Welcome to ECoast Wines wine reviews. Here you'll find a nice selection of wines from all over the East Coast (and some from near enough places to the East Coast) and a short but sweet synopsis of each.
Our reviews here aren't quite like those from most other review sites as we don't give rating points and scores. Instead we just talk a bit about the wine, how we liked it, what foods went well with it and a if we think you'll like it based on if you like certain other wines. So never be discouraged to try one we didn't like as it may be right up your alley.
For your convenience we have included a link at the bottom of each review that will lead you to a page where you can find the wine online. Now remember they may not ship to your state so please always check that first. Also, remember that this may not be the only place you can find these wines online.
And of course always remember to drink what you love and love what you drink.
Here you will find the various ECoast Red Wine reviews.
2002 Sangiovese – Valhalla Vineyards – Roanoke, VA
$18.00
Out of all of the Italian varietals, Sangiovese is by far my absolute favourite. So this 100% Sangiovese from Valhalla Vineyards had some pretty high expectations to live up to, and I am extremely pleased to say that they did. I first tasted this wine at the Vintage Virginia wine festival and loved it so much I had to find it at a local shop. When you first open up this wine you’re immediately hit by some pretty fabulous aromas. The most prominent thing within the aroma was definitely this lovely floral smell that just jumps out at you. Besides this you get a pretty mellow smell of spice along with a fruit smell I can’t quite make out. Once you move onto your first sip you immediately notice how well balanced the wine is, with the alcohol not overbearing the fruit and vice versa. The spice carries over into the flavor very nicely, as you would expect from a good Sangiovese. That previously unidentified fruit smell also comes in a bit more pronounced leading me to believe that it might be plum (maybe). As for food pairings, this is a good light red so can go with pretty much any pasta you can come up with. I personally had it with a nice pepper and tomato pasta with some grilled chicken, the spice of the pepper really bringing out that same spice in the wine. This is definitely a great buy for any lover of red wine, and thanks to it being fairly light a lot of you white wine fans out there might also enjoy this. Mostly though if you enjoy a light Cabernet or Pinot Noir I think you should enjoy this wine, and for a price like that for a 7 year old wine why not give it a shot anyways.
If you would like to purchase this wine you can get it from Snooth here. Remember to make sure they can ship to your state.
2003 Cynthiana – Valenzano Winery – Shamong, NJ (Outer Coastal Plain)
$14.99
This is a truly American and East Coast wine as it is made from a native Norton varietal. The deep red colour of this wine is quite nice as is the spicy, raspberry aroma that comes through fairly well. As for its taste I was pleasantly surprised by the mix of chocolate and coffee flavours that it had, and kept, with a decent finish. This went quite well with some grilled chicken for myself, though I think a steak would probably also go well. If your a fan of Norton wines or of a nice merlot you'll most likely enjoy this, and at that price I'd say its worth a try for you all.
If you would like to purchase this wine you can get it from Snooth here. Remember to make sure they can ship to your state.
2003 Proprietor's Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon – Empire Winery & Distillery – New Port Richey, FL
$14.99
This wine I am definitely not entirely sure what to make of it. When I opened the bottle I was a bit worried at first as I got a strong metallic like smell from the bottle. This was pretty overpowering and made so that I was not able to discern any noticeable pleasing aromas from the wine which saddened me quite a bit as the aroma is usually one of my favourite parts. As for the taste, that metallic smell carried over but thankfully not too strongly and I was able to pick up a slight taste of what I believed to be Black Currant. Normally I would avoid this wine after a strange taste or smell, but this metallic taste can be caused by the grapes being stored in a poorly tinned container. So this could be a one off thing, and hopefully the next bottle goes better. But for the sake of sticking with my usual review method, I did have some nice herb and lemon baked potato wedges with some rice and assorted vegetables (this made the wine at least bearable). And finally if you are a fan of Cabernet Sauvignon I would say to still give it a try as this may have been a one off thing with a single batch, especially since I have heard good things about this wine from others.
If you would like to purchase this wine you currently need to look in stores (sorry), a list can be found here.
2004 Frontenac – Crowne Valley Winery – St. Genevieve County, Missouri
$12.00
Now I know its not exactly the East Coast, but hey its close enough and it's quite a nice wine so we just wont tell anyone. The aroma of this wine honestly wasn't too impressive, you get a slight hint of grapefruit and cherry but really not much else. The flavour though was where I really enjoyed it as you get a nice fruity taste of plum. And thankfully, with all good wines (at least for me), this wine had a nice long lasting finish to it. And as an extra bonus for you meat lovers, this wine goes great with some grilled meat. Personally, it went quite well for me with a nice chunk o'pork. So if you like a nice Cabernet or Merlot with a nice pork chop, or maybe just a burger, I do believe you'll enjoy this wine.
If you would like to purchase this wine you can get it direct from the vineyard here. Remember to make sure they can ship to your state.
2004 Vito's Pride – Buck Shoals Vineyard & Winery – Hamptonville, NC
$14.00
Yet another blend wine, this one though I wasn't too big on really. This blend is mainly made from Sangiovese (though 3 other varietals are in it as well) which is what really disappointed me as I love Sangiovese wines and so my hopes were quite high for this wine. The aroma of this wine was decent and enjoyable with some nice fruit smells to it with a bit of spice to it. The Taste on the other hand is were it all went downhill for me. The fruit, which was quite nice in the smell, became detrimental in the taste. It was just to over powering for me as I prefer more subtle wines. It did go fairly well with some lasagna though so it at least has that. Though just because I didn't like it doesn't mean that you wont so if you enjoy fruitier reds you might like this so give it a try, but if you prefer subtle wines Like me I don't think your missing anything.
If you would like to purchase this wine you can get it direct from the vineyard here. Remember to make sure they can ship to your state.
