Wine: Fabbioli Cellars 2005 Tre Sorelle



Review: In 2006, when I reviewed the 2004 vintage of this wine, Doug was just getting started with his own winery. Two and half years later Fabbioli Cellars is a must-visit on the Loudoun wine trail.

A friend of mine was having a bad day at work on Friday. I keep a small wine rack on my desk usually stocked with 3 or 4 bottles, so I called her down to split a bottle of the Tre Sorrelle and vent.

The 2005 Tre Sorrele is a blend of 65% Merlot, 20% Tannat and 15% Petit Verdot. This is a spicy wine with a strong oaky taste and black currant flavors. It has aged well and has a soft finish with light tannins.

A good wine to enjoy on a bad Friday or any other time.

Price: $24

Grade: 85

Wine: 2007 8 Chains North Lo.Co. Vino



Review: A chain is a agricultural unit of measurement equal to 66 feet. 8 Chains North gets its name from the fact that it is 8 chains north of Colonel White's river fields (according to the bottle -- I can't tell you why that is significant) ;)).

This is a good summer wine and an excellent wine to enjoy with light cheeses. It is a blend of 50% Traminette and 50% Vidal Blanc. It is a light wine, very crispy with a very light aftertaste. It has hints of pears and honeysuckle. If you don't have any cheese around, it is a good sipping wine all by itself. You can pick up a bottle at Fabbioli.

Price: $18

Grade: 95

Wine: 2004 La Crema 9 Barrel Chardonnay



Review: La Crema has quickly become my favorite California Winery. They make a wide range of high quality wines at reasonable prices. And, while the wines are readily available they are not so ubiquitous that they are available on every street corner, so they still make for a unique presentation.

To make the 9 Barrel Chardonnay the La Crema winemaker chooses the best 9 Barrels from their run of Chardonnay, ages them longer, individually numbers them and bottles them. The math geek was excited because I was able to get number 1609.

I like this wine becuase it does not taste a like a Chardonnay. it is a crisp wine with strong citrus flavors and a hint of mint. The barrel aging add a toasty finish, but not too oaky, the way many oak-aged Chardonnays are. Overall, an excellent wine.


Price: $40.00

Grade: 90

Thanks to several batches of brownies I have a couple of hours to kill tonight, so I am going to try something new. I have a bunch of posts that have been pending, so I am going to try to knock them all out tonite. But, I am going to use the blogger date and time thing to spread them out over the week, so I don't inundate you all all at once.


Wine: 2005 Afton Mountain Cabernet Franc
Wine: 2005 DelFosse Cabernet Franc




Review: I've mentioned before that I am not a big fan, in general, of Virginia '05 Cabernet Francs. They aren't bad, but they all seem to lack the pepperiness that is one of the defining characteristics of Virginia Cabernet Franc. Both Afton Mountain and DelFosse make good wines and these wines are good, just not excpetional. They are more fruity than a typical Cabernet Franc and very lightly tannined.

I tried both of these when they were initially released and had hoped they would develop more depth as they aged, but so far they have not.

Price: Afton Mountain: $23.00
Price: DelFosse: $23.00

Grade: 80

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

Wine: 2005 DelFosse Cuvee Laurent



Review: This is a unique wine that is a blend of 45% Chambourcin, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Petit Verdot and 10% Cabernet Franc. I first tried this on our trip to Charlottesville and liked it so much I took a couple of bottles home to age.

Surprisingly for a blend, this wine does not feel complex (compared to a Bordeaux or a Meritage). The wine had a taste of chocolate and cinnamon with a touch of strawberry and a soft finish very very few tannins. A really good food wine.

Price: $19

Grade: 90

Wine: 2002 Burnley Vineyards Riesling



Review: Founded in 1976, Burnley Vineyards is one of the oldest wineries in Virginia. I have had this wine sitting in my wine cellar for 4 or 5 years, well beyond the shelf life of most Rieslings.

This wine is made in the Germanic style, it is fermented as cold as possible and then additional Riesling juice is added. This creates a very tropical wine with hints of pineapple and pear. The wine was sweet with a nice, soft finish, although it did feel like the wine was on the edge of turning. Overall, a good value and newer vintages have not increased in price.

