The tasting room itself is very warm and inviting, the barn is cozy and the wood-burning stove at one end of the tasting room provided much needed warmth on the cold-rainy day I visited. There is an eclectic collection of chairs and stools on the main floor and a loft overlooking the bar.

Geri is very charming and bubbly and she knows a great deal about the Corcoran wines. She is obviously a big fan not only of the wines, but of Jim and Lori as well. The visit was a lot of fun, and I highly encourage anyone tasting along Route 9 to add HRWTB to their itinerary.

Review: 2007 Breaux Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc

Wine: 2007 Breaux Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc



Review: I don't claim to be a Sauvignon Blanc expert, that honor falls to Sonadora, but I feel that Breaux's Sauvignon Blanc is a great example of the variety. The wine is steel fermented, so it is lighter, more of a summery wine. The 2007 vintage had hints of grapefruit and pineapple and enough body to pair well with Thai food, while not being overwhelming.

Price: $20

Grade: 90

Review: Breaux Vineyards Jennifer's Jambalaya

Wine: 2008 Breaux Vineyards Jennifer's Jambalaya



Review: I am a big fan of Jennifer Breaux. I think she and her staff do a great job of maintaining the tasting room, keeping guests happy, and dealing with the crush of people who flood Breaux on the weekends. I am obviously not the only one who feels this way. Whenever I am out there she is always surrounded by customers who want to bend her ear to tell her about their day, their experience at Breaux, or just chat and she always makes time for them.

The work that Jen does is a large reason why Breaux is one of the largest wineries in Virginia and a favorite destination for many. So, it is very fitting that they finally named a wine after her. Jennifer's Jambalaya is a blend of seven different whites. I've tried to get a list of the seven varietals, but everyone has been mum on that. The blending makes for a sweet wine, but not too sweet; very floral with hints of honeysuckle. Its definitely a good summer wine, and it pairs really well with cajun and thai food (and yes, it is a good match with Jambalaya).

Price: $18

Grade: 95

Brane Cantenac Wine Dinner

A few days after the Heart's Delight tasting and auction Chef Marty hosted a Brane Cantenac wine dinner at Petits Plats which is a cool little French Restaurant in Woodley Park. Henri Lurton, owner and winemaker at Brane, was there to talk about the wine.

The food was excellent and Henri did a masterful job of explaining why he chose to pair different vintages with different foods. It was nice to get his insight into each vintage and to learn more about the different years and what to expect from Brane Cantenac wines for each year.

I've gone to several similar verticals at BBreaux Vineyards and it is always a fascinating experience. Learning about the different years and how that affects the wine is great...but then actually getting to taste the vintages for yourself really brings the experience home. It is a great way to educate your palate and a lot of fun :).

Review: 2001 Breaux Nebbiolo

Wine: 2001 Breaux Nebbiolo



Review:I had a chance to try this wine at the Breaux Nebbiolo Vertical back in April (post on that coming soon). Nebbiolo is an Italian varietal grown primarily in the Piedmont region. Generally, these wines are highly tannic and need time to age. As they age they develop a more floral or herbaceous bouquet.

So, how does the Breaux Nebbiolo stack up against the Nebbiolos of the Piedmont region? Very well. The 2001, which is their oldest vintage, has aged nicely. The tannins have smoothed out well, but are still there. It has developed an aroma of fruit and mild tobacco hints. The wine itself is complex and it remains on the palette for a long time. A very enjoyable experience, and a great wine.

Price: $80

Grade: 100

Wine Versus Beer

Looking for a fun way to celebrate Mardi Gras?

Breaux Vineyards and Vintage 50 are teaming up for a wine versus beer dinner (link is a PDF). Its a 5 course meal with each course paired with a Breaux wine and a Vintage 50 beer. There are only 10 slots left for the dinner, so if you are interested, give them a call. Dinner is $79.99

If you just want to stick with wine, Fabbioli is pairing up with American Flatbed in Ashburn for a wine dinner. 4 courses with 4 great wines from Fabbioli for $50.

Martha Stewart and Breaux Vineyards

As a general rule I don't link to Martha Stewart, but I feel compelled to point out the following in the latest issue of Martha Stewart Living:


Breaux Vineyards' Lafayette (2005, $19) is a nicely balanced Cabernet Franc made from grapes grown in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, in Northern Virginia. It has appetizing tannins, moderate oak, and flashes of red currant and black pepper.


This is from an article about hosting a wine-tasting party. Some well-deserved recognition for a great wine.

Valentine's Day Fun

Looking for something to do on Valentine's Day today?

• Breaux is doing their Chocolate and Cabernet tasting both Saturday and Sunday, tickets are $20.


• Barrel Oak will be rocking the winery with their Chocolate Lab and Sparkling Spanish wines served with homemade chocolate and live music. Entrance to the loft is $45.


• Philip Carter Winery will be pairing their wines with chocolate from Chocolaterie Wanders and they'll have roses for sale -- a Valentine's trifecta!

Winter at Breaux

I went out to Breaux this afternoon to pick up my Cellar Club shipment. Today also happened to be the first real snow we've gotten this season. I took a couple of pictures, there is something about vineyards this time of year that really epitomizes winter to me (well, something besides the obvious).

Route 9 Barrel Tasting

It is supposed to be nice out today, so if you are looking for a break from all the holiday shopping, you might want to check out the Route 9 Barrel Tasting. 5 wineries along route 9 are participating: Breaux, Doukenie, Sunset Hills, Loudoun Valley and Corcoran. All really good wineries and barrel tastings are a lot of fun. The cost is $50 per person.