2005 Chambourcin – Stony Knoll Vineyards – Dobson, NC (Yadkin Valley)
$15.00
This was the last of the wines I had in my flight at the Yadkin Valley Wine bar in the Charlotte International Airport. The aroma of this wine was quite nice, even though I wasn't able to get that freshly opened bottle smell that I do love so much. The most recognizable of these pleasant aromas was the fruity smell of what I think was cherries. Along with this cherry smell you can also gather a bit of what I can only describe as an herb and spice kind of smell. After you move past these great smells and work your way to the actual tasting of the wine, you are hit by something a bit different. That fruity aroma does carry over into the flavour of the wine but with a somewhat tart taste to it. Some might not like this tart taste, but overall I think it works fairly well and is nowhere overpowering (which tends to be the problem with the tart wines of the world). Besides this tart fruity flavour you also get a nice hint of oak to the wine that is very subtle but is noticeable. This is a wine which I believe would go quite well with a nice chicken pasta dish or possibly some nice barbecue. This wine is quite nice, even with its slight tart flavour, and if you are a fan of lighter reds or even rose wines then I think you might really enjoy this. So go on and give it a try.
If you would like to purchase this wine you can get it from Snooth here. Remember to make sure they can ship to your state.
2005 Norton – Grove Winery and Vineyards – Gibsonville, NC
$18.69
This wine had a lot to live up to since it happens to be of my favourite American Varietal, Norton (or Cynthiana depending on where you live). Thankfully, it didn’t disappoint me though I have to be honest that it really didn’t get me overly excited either. Though don’t get me wrong it is still quite good and definitely worth the purchase for me. And it really shows that worth when you get that initial hit of the oh so Norton raspberry aroma, which is truly a lovely thing. You also get an interesting spiciness to the smell as well as an interesting hint of eucalyptus (which I must say I haven’t gotten from a Norton before). Once you move onto the taste you are again hit with that strong raspberry flavor, though this time it’s joined by a fruity jam sort of flavour. You also get an interesting hint of what I believe to be coffee in this wine, though that could just be me. All these aromas and flavours come together quite well for a meal were I had a nice grilled steak with some lightly seasoned asparagus, though I think it would go equally well with any red sauce pasta. So if you are a fan of wines like Merlot or a good Cab then I believe you should enjoy this wine pretty well. And if you aren’t then go on and try something new and give it a shot, who knows you might like it.
If you would like to purchase this wine you can get it from Americanwinery.com here. Remember to make sure they can ship to your state.
2005 Octagon 8th Edition – Barboursville Vineyard – Monticello, VA
$39.99
I am a very big fan of Red wines and this is hands down one of the best wine I've had to date in Virginia. This wine is a wonderful proprietary red that hits you with a pleasing earthy aroma of plum and a bit of coffee (a strange combo to me but hey it works). The taste is equally as nice with a hint of berry with a nice smokey spice to it. The finish on this wine is very smooth and lasting, keeping with you for a bit. And of course a great wine should go with some great food, personally I like this wine with either a good steak or a nice chicken and olive pasta. So, If you like Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot or Nebbiolo then you should love this wine, as these are the varietals that this wine is made from. And even if your not a fan of those this wine is worth the money to try if even only once.
If you would like to purchase this wine you can get it direct from the vineyard here. Remember to make sure they can ship to your state.
2006 Baco Noir - Sainte-Famille Wines - Falmouth, NS
$17.25
I must say I was quite pleased with this recent wine acquisition from our neighbors to the North. This red comes to us from all the way up in Nova Scotia, and it was certainly worth the shipping. once you open a bottle of this up you are introduced to some simply lovely herbaceous aromas with just a hint of spice. You also get some very forward berry notes, mainly blackberry, along with a slight hint of plum. After you take a sip you’re brought back once more to the lovely blackberry flavours. Besides this you also get a nice hint of tobacco as well as a lovely oakiness to it all. We also get a great finish to this wine that is nice and smooth (always a plus in my book). Now for food, I had this wine with a homemade red pepper pizza and it was great. But I think this wine would work equally as well with a nice steak, lamb or some nice aged Gouda (can’t go wrong with Gouda). If your a fan of Merlot, Pinot Noir or any light/medium reds then I think you will really enjoy this wine. It’s a nice and enjoyable Canadian wine, so go on and give it a try.
If you would like to purchase this wine you can get it from Snooth here (2005 Vintage) or check out the Winery here. Remember to make sure they can ship to your state.
2006 Barbera Reserve – Barboursville Vineyard – Monticello, VA
$21.99
Barbera is an interesting Italian red, one I'm not an immense fan of but at least somewhat of a fan. It's got an interesting aroma of chocolate smell to it with a bit of an earthy quality I can't quite pin down. Then after taking a sip you get a really nice fruity raspberry flavour with a bit of a nice spice to it. If you are a fan of Sangiovese, Chianti or really any form of Italian red wine then you should like this one, but if not try it any ways it’s a pretty decent wine. And really any good red sauce pasta is great with this Barbera, it would also probably go quite well with lamb. It may be a bit pricey for some, but why not give it a try and who knows you might enjoy it.
If you would like to purchase this wine you can get it direct from the vineyard here. Remember to make sure they can ship to your state.