Price: $12

Grade: 80

Wine: 2002 Chateau Monbrison Bordeaux



Review: The great thing about the Margaux appelation is that I am always finding new treasures. This wine was rated one of the best wines under $50 and I agree. Laurent Vonderheyden has created an elegant wine, complex with hints of plum and a tobacco aroma. Not an intense wine, much more subtle with a medium palette

Price: $39

Grade: 90

Wine: 2003 Francoise Chauvenet Volnay



Review: This wine is from the Côte de Beaune area, which is in the southern part of Côte d'Or. It is a lighter Burgundy, but with a deep ruby color. The wine had a hint of mint and was very earthy, not very tannic. Overall, a good every day wine, but not exceptional.

Price: N/A

Grade: 80

I haven't done any restaurant reviews recently mostly because while I've been places where the food/wine selection was good. I haven't really been blown away. Now, I have two to do.

The first is Il Fornaio at Reston Town Center. The menu has a great selection food including an incredible Ravioli Alla Lucana and mouth watering Pennoni Alla Vodka.

Their wine list is lengthy and it includes several Il Forniao-labelled house wines. We had the Chianti Classico with dinner and it was a good complement with a medium-bodied, earthy wine with hints of cherry.

The second is my new favorite wine bar, Vinoteca. If you are a DC native, this is a little out of the way -- though still conveniently located a block from the U Street / Cardozo Metro station. The wine bar is in an area that is being revitalized and it is really nice.

The wine selection is diverse, I especially enjoyed the Tamari Malbec Reserve:



A very intense wine in both taste and color with a strong spicy taste and flavors of blackberry and plum.

Their menu is also very good, they have 4 different cheese flights all of which are excellent and their sliders sandwiches are great. The atmosphere is cozy, not too loud, but bright and warm. The bar is a good size, and there are tables in a separate area if you want a more intimate experience.

Wine: 2000 Horton Stonecastle



Review: Why is it that, despite the fact that Horton is a large operation with many great wines, their website is so ugly?

Fortunately, their wines are not. This is a very soft wine, it is a blend of 32% Mourvedre, 27% Carignan, 25% Syrah, 5% Tinta Cao, 5% Touriga Nacional, 3% Tannat, 1% Cabernet Franc, 1% Malbec, and 1% Nebbiolo. It has aged very well, producing a very complex wine with hints of cherry and plum. A very drinkable wine, which surprised me given the apparent kitchen sink method of adding varietals to this wine. I guess I should know by now not to underestimate Dennis Horton :).

Price: $12

Grade: 85

Wine: 2006 Chateau des Bachelard Beaujolais




Review: I know this will sound odd but the taste that jumped out at me with this wine was "new". I don't mean that in the normal pejorative sense. It is not that the wine was too young to drink, or hadn't had a chance to age, it just had a fresh taste to it, one that I haven't experienced previously.

This is a Beaujolais from Georges Duboeuf, the king of Beaujolais. Not to be confused with Beaujolais Noveau, Beaujolais wines are made from the Gamay grape.

The wine was deep purple with aromas of raspberry and black cherry. It was medium bodied with layers of flavor that spent a lot of time on my tongue. Overall, an excellent wine and a good value.

Price: $16

Grade: 90

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

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

Wine: 1998 Chateau Margaux



Review: This is the grand-daddy of of the Bordeaux's (at least in my opinion). Something about the wines in the Margaux AOC really hits home with me, and, of course this is the premiere estate. The Margaux estate has been producing wine since the 1400s and its vines have an average age of 35 years. The estate produces approximately 12,500 case of its premiere wine each year.

I ordered this wine through WineBid in June and received it last week. I could not wait to try it, so I bought a decanter into work and when it arrived I popped open the bottle to share with my co-workers (hey, why drink something this good alone :)). it was very cool to have the aromas of berry and leather fill the office and a great prelude to drinking.

The 1998 vintage of this wine is a blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot and 5% Petite Verdot and Cabernet Franc. This is a subtle wine that has smoothed out over time. It had hints of blackberry, cinnamon and other spices. Overall, a well-rounded wine with lots of body...and a very enjoyable experience.