If you are looking to mix Virginia wine and summer today is the day to do it!! First, Breaux is having their Key West Festival from 11:00 to 6:00.

Then, from 7:00-10:00, Chateau O'Brien is having a Crab Boil.

Looking for fun stuff to do this weekend? Breaux is having their 11th annual Cajun Festival -- this is always a great time!

Clifton is also holding their second annual wine festival.

Wine: 2007 Breaux Muscat



Review: The Breaux Muscat was a Cellar Club selection for March. I like Breaux's Cellar Club because they are not afraid to try new things and experiment with different varietals. This is the first Muscat made at Breaux, and the only one outside of Burnley's Moon Mist I have seen in Virginia (feel free to Google me wrong on that).

The wine is a blend of Muscat Canelli and Muscat Giallo (Yellow Muscat). This is a fruity wine with strong flavors of honey and a very floral aroma. It is a good spring/summer wine. Excellent with light foods or by itself.

Price: N/A

Grade: 90

I can't make this Nebbiolo Vertical Tasting at Breaux, but it looks like a lot of fun. Breaux does make a good Nebbiolo, and they are sampling Italian Nebbiolos as well.

Speaking of things I cannot make, the Wine 2.0 Spring Fling is coming up on April 24th. From an email I received:

The next Wine 2.0 is fast approaching and we wanted to make sure you were in the loop. Join 200 leading wine industry, technology and venture capital leaders for an evening of new opportunities and great wines at Crushpad's new urban winery location.

We expect well over 40 wineries and producers to attend including a great selection of wines from Crushpad.

If you're a winery or a company that wants to participate please contact kendall@radcru.com or more information.

RSVP's can be made to Cornelius@radcru.com
One of these days I will make it to this, because they always seem like a lot of fun. If you are in San Fransico and want to check out some of the cutting edge wine vendors, this is the place. Thanks goes out to RadCru for putting on this event.

Last week Kris and I went on a winery tour with some friends from work. We hit several of the old standbys, so I thought I would give you all an update:

We started off at Breaux. I've mentioned them enough recently, that I don't havbe anything new, but I do want to thank Jen at Breaux for arranging an area in the bottling room for us to eat lunch -- it was a great way to start the tour.



Next, we jumped over to Doukenie where we got a special treat, we were able to sample the next release of Hope's Legacy (formerly, their Raspberry Merlot). It is scheduled to be bottled on the 11th, and I would recommend picking some up as it is even better than previous vintages.

Our last stop was going to be Hillsborough, where the 2005 Garnet has aged really well and is a nice Brodeaux-style blend.

We finished up around 5:00 and no one was in a hurry to head home, so we stopped at Loudoun Valley Vineyards.



Loudoun Valley Vineyards was recently purchased and we got to meet the new owner/winemaker Bree.



If Bree looks familiar, it is because she was the winemaker at Unicorn Winery. Well, now she is on her own and she has a lot of great ideas going forward. I know Loudoun Valley has a bad reputation in some corners, but it sounds like she is really going to turn it around. And the 2006 Vinera White was an excellent end to the day.

The Wine and Chocolate tasting at Breaux was amazing. The room that they were holding the tasting in was lit by candles and was filled with wine barrels making a very romantic setting. The chocolates came from a local farm and paired nicely with the vertical tasting of Cabernet Sauvignons from the Breaux Library.

After the tasting, we grabbed a bottle of the 2003 Lafayette and sat on the patio while we watched Bruce play. I did a brief review of the 2001 Lafayette in 2006.

The 2003 is 100% Cabernet Franc and it makes a different wine. The wine has a strong peppery taste with hints of plum and aromas of tobacco. The wine has been in the bottle long enough that it has mellowed nicely but it still has strong tannins and a nice finish. A good value at $18.00, I would rate it a 90.

I know a lot of people plan on being at the Virginia Wine Showcase this weekend, but don't forget Valentine's Day is next week, which means chocolate and wine tastings at several local wineries:

• Swedenburg Winery is doing it right with a chocolate fountain and plenty of fun things to dip in it.


• Veramar is also having a chocolate fountain, plus a chance to win a diamond ring (a plus for many, but it makes those of us who are engagement-adverse a little nervous ;)).


• Of course, I wll be at Breaux with the wine club. Truffles and their excellent Cabernet Sauvignon are perfect pre-Valentine combination.

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!

On Sunday the wine club went to Breaux Vineyards. It was a beautiful day and Leah has already captured the mood of the afternoon very well.

After doing the tasting I grabbed a bottle of Chere Marie, which was a great match forthe sun and the conversation. I also grabbed a bottle of the Layfayette and can't wait to come up with a meal to match it. Pictures below:

I went to Breaux Vineyards with a friend on Sunday. Breaux is located in Hillsboro and, as the name of the town would suggest, is surrounded by hills...making for great views:











The $5 tasting fee allowed us to sample 10 of their wines, 7 whites and 3 reads. Highlights of the tasting:

2004 Alexis: Late harvest Vidal Blanc, makes a great ice-style wine. Very smooth, excellent aromas and it was a good wine for sitting outside enjoying the afternoon.

2001 Layfayette: A blended red made up of 75% Cabernet Franc, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 10% Merlot. This is a spicy wine with good body and a peppery taste. Soft tannins with a good finish.

2002 Cabernet Sauvignon: This wine had just been released the day before. They describe it as earthy, which is very appropriate, it had hints of tobacco and coffee. Full-bodied and still young, but a good wine.