2006 Category 5 – Raylen Vineyards – Mocksville, NC (Yadkin Valley)
$20.00
This is another one of the Yadkin Valley wines that I had during my rather pleasant layover at Charlotte International. As with the other wines during my tasting experience there, I of course couldn't get that freshly opened bottle aroma that I love so much. But, of course you can always get just as good of a smell from a nice pouring of the wine as I did here. The aroma you get from this wine is pretty nice with some pleasing fruit smells. The most notable of these fruit smells was what I believed to be plum with maybe a little currant though the currant was very subtle. As for the taste of this wine, you really get a lot of great flavours that really round out this nice wine. The plum taste carries over pretty nicely, and you also get a nice flavour of vanilla to it that gives it a little something special. You also get a bit of a kick with this wine with the slightly stronger taste of alcohol than I generally like, but its nice long finish really made it all even out in my book. Now I didn't have food with this one as it was a pairing, but I really think this would go well with a nice steak, meatloaf or even a nice sun-dried tomato pasta. This is a lovely wine that has a lot going for it which I believe you will love quite a lot, especially if you are already a fan of wines such as merlots or cabernet sauvignons.
If you would like to purchase this wine you can get it direct from the vineyard here. Remember to make sure they can ship to your state.
2006 Syrah – Victoria Valley Vineyards – Cleveland, SC
$12.95
When it comes to Syrah wines I tend to gravitate more towards those from Australia (where they call it Shiraz) and especially those from McLaren vale. So when I found this one from South Carolina I wasn’t exactly expecting much from it, but I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised with this wine. When you pour yourself a glass you get introduced to some quite lovely aromas right off the bat. The most prominent of which, for me at least, was that of blackberry. And sitting just behind that blackberry smell you also get some interesting hints of pepper as well as even a bit of clove. Then once you move into the taste you are brought back to the blackberry, but this time it is accompanied by a quite noticeable flavour of dark cherry. Though you also get a hint of plum along with a lovely bit of pepper once more. Unfortunately though all these flavours didn’t last too long in the finish, which I must say I saddened by as I do always love a good long finish. But to redeem itself everything does come together quite well with some good food. I personally had this with a nice peppercorn burger and it worked wonderfully and I think it would go equally as well with anything from a nice steak to a good slice of pizza. So if you are a fan of bolder reds, and syrah’s in particular, then I believe you will really enjoy this wine. And for the price why not give it a try, trust me it’s worth it.
If you would like to purchase this wine you can get it direct from the vineyard here. Remember to make sure they can ship to your state.
2006 Tuscarora Red – Rockbridge Vineyards – Raphine, VA
$10.00
This was a fairly interesting wine that I picked up at a local store on a whim, one which I wasn’t expecting a horribly large amount from. Though, I am pleased to say that this wine surpassed my expectations, granted it didn’t shatter them but it did surpass them. When you open up a bottle of this wine you pretty quickly get hit by a decent aroma of berries, maybe even black currant (maybe). You also get a somewhat herbal quality to the smell, now I can’t say what herbs precisely but it just has that quality to it. After you are finished with those dominant smells and move into the taste you really notice how well that berry aroma follows through into the flavour (still thinking black currant maybe). Beyond the berry taste you also get a pretty decent fruitiness to it that thankfully isn’t too intense. Overall this is a really nice and well balanced wine that has a soft finish and good acidity to it that really lends itself to food. I personally had this with some pizza and it worked great, but if you want a more formal meal with it then any red Mediterranean dish would go great with this I think. This is an excellent purchase and one I think you all shouldn’t pass up, especially if you are a fan of wines such as Chambourcin, Cabernet Sauvignon or even a Petit Verdot. So go on and give it a go.
If you would like to purchase this wine you can get it direct from the vineyard here. Remember to make sure they can ship to your state.
2007 Chambourcin – Heritage Vineyards – Mullica Hill, NJ
$20.99
Ah we got another wine here from Heritage Vineyard in New Jersey, this place is starting to become a favourite of mine. I have had a few of their wines now, and reviewed one of those, and gotta say I have yet to be disappointed; and thankfully this Chambourcin is no exception. When you open up this bottle of wine you are instantly hit with these incredibly intense aromas of fruits, such as cherry and plum. There is also an interesting hint of licorice and a little bit of an herb smell to it all. After enjoying the aroma and moving onto the taste you get an equally pleasurable experience with those great fruit aromas coming right through in the taste beautifully, especially the plum and dark cherry. You also get this nice jaminess to the wine with a slight hint of leather (trust me, its good). But most importantly you get a wonderful long lasting smooth finish with a nice balance. Now, as for food pairings, I had this wine with a pretty decent lasagna and it went quite well. I also think this would go great with anything from a steak to a nice burger, and of course pretty much anything italian. So if you are a fan of Cabernets, Merlots or lighter Nortons then I think you will enjoy this wine thoroughly. And as a bonus the wine isn't at too high of a price point, so why not give it a try.
If you would like to purchase this wine you can get it from the Vineyard here or from Hops and Grapes here. Remember to make sure they can ship to your state.
2007 Claret – Veritas Vineyards – Afton, VA
$17.00
This is another great wine that I enjoy quite a bit and tend to buy often. When you open a bottle of this great wine you get hit by some really nice aromas, most notably a strong smell of herbs and spices. The taste of this wine is equally as nice for me as it's a Bordeaux Blend (which being a fan of Bordeaux helps with the whole liking of this wine). You get a a lot of great berry flavours to this wine, mainly raspberry, and also a slight hint of nuts (according to the vineyard it's almonds but I didn't quite taste that personally). And of course any good wine needs some good food to go with it and this one tends to go nice with a lot of things both fancy or not. Pasta and steak are always good with this Claret but I personally like having this wine with a nice Blue Cheese Burger, it is absolutely amazing. So this is a great wine that is a must for you to try, especially if your a fan of Cabernet Franc or Merlot. I hope you enjoy.
If you would like to purchase this wine you can get it direct from the vineyard here. Remember to make sure they can ship to your state.