Price: $180

Grade: 100

Wine: 2000 Chateau Canuet Bordeaux



Review: I've often thought about getting a list of all the Chateau in the Margaux region and checking off which ones I have tried, then using the rest to create a shopping list. Chateau Canuet is the second growth of Chateau Cantenac-brown (well, was, they have since renamed it to Brio du Chateau Cantenac Brown).

The 2000 vintage of this wine is a blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot and 8% Cabernet Franc. This is a complex wine with a deep purple color and strong tannins. Hit had aromas of blackberry and a strong peppery taste. It lasted a long time on the palette with a surprisingly smooth finish. A very good wine.

Price: $40

Grade: 90

Wine: 2005 Da Vinci Chianti



Review: Chiantis are one of my guilty pleasures. They are a great food wine, they pair well with a wide range of dishes, and they are generally inexpensive.

This is a bright red, light-bodied wine with very little tannins. It has hints of plum and a slightly earthy taste. A really good value for the money.

Price: $12

Grade: 85

Wine: 2005 Cardinal Point Cabernet Franc



Review: About a year ago I attempted to review the 2004 Cardinal Point Cabernet Franc. This wine was a lot better, especially considering that, generally, I have not been a big fan of the 2005 Cabernet Francs.

This was a deep red with a medium body. It had nice betty aromas with a light, peppery taste. Not the usual style of Virginia Cabernet Franc, this was a much lighter, less tannic wine. Good, but not the usual style.

Price: $16

Grade: 85

Wine: 1986 Chateau Siran Bordeaux



Review: When you remove the foil from from a bottle of wine, especially an older bottle, the last thing you want to see is:



And, if that really dry cork snaps in half when you try to pull it from the bottle, it makes you even more nervous.

Chateau Siran is labelled as a Grand Cru Exceptionnel. Its 99 acres are located in the Margaux region but it was not part of the 1855 classification.

I decanted the wine for about an hour, then hesitantly poured my first glass. It was slightly off-color, not the usual ruby that I expect from a Bordeaux. It had strong tobacco aromas with subtle hints of blackberry and vanilla. It was a very smooth wine, low-tannic but a long finish.

Unfortunately, the great feelings did not last past the first glass, subsequent glasses were shells of the original and very disappointing.

Price: $45

Grade: 90/75

Wine: 2003 Segla Bordeaux



Review: Its funny how perspecitves in the wine industry change over time. With the exception of Meritage, which has been growing in popularity, Virginia wine makers have tended to look down on blended wines. Not all of them, some have always made good blended wines and are, rightfully, very proud of them. But, the majority of winemakers seemed to view blended wines as nothing more than table wines.

No less than three winemakers at the Virginia Wine Festival last week talked up their blended wines and mentioned how important they are to their future.

Of course, all that talk made me want to open a bottle of Bordeaux :). Segla is the second growth of Chateau Rauzan-Segla, part of the Margaux appellation. The wine is 54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 41% Merlot, 1% Cabernet Franc, and 4% Petit Verdot.

The wine had a strong nose and a deep ruby color. It offered hints of blackberry and tobacco and some oak. A strong finish, resting on the palette for a while, without being too overpowering.

Price: $40

Grade: 90

Wine: 2005 Elk Run Cabernet Franc



Review: Maryland wineries play second (third?) fiddle to their more well-known cousins in Virginia and Pennsylvania, but the Maryland wine industry is growing. There are currently 27 wineries in Maryland, collectively, they sold just under a million bottles of wine in 2006. Not bad,

I've actually received a couple of bottles of this wine from people who know I love Cabernet Franc. Given that the Maryland climate is similar to that of Virginia, it doesn't surprise me that Maryland winemakers would gravitate toward Cabernet Franc. This was a smooth Cab Franc, not as peppery as I normally like, with hints of raspberry and plum.

Price: $20

Grade: 80

Wine: 2003 Chateau Dufort-Vivens Bordeaux



Review: My Bordeaux consumption tends to drop off in the summer, and increase as the fall approaches. But sometimes I just crave a good Bordeaux, and this was a very good one. This wine is a blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc and contains 12.5% alcohol.