2005 Baco Noir - Sainte-Famille Wines - Falmouth, NS
$12.33
Some time ago I did a review of Sainte-Famille Wines 2006 Baco Noir and provided a link where you could also purchase the 2005 vintage as well. At the time I didn’t think much of it, but I had several requests to also review this previous vintage, so once more into the Canadian breach my friends. When you open a bottle of this up you quickly find some lovely herbaceous aromas with nice a hint of smoke. You also get some very good notes of black currant as well as some plum. Once you take a sip you’re brought back to those berry flavours from before, but this time with a bit of blackberry. Along with this you also get a hint of tobacco with a good toasted oak to round it all out. The finish isn’t quite as long, or strong, as I would have hoped but this wine is a bit past its estimated peak. Now for food, I had this wine with a homemade red pepper pizza (just as with 2006 vintage) and it was pretty good. But I think this wine would work just as well with a nice steak, lamb or perhaps some good pasta. If your a fan of Merlot, Pinot Noir or any light/medium reds then I think you will really enjoy this wine. It’s a good wine, and just as good as the 2006 we reviewed in the past, so go on and give it a try.
If you would like to purchase this wine you can get it from Snooth here or check out the Winery here. Remember to make sure they can ship to your state.
2006 Nebbiolo - Breaux Vineyards - Purcellville, VA
$38
Nebbiolo is one of those extremely hard to work with grapes which can vary so widely in its aroma and taste that very few are even remotely similar. And that is why I love this varietal so very much, no two bottles are ever seem alike even if they come from the same vineyard. That uniqueness is what draws me to Nebbiolo and is also why so few places outside of Italy even think of attempting to use this grape. Thus enters Breaux Vineyards and their valiant winemaking efforts with such a difficult varietal (to critical acclaim I might add).
When you pour yourself a glass of this wine you are quickly immersed in the beautiful aromas of dark cherry and flowers, though it is hard to pick exactly what type. Along with this you also get some lovely hints of tobacco with a little bit of spice on the back of it. Once you move onto the taste you come back to the cherry, though this time it is accompanied by a light flavour of blackberry. Besides this you also get just a touch of vanilla with a very slight earthy quality. The finish on this wine is also exceptionally smooth and long, though I must admit the tannins on this wine may be a bit much for some. As for food I know that this wine goes very well with a nice Mushroom Risotto, but I believe that it would go great with lovely steak or even a good hearty stew. So if you are a fan of Italian styles wines, or of Pinot Noir or Barolo, then I’m pretty sure you may enjoy this wine. And though the price may be a bit steep for some of you, it is a worth while wine to try.
If you would like to purchase this wine you can get it from the
Vineyard site here and remember to make sure they can ship to your state.
2008 Ursa Major - Deep Creek Cellars - Friendsville, MD
$21.95
Honestly, I was a little torn as to whether or not I should actually review this wine. Don’t get me wrong it’s certainly not bad, as a matter of fact it’s quite delicious, but unfortunately it isn’t a pure East Coast wine. You see this wine is made with zinfandel from California as well as some lovely East Coast Norton. But rather then hold that against such a good wine I decided to let it pass and make its way onto the pages of ECoast Wines. So to begin, with the aroma of course, you get some lovely and strong notes of plum and blackberry. Along with this you also seem to get a bit of cherry on the nose as well as a slight hint of herb (smells a bit like coffee to me). Then once you move onto the taste you find some spectacular flavours of tart berries along with the plum from before. You can also get a good hint of oak, apricot and a bit of spice in the finish, I always love a good wine with that. Now, as for food, I had this wine with a splendid beef bourguignon (Julia Child’s recipe of course) and it went quite well. Though I also believe that this would go great with a nice steak, lamb or even good risotto. All in all this is quite a lovely wine that is well worth the buy, so I say give it a go if you can get your hands on one.
If you would like to purchase this wine you can get it from Snooth here (Could only find the older 2004) or check out the Winery here. Remember to make sure they can ship to your state.
2007 Engagement – Mountfair Vineyards – Mountfair, VA
$25.00
Mountfair is quite the new comer to the Virginia wine industry but one which is definitely holding its own in the area. This red is an interesting mix of a few varietals and has a beautiful deep red colour to it (almost a blood red really). You also get a really interesting smell to it once you get your nose right in there with some hints of black cherry. After taking another whiff or two you also start to get a bit of an oaky aroma to the wine which is subtle but very appealing. Once you move into the taste you find an interesting combination of fruit which I can't quite identify (odds are though at least that cherry flavour came through). You also get an interesting vanilla undertone with a hint of oak in the taste as well. Best of all, it has a pretty decent finish that lasts for a little bit, though I would have preferred it to last a bit longer. All in all, it’s a delicious red that I think would go well with any sort of grilled meat, especially poultry, and may even go decently with a quiche. This is a very smooth, easy drinking wine and one which I think you'd love if you're a fan of Merlot, Cabernet Franc or even a lighter Pinotage. So, go on and give it a try if you have the chance.
Unfortunately you can only buy it by the case from the vineyard here, other than that you'll have to find it in stores (contact the vineyard for that information).
2007 Estate Cabernet Franc – Heritage Vineyards – Mullica Hill, NJ
$21.99
For those of you who have been reading my reviews for a while then you may have caught onto the fact that I absolutely love Cabernet Franc. So, with that in mind you should know that this wine had a lot to live up to. And thankfully for me, and my taste buds, this wine more than met my expectations for a lovely Cab Franc. Once you open up the bottle and pour yourself a glass you're hit with some absolutely delightful aromas of Cherry and Raspberry. You also get a great soft floral quality to it all that really reminds me of a botanical garden I used to go to (ah olfactory memory). You may also pick up a slight hint of oak to the aroma that is quite promising. After that we of course move right into the taste of this wine and it's equally as intriguing. You start out by once again picking up those great fruit forward smells of Cherry and Raspberry, but this time you also get a slight hint of vanilla to these fruits. Also that oak aroma returns as well giving the flavour a nice toast like quality. Finally, you get a slight minerality to the wine which worked quite well, and this is coming from a man who doesn't generally care for minerality. As for food, I had this with a nice beef stew (odd choice on my part, but it worked). I also think this would also go very well with steak, jambalaya or even on its own sitting by a fire. So if you are a fan of Any form of red Cabernet or Merlots I think you would enjoy this wine quite a bit. It my be on the upper price bracket for some, but it is truly worth it so go on and give it a try.
Unfortunately I can now only find their 2008 Cab Franc online, so if you'd like that wine you can get it from the Vineyard here or from Hops and Grapes Here. Remember to make sure they can ship to your state.
2007 EVOE! - Sugarloaf Mountain Vineyards - Dickerson, MD
$42
This particular wine was one of the many interesting bottles for tasting at the 2011 Wine Bloggers Conference in Charlottesville. Immediately when I saw this wine on the table I was drawn to it because of its unique name, thanks to my knowledge of classical Greece. And for those who don’t know, Evoe was the cry of the Bacchanalians during festivals honouring Bacchus. So, considering this wine is technically a joyous praise to the ancient god of wine I had some pretty high expectations. Thankfully for me this Bordeaux style blend did indeed deliver.
When you get a nice glass of this wine you notice right away some pretty lovely aromas of currant, which for those who read my reviews you’ll know that I always love that. With the currant you also get some an interestingly nutty qualities to the aroma along with a hint of toasted oak. Then once you move onto your first sip you start to notice a bit more fruit coming in with not only the currant from before, but also some nice raspberry. Besides this you also get some hints of raisin and an pleasing jammy texture that persists through the whole experience. Now I had this at a tasting where only cheese was available, and delicious, but I’m pretty sure this wine would go great with a nice steak and a side of rosemary potatoes or just with some Gouda. So if you are a fan of Cabs and full bodied Bordeaux wines, such as those from Médoc, then I am quite certain that you’ll love this wine.
Unfortunately I couldn’t find this one for purchase any place online, but check out the Vineyard site here and perhaps give them a call about the 2008 vintage.
2007 Pinot Noir – Chaddsford Winery – Chaddsford, PA
$15.99
I’ll be honest, I’m always a little bit suspect of East Coast Pinot Noir. Now don’t get me wrong they can be quite lovely, but in general we just don’t really have quite the right climate to make one that is unforgettable. Still though you get some that are absolutely delicious, and well worth the price as this one is. When you start with the nose of this wine you are welcomed in by some truly beautiful aromas of raspberry and dark cherry. You also get an interesting hint of spice along with an odd, but intriguing, hint of herbs. Then once you move into the taste of this wine you are once more brought back to those flavours of raspberry and cherry, though now they seem far more delicate. Along with that you also get a lovely earthy quality to it all that really made me smile. Ah and then there’s the finish that was so wonderfully long lasting, which is what I love to see in a wine. And to top things off it has a wonderful balance between the tannins and the acidity which make it great for food pairings. For me this meant a lovely steak dinner with a nice side of vegetables, but I think that this wine would go equally as well with a nice mushroom pasta or some Camembert cheese. So if you’re a fan of pinots then I think this wine is a no brainer, and the same goes for those looking for a nice PA red to go with dinner. So go on, why not give it a try.
If you would like to purchase this wine you can get it direct from the vineyard here or from Snooth.com here . Remember to make sure they can ship to your state.
2007 Merlot – Heritage Vineyards – Mullica Hill, NJ
$19.99
Ah good old New Jersey has always been a good state for red wines in my mind. And thankfully this Merlot from Heritage Vineyards certainly didn’t stray from that opinion. When you open up a bottle of this wine and really get your nose into it you’re hit with some pretty amazing aromas right away. The first of these smells being an intense aroma of dark cherry as well as other generic fruits (couldn’t quite pick them out). On top of this you also get this lovely oak and tobacco smell that’s quite mellow and really brings all the aromas together quite nicely. After you take a sip you’re reintroduced once more to those fruits and oak from above, and this time I think I may be picking up a bit of strawberry. Along with this you also get a really nice sort of toasty taste and feel to the finish which I quite enjoyed. And of course a tipping point for my enjoyment was the wonderfully long finish to this wine (I do always love a lingering taste … provided it’s nice of course). Now I had this with a nice meal of steak and mushrooms and it went wonderfully, and I think it could go equally as well with a nice pasta or even a salad pilled with tomatoes (who doesn’t like tomatoes). If you are a fan of Merlot, Chambourcin or any Cabs I think you will enjoy this wine and with the price point where it is I think definitely shouldn’t pass it up.
If you would like to purchase this wine you can get it direct from the vineyard here or from Hops and Grapes here. Remember to make sure they can ship to your state.
2007 Norton – Daniel Vineyard – Crab Orchard, WV
$20.00
Since I moved to Virginia I have had an interesting fascination with Norton wines, being one of the oldest and greatest of the native varietals of America. The aroma is quite nice with an almost spicy raspberry smell to it that you can't help but enjoy. Another thing that fascinates me about this wine is the taste, which I find to have and interesting licorice/chocolate taste to, it's subtle but very pleasing. I have always liked to have this with a nice cheese platter, perhaps with some sharp cheddar of gouda, and some good friends. But a nice pasta dinner is equally as nice, if you're not a fan of cheese (which I don't see how thats possible). So, I would have to say if you're a fan of Cabernet Sauvignon's then you should probably like this wine and of course if you just like trying new things then you should be fine here.
If you would like to purchase this wine you can get it from Snooth here. Remember to make sure they can ship to your state.