This is a smokey wine, with strong underpinnings of tobacco. It had strong aromas of cherry and blackberry. Age has mellowed the tannins it was a very drinkable wine. I've read it described as rustic and that is a good adjective.

Price: $28

Grade: 90

Wine: 2005 Delfosse Ambrosia



Review: Another really nice summer wine. This late-harvest wine is 100% Viognier with 15% residual sugar...making it very sweet. The wine had hints of apricot, pear and honey it was briefly aged in oak, giving it some body, but nothing overpowering. It is a great wine to pair with cold fruits, or, in my case a chilled, open-faced blackberry pie.

Price: $26

Grade: 90

Wine: 2004 Altanuta Pinot Grigio



Review: Outside of the William Grant & Sons website there is not much information about this wine, or its origins. According to the bottle, the vineyard has been around since 1308 and is located in Alto Adige region of Italy, near the Austrian border.

The wine is a surprisingly full-bodied wine, with hints of citrus and pears. A crisp and refreshing summer wine, that went well with the grilled chicken with which it was served and was easy on the palette.

Price: $15

Grade: 90

Wine: 2005 Nissley Niagara



Review: Its been a while since I reviewed a wine from Pennsylvania. Nissley Winery is one of the oldest wineries in Pennsylvania and Niagara is a grape that does well in the Pennsylvania terroir.

The Niagra grape produces a sweet wine and this was no exception. It is a light wine, by design (in fact they include a fruit punch recipe on the box) with little depth. It is nice on a hot day, or to drink with fruit and light cheeses.

Price: $9

Grade: 80

Wine: 2005 Inniskillin Riesling Ice Wine





Review: I know this might sound antithetical to a wine blog, but sometimes you just don't feel like a bottle of wine with dinner, not often, but sometimes. A friend of mine came over for crabs on Monday. If you have never had Maryland crabs, you are missing out. It is an experience, and having grown up on them, I relish that experience.

But, eating Maryland crabs is messy and even though there a half dozen wines I can think of that go well with crab, it just seemed easier to stick with beer.

Dessert was a different. After a big dinner, I wanted to keep dessert light, so I dipped some strawberries in chocolate and put them in the refrigerator. To complement the chocolate dipped strawberries I chose a 2005 Inniskillin Ice Wine. One thing I can say about Inniskillin is that they know how to make a presentation. The wine comes in its own box and the frosted bottle with the striking silver label makes the wine even more appealing.

The wine itself is unique. It is 100% Riesling and sweet, but it has a hint of tartness that was unexpected but enjoyable. It had aromas of grapefruit and pear and was very smooth. Overall, an excellent dessert wine.

Price: $70

Grade: 95

Wine: 2003 Pavillon Rouge Bordeaux



Review: This is one of those wines that I have been keeping stored waiting to try. Pavillon Rougue is the second growth of Chateau Margaux. Same vines, but slightly lesser quality grapes and a price which reflects the difference. The 2003 was supposed to be a stellar year for Pavillon Rouge and the prices for this vintage are hovering in the $80 range.

This particular vintage was especially well-received with the winemaker, Paul Pontallie, calling it his "best ever." It even received a 93 from Robert Parker

The wine is 65% Cabernet Sauvignon and 35% Merlot, so it is less complex than most Bordeauxs but that does not detract from its flavor. It is a rich wine with a deep ruby color and aromas of blackberries and leather. It sat very long on the palate and was tannic, with a hint of vanilla.

It definately needs to be decanted and you will be richly rewarded for doing so the aromas seemed to fill the room as the I let it sit. If I had one complaint, it might have needed another year of aging.


Price: $80

Grade: 95

Wine: 2003 Baron de Brane Bordeaux



Review: This is a double review. Last Wednesday the wine club met up at Dino's for their Wine Wednesday. Dino's is one of the wine bars that i have wanted to visit and I was really looking forward to it. As always, Leah has a great recap.

The wine flight that night was Rosso di Montalcino, Toscana all very good, light wines that were obviously designed to be paired with food. The bar was cozy and relaxed as was the upstairs dining area. Overall, a fantastic experience, and I cannot wait to go back.

One of the best features of Dino's Wine Wednesday is the fact that there is no corkage fee. Most members of the wine club brought bottle of wine. My choice for the evening was a bottle of Baron de Brane. If the label looks familiar it is probably because you asre familiar with its more famous cousin: Brane Cantentenac.