2007 Petit Verdot – Jefferson Vineyards – Monticello, VA
$19.95
Originally used as a bordeaux blending grape, Petit Verdot has really made its own niche as a single varietal wine here in the new world. And it's here in this niche that this amazing Petit Verdot from Jefferson vineyards really excels. When you open this wine up you get hit by an amazing aroma of both spice and Violet. Shortly after this initial burst of great smells you start noticing the more subtle hints of some sort of dark fruit (which I can't quite identify) and I even believe there may be a little bit of bannana. After you get a good whiff and move on to take a sip you are met by some pretty nice flavours right off the bat, beginning with that spice and dark fruit carrying over from the smell. You also get a pleasant taste of black currant and a bit of tobacco as well. And most importantly of all you get a nice long, dry finish with some subtle notes of herbs that really stay with you. Now I had this wine at a tasting, so no food, but I really think that this would go great with a heavy pasta sauce or a nice strong cheese. This is an amazing wine and one which you should really try, especially if you are a fan of Bordeaux or Meritage wines. If you want a nice heavy tannin wine that will age well then get yourself one of these bottles, you will probably love it and for the price how can you go wrong.
If you would like to purchase this wine you can get it from Snooth here. Remember to make sure they can ship to your state. And don't forget to also check out the Vineyards Site Here.
2007 Proprietors Reserve Red (Chambourcin) – Chaddsford Winery – Chaddsford, Pennsylvania
$12.99
Chambourcin is a popular varietal of wine for growers on the east coast, and for good reason it does tend to make for a nice wine like this one. For this particular wine you get this bueatiful dark purple colour with a nice aroma of plums. For the taste you get some nice hints of vanilla and cherry with a fairly long finish to it, though honestly I wish it was a bit more. This is a really good wine to have with some pasta, I had a nice tomato and basil penne that was great. So if you enjoy a nice merlot or Cabernet Sauvignon then I would think you would like this wine.
If you would like to purchase this wine you can get it direct from the vineyard here. Remember to make sure they can ship to your state.
2007 Tony's Red – Annthony's Road - Finger Lakes, NY
$8.99
an interestingly fruity red, though honestly not much of an aroma to it (at least to me, you might get more). You can smell a bit of fruit though that fruit is far more in the taste. And as for that taste, I've never been much of a fan for sweeter reds but this was quite a refreshing wine. It isnt a bold or complex wine though its also not subtle, the fruit is nice and the alcohol is low and not overbearing. Its a wine that think I would buy again but not for anything particularly special. Definitely a wine that needs to be chilled a bit and would go great on a summer BBQ or picnic. If your not a big fan of reds but love sweet whites you should really like this wine.
If you would like to purchase this wine you can get it direct from the vineyard here. Remember to make sure they can ship to your state.
2008 Cabernet Franc Reserve – Veritas Vineyard & Winery – Afton, VA
$29.00
Cabernet Franc is a great red wine and definitely one of my favourites wines over all. So, thankfully for me I live in an area that makes absolutely superb Cab Francs and the ones from Veritas winery are no exception (as a matter of fact they're in my top 3). Specifically though today we will be looking at their reserve Cab from 2008, though their non reserve is tasty too, and I gotta say you get a lot of great smells and flavours from this wine. To start, once you open a bottle, you get these absolutely beautiful aromas of plum and berries that just brings you right into this wine. after that you also get a little bit of spice (what spice, I don't know) to the aroma as well as a bit of pepper which is quite clear. Then after you take a sip you are immediately brought back to those fruits, especially the plum, and now those berries really come out in the form of currant and cherry. You also get a lovely caramel taste to this wine along with a sort of spice to the after taste (again I couldn't really pin down the spice). And to top it all off this Cab had an amazingly long and smooth finish to it, which as you know I adore in a wine. As for food, i had this wine with a lovely pasta dinner with some nice savory meatballs and it all went together perfectly thanks to that peppery quality to this wine. i also believe that this wine would go equally as well with some pizza, couscous or even a nice steak and even though it's a red I think it would go great with some poultry (i tend to like whites with my chicken). Overall I think you will really enjoy this wine especially if you are a fan of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Claret or really any good tanniny red. So my opinion, get a bottle. it may be on the upper end of the price range for some, but this is a glorious bottle of wine for a special occasion or just a nice night in so give it a go.
If you would like to purchase this wine you can get it from the Vineyard here. Remember to make sure they can ship to your state.
2008 Cabernet Sauvignon - Grove winery - Gibsonville, NC
$17.99
Ah the Classic Cabernet Sauvignon, is there anything really more synonymous with wine than that. But, unfortunately with the multitude of these varietal wines flooded into the market you can fined bad ones quite regularly. Because of that I never have too high of hopes when I open a Cab. And for this particular one, those limited expectations where thoroughly shattered as this was simply a great wine to me. When you open this wine up you get some simply lovely aromas of plum and dark cherry. you will also find a slight hint of coffee to it all that was quite pleasing. Then once you move onto the taste of this wine those fruits once again come through, though this time with the cherry being by far the strongest. With that you also get a hint of tobacco that worked out very nicely and really brought everything together. Now I had this wine with a delicious plate of spaghetti and meatballs, though I think it would go just as well with some nice lamb or even a good selection of chocolates. All together this is a very nice full bodied wine that can go well with a lot of different things, or just on its own. And if you are a fan of Cabs, Merlot or even Norton I think you'll really enjoy this wine.
If you would like to purchase this wine you can get it from the Vineyard here. Remember to make sure they can ship to your state.
2008 Merlot – Veritas Vineyard & Winery – Afton, VA
$19.99
Ah poor merlot, it has taken such a beating in recent years and honestly I don’t know why. It’s an absolutely wonderful varietal and one which I am quite fond of, and this merlot from Veritas definitely doesn’t disappoint. As always the fun starts in the great aromas of this beautiful ruby red wine. You instantly notice some lovely dark fruit and berry smells, most notably cherries. But you also get some hints of other berries, possibly raspberry, as well as a soft hint of herbs. After you’re ready to take your nose out of the glass and take a sip you are once again thrown in with those fruits and berries from before, especially the cherry. But this time you also get a nice earthy quality to the wine with those herbs coming through once more. I also think I got a little bit of chocolate to this wine, subtle though if it is truly there. As for food pairings, I had this with a nice grilled steak and a baked potato and it went great. I think this would go equally well with some nice pasta or even a pizza. I think you’ll really enjoy this wine if you are a merlot fan, though I also think Bordeaux lovers will enjoy it too (though it is slightly less tannic then a traditional Bordeaux wine). The price may be pushing it for some, but trust me it is worth the $20 if you can find it as it is out of stock at the vineyard and at all the places I know online.
If you would like to purchase a similar vintage of this wine you can get it from Snooth.com here. Remember to make sure they can ship to your state.
2008 Raven’s Roost Cabernet Franc - Wintergreen Winery - Nellysford, VA
$20
Well if you have read any of my reviews in the past, you probably know how much I love a good Cabernet Franc (especially one from VA). So of course when ever I’m at a tasting and one comes out, I get quite excited. And I’m happy to say that this Cab Franc from Wintergreen really stepped up. When you get a good whiff of this wine you immediately smell a rather lovely aroma of raspberry, that has an interesting floral quality to it. Along with this you also get a very nice hint of oak to it all, though this was somewhat downplayed for me. Now once you move into the taste you come back to that raspberry once again, but this time accompanied by a nice hint of cherry. You also find a bit of that oakiness once again, joined by an interesting herbal quality that I couldn’t quite pin down. What was a big surprise though for this wine was how light it was, compared to other Cab Francs, but I think this worked out quite well for it. As for food, I think this would go great with a steak, burger or even some nice chocolates. So, if you are a fan of any kind of Cabs, Merlot or any lighter red I really think that you’ll enjoy this wine. And though $20 may be pushing it for some, I do believe that it’s worth it.
Unfortunately I couldn’t find this online to purchase, but please check out the webpage for the Winery here.
2008 Red Star – Veritas Vineyard & Winery – Afton,VA
$18.00
This is the first video review on the site and I hope you all enjoy it. There are a few parts I stumbled on a bit, but hey like I said it's the first (I'm allowed a few first mistakes right). And for those of you who prefer our standard written reviews just keep on reading below.
Veritas is by far one of my favourite vineyards out there today, so I always like having a bottle from them around the house. Nowadays that bottle is typically a Red Star since it's a beautiful wine for having on a hot summer days like today. When you open up the bottle you are hit with some lovely aromas right away. These are mostly fruits such as cherry and raspberry, but you also get a few other fruits I can't quite put my finger on. Besides that you also get a little floral hint to this wine with what I think may be violet. As for the taste you are instantly brought back to those, especially the Cherry, but this time you also get a good hint of red currant. Besides that you get a very light spiciness to this wine as well as a nice light jammy texture, which is very refreshing. Over all this is a nice light bodied wine with a decent finish, though is a bit short for me. As for food, I know this goes great with burgers and grilled chicken. Though this wine would go pretty well with any light red meat as well as game birds. If you like Cabernet Franc, Chambourcin or Merlot I think you will enjoy this wine and with the price point why not give it try.
If you would like to purchase this wine you can get it direct from the vineyard here. Remember to make sure they can ship to your state.
2008 Sangiovese - Blackstock Vineyard & Winery - Dahlonega, GA
$17.00
Ah Sangiovese, how I truly love thee. Out of all the various Italian varietals this one is by far my favourite, especially those made in the Chianti region. The grape is just such a lovely light yet complex vinifera that makes equally as light/complex wines and this is why I love it so very much. So, whenever I find an American Sangiovese I tend to become intrigued and typically quite critical as my standards for this wine can be somewhat high. And thus enters our contender hailing from the Southern state of Georgia, which I must admit I didn’t think this grape could grow in that particular states climate. Well, lets see how it goes.
When you open up a bottle of this wine you are greeted by the pleasant and familiar Sangiovese aroma of strawberry. Along with this you also get some interesting hints of plum as well as a nice bit of spice (clove perhaps). Then once you move into the first sip, after a good swirl or two of course, you come back to that light fruit from before. And again that strawberry comes through, though this time accompanied by a bit of cherry. Besides this you also get some nice earthy notes in the after taste, which is intriguing. Overall a nice light-bodied red with some decent balance and soft tannins. Now, what wine is complete without food, and this wine certainly did the job of pairing quite nicely. I personally had this wine with a lightly seasoned steak and side salad and it worked, though I also think it would go well with a nice tomato and mushroom pasta or perhaps a good pizza. So final verdict is that even though this wine certainly may not be the pinnacle of American Sangiovese, it is still a good wine and one with a great price point. So go on and give it a go my friends, that is assuming you can get a hold of it of course.
If you would like to purchase this wine you can get it direct from the Vineyard site here and remember to make sure they can ship to your state.
2008 Tempranillo - Grove winery - Gibsonville, NC
$14.99
I always enjoy when I get a wine that you don't tend to see too often, it's a new experience and I always love that, and that is certainly the case with this typically Spanish wine. And of course those new experiences are always made so much better when the wine is actually good, and thankfully you get that here. When you open up a bottle of this wine you are quickly drawn into some wonderful berry and plum aromas. You also get a very light and lovely smell of leather as well as a hint of herbs. And then as you move into the taste you continue to see those lovely berries and plum characteristics coming through. Along with that you also get a hint of vanilla as well as a slight bit of tobacco which I always find quite interesting. But the best part of this wine for me is simply how light and smooth this wine is, and of course how unobtrusive it is when paired with food. Speaking of which, I had this wine with a lovely salad and deep dish pizza (for a traditional Rioja wine this went great with Italian). I'm also pretty sure that this wine will go great with anything from white bean soup to lamb. So if you enjoy lighter, European style wines (spanish ones especially) then i believe you'll love this wine. Plus, with the price it's hard to say no so go on and give it a try.