Baron de Brane is the second growth of the Brane Cantenac winery. It is a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc. Unlike Brane Cantenac this wine is aged for 12 months, rather than 18. Don't let that dissuade you though, this is a good wine.

This is a very intense wine with strong aromas of chocolate and plums. its a very balanced, fully-bodied wine with strong tannins and a smooth finish. It was probably a little soon to open it, but just barely and it definitely was better as the evening progressed and it had a chance to decant.

Price: $26

Grade: 90

Wine: 2002 Chateau Dauzac Bordeaux



Review: Chateau Dauzac is one of the Andre Lurton vineyards, it is classified as a 5th growth in the Margaux region. The wine is a blend of 58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc.

This wine has a rich purple color and very floral aromas. The wine has a medium body with hints of blackberry and a strong finish with smooth tannins.

Price: $35

Grade: 90

Wine: 2004 Madison of Virginia Merlot



Review: First, if you are looking for this wine let me warn you that you should not Google the phrase "Madison Merlot". This is a dry, light Merlot with hints of blackberry and vanilla and an almost chocolatey finish. It was bottled by the great folks at Prince Michel and makes for a good everyday wine.

Price: $14

Grade: 85

Wine: 2000 Clos Margalaine Bordeaux



Review: When I first glanced at it this bottle looked strikingly familiar. A little research into the wine showed that it is the 2nd growth of the Marojallia estate. A Marojallia for less than 1/2 price? I had to try it.

The wine is 64% Cabernet Sauvignon and 36% Merlot, which is not a true Bordeaux blend and the lack of complexity hurts it. It has a very pleasing aroma, with the scent of cherries and cranberry. The taste was slightly tannic, but it smoothed out over the evening, making it an enjoyable, though not spectacular wine.

Price: $35

Grade: 85

Wine: 2003 Chateau Les Grands Marechaux Bordeaux



Review: Two things stand out about this wine: It has an incredible aroma and a great price. If you can get your hands on this wine, and you love Bordeaux it is a great choice. It is not your typical Bordeaux, it has a style similar to California Pinot Noirs, in that it has strong aromas and a full-bodied taste.

However, unlike a Pinot Noir, it has a complexity that has developed quickly and hopefully will continue to grow as the wine ages. It also boasts a strong finish with heavy tannins. I bought a couple of extra bottles to age -- at this price there is no reason not to do so.

Price: $19

Grade: 95

Wine: Jefferson Vineyards 2003 Monticello Meritage



Review: This is the last of the Virginia Meritages (at least that I am aware of, please email me if you know of others that have not been reviewed here). The blend is 60% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc, and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon.

The Merlot and the Cabernet Franc really complement each other in this complex wine. The Merlot provides a solid base, while the Cabernet Franc adds a rich flavor. Overall, this is an excellent wine and a good addition to the Virginia Meritage family.

Price: $25

Grade: 90

Wine: Chateau Pontet-Canet 1998 Bordeaux



Review: This is a Bordeaux from the Pauillac region, so it is Merlot-based. It has a nice red color with oak and coffee aromas. It has a smooth, sweet taste, with a long aftertaste. A very good wine, aged to perfection.

Price: $40

Grade: 90

Wine: Barboursville Vineyards 2002 Octagon



Review: This is the 6th edition of the Barboursville Ocatagon. It is a blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc. This is the fourth Virginia Meritage blend that I have tried, and, and it was very good. The 2001 Octagon actually won "Best in Show" at the 23rd Annual Virginia Wine Competition.

The wine has the remnants of heavy tannins that have mellowed over the last 4 years. It is a deep, rich color with an aroma of plum and tobacco. It is a very complex wine, with great depth and a smooth finish.

Price: $30

Grade: 90

Wine: Fabbioli Cellars 2004 Tre Sorelle



Review: Doug Fabbioli is the winemaker at Windham Winery. He also has his own winery, and produces three wines, all of which are offered for tasting at Windham. The Tre Sorelle is Bordeaux-style consisting of 65% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Petit Verdot.