If you would like to purchase this wine you can get it from the Vineyard here. Remember to make sure they can ship to your state.
2009 3 - King Family/Pollak/Veritas Vineyards - Central Virginia
$33.33
So, what do you get when you take 3 of the best wineries in Central Virginia and have them make a wine together? Personally I call is awesome, but officially the name is 3. this wine is the combined efforts of king Family, Pollak and Veritas vineyards and wineries and is made of equal parts Cab Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot. And I’ve gotta say this is now one of my favourite wines, which is why it does make me sad that it is a limited release of only 150 cases.
Well, now that you know the basic wine info on this lovely Bordeaux blend, how about we get to the tasting. When you poor yourself a glass of this wine and get your nose right into it you are treated to some lovely aromas. For me the predominant one was that of black cherry, but you also get a bit of a floral hint of I believe violet. Ah and then once you move into the taste you are brought face to face with some great fruit flavours, mainly plum. Along with this you also get a nice hint of currant (and I do love currant). Unfortunately, I didn’t have any food when I drank this wine but I’m quite confident that it would work very well with a nice steak or mushroom pasta. So, if you are a fan of Cab Franc, Merlot or Petit Verdot then I am fairly sure you will love this wine. And if you can get your hands on a bottle (remember limited release) then my suggestion is to let it age a bit or decant it as it’s still somewhat young, though still quite delicious.
If you would like to purchase this wine you can still find it at King Family Vineyard. Remember to make sure they can ship to your state.
but don’t forget to check out Pollak and Veritas Winery as well.
2009 Cabernet Franc – White Hall Vineyards – White Hall, VA
$14.99
Virginia and Cabernet Franc, is there anything that goes together quite so wonderfully? Well, if there is I can’t think of it. For as long as I have lived in this state I have yet to find a bad cab franc, and hopefully I never do. So, as you can imagine from that enthusiastic intro, this particular one from White Hall vineyards follows that trend quite nicely. When you open up a bottle of this wine you are fairly quickly brought in front of some really lovely aromas. The first, and certainly most prominent for myself, was that of blackberry along with a bit of violet. You also get some lovely hints of raspberry as well as a slight hint of vanilla (which I do adore). Then once we move into the first sip you’re brought back to that blackberry but this time with it being accompanied by a bit of cherry. You also get a nice light minerally quality to the wine as well as a hint of pepper. Which that, combined with a beautifully long finish and good balance, makes this an excellent wine for pairing with foods. Personally I had this with a nice steak that really brought our that pepper, but I think this would go just as well with nearly any past or even some grape leaves. So, if you are a fan of any kind of Cabernet, Merlot or Pinot Noir I do believe that you will enjoy this wine. And at $15 for a great quality Virginia wine I think you’re getting quite the bargain, so go on.
If you would like to purchase this wine you can get it direct from the vineyard here. Remember to make sure they can ship to your state.
2009 Sangiovese – Raffaldini Vineyards – Ronda, NC
$16
Now, for those of you who have been readers for a while you know that when it comes to East Coast wines that my favourite by far is Cabernet Franc. But, when it comes to imported wines my eye is quickly drawn to Italian Sangiovese and especially the beauty that is Chianti. So whenever I find an East Coast Sangiovese my curiosity gets the better of me and I have to try it. This has led to both good and bad experiences, but I was quite hopeful of this one from North Carolina as I have always enjoyed Carolina reds. So I opened up a bottle of this 2009 vintage Sangiovese and was interestingly greeted by a lovely aroma of strawberry. Along with this there was also an intriguing scent of rhubarb as well as a lite bit of spice I couldn’t quite pin. Then, once I moved onto the first sip, I was brought into some lovely light fruit flavours. The most predominant being of dark cherry, but there was also a bit of that strawberry from before. And in the finish I also get an interesting herbaceous quality to the flavour that was quite nice. As for food, I drank this with a good Eggplant Parmesan and it went magnificently. And basically this would go well with anything Italian as well as maybe a nice stew or some lovely aged cheeses. So, in the end I really did enjoy this wine and it ended up reminding me quite a bit of those classic Chiantis that I love so much. So if you are a fan of Sangiovese, or really any medium bodied red, than I think you will really enjoy this wine. And come on, its only $16 so go get yourself a bottle.
If you would like to purchase this wine you can get it from the Vineyard here. Remember to make sure they can ship to your state.
Castillo Red – San Sebastian Winery – St. Augustine, FL
$10.95
This was one of the wines that I enjoyed quite a bit from my tour at the San Sebastian Winery. Once the Castillo Red was poured into the glass you could really tell the beautiful deep purplish red colour of this wine. After getting a good look at it you just couldn't help but put your nose right in the tasting glass to get good smell. And thankfully you are not disappointed with some really nice smell of spice as well as a light smell of oak. As for the taste, those great smells carried over quiet nicely and quite subtly, much to my pleasure as I prefer more subtle wines. Now unfortunately I didn't have this wine with any food as it was a tasting, but I do believe that this wine would go absolutely wonderfully with a nice steak. This was a very enjoyable wine and I am fairly confident that if you like a nice Cabernet Sauvignon then you should definitely give this wine a try.
If you would like to purchase this wine you can get it direct from the vineyard here. Remember to make sure they can ship to your state.
Chambourcin – Chaddsford Winery – Chaddsford, Pennsylvania
$16.00
Ah Chambourcin, honestly I never know what to make of this varietal. Every time I have one it seems like a whole new experience and this one certainly doesn’t stray from that trend. When you open up a bottle of this wine you