The wine has a very deep color with strong aromas of black cherries and olives. It has a flavor that matches its strong presentation, with a spicy bite to it and a heavy taste. It is a little young, but I think in a couple of years it will be a great wine.

Price: $24

Grade: 85

Wine: Tarara 2002 Meritage

Review: I went out to Tarara with a friend to do the wine tour and go through their tasting. Well, it just so happens that Tarara was having their Midwinter Blues' Blues festival. Rather than hit another winery, we grabbed a bottle of the Meritage and sat down to listen to good music.

I picked the Meritage because my friend is fond of Boudeaux style wines. This one is an excellent blend of Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. It was a dark wine aromas of pepper, cherry and plum. The taste was excellent: spicy with hints of chocolate, fruit and a prominent taste of oak. This is an excellent wine that will get better with age.

How good was it? My friend insisted on taking the unfinished portion home -- so no picture :).

Price: $35

Grade: 95

Wine: Glades Pike Winery Cayuga



Review: Cayuga is a white grape that is found in the Eastern part of the United States. This particular wine is semi-sweet, with strong fruit flavors and a citrus taste. The wine is simple and was a good match to Thanksgiving dinner.

Price: $9

Grade: 80

Wine: Matariki Wines 2001 Quintology



Review: My entry for WBW #17 is something, I hope, unique. I know there are a lot of New Zealand Pinot Noirs out there, so it took a little bit of exploring to find a different red but I was successful.

This wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (53.5%), Merlot (21.5%), Cabernet Franc (9%), Malbec (8%), and Syrah (8%). The combination of these varietals makes a complex wine with a lot of depth. The wine has a deep body and a strong flavor. The aging process has smoothed out the wine and the flavors have blended very well together.

All in all, an excellent first foray into New Zealand reds.

Price: $28

Grade: 90

Wine: Chaddsford Winery 2002 Cabernet/Chambourcin



Review: This is a eclectic wine from one of Pennsylvania's better known wineries. The wine is a blend of 65% Cabernets (Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot) and 35% Chambourcin. The wine has a full body and a strong aroma. It is very tannic with a spicy taste and a hint of berries. I was a little concerned because there seemed to be more air bubbles in the wine than I am used to, but that did not appear to affect the taste. The wine did benefit from decanting.

Price: $15

Grade: 75

Wine: Walla Walla Vintners 1997 Cabernet Franc



Review: This is the first Cabernet Franc from Washington that I have tried and I have to say it was very enjoyable. It has aged very well with a strong aroma and a dark, full body. It has more of a tannic taste than I am used to from a Cabernet Franc, but it was still relatively smooth with a hint of cherry. The wine is a blend of 90% Cabernet Franc and 10% Merlot -- which is probably where the extra tannins originate.

I picked up this wine off WineBid, and it was a real value for the money.

Price: $20


Grade: 85

Wine: Pearmund Cellars 2003 Ameritage





Review: This is an excellent wine. It is such a good wine that I was actually bummed that I was drinking it alone tonight. It is one of those wines that you want to share with your friends. The blend is 46% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, 6% Malbec and 6% Petite Verdot. Obviously, it is a very complex wine with hints of brambleberry, raspberry, cherry and licorice.

The wine has a strong, but not overpowering, flavor that blends well with food but will also stand on its own.

Price: $23.00

Grade: 95

Wine: Windham Winery 2004 Riesling





Review: At 12% this Riesling has a higher alcohol content than most Rieslings. This may be because of the Vidal Blanc blended into it. It is a crisp Riesling, but the flavor is a little bland, it is not as fruity as most Rieslings. The 2004 growing season was particularly good to Virginia vineyards, especially coming off a very dry 2003 season. The strong harvest means a powerful Riesling taste, but the flavor of the grapes overpowered the more subtle flavorings.

Still, a good wine, but not a great wine.

Price: $15.00

Grade: 75

Wine: Willowcroft Farm Vineyards 2002 Cabernet Franc





Review: This is one of the best local Cabernet Francs I have tasted. It is blended with 4% Petit Verdot and 9% Merlot. The Merlot gives it a much fuller flavor than most Cabernet Francs, but it is still smooth, with light tannins. There is also a hint of blackberry and a slight smokey flavor.

Price: $17

Grade: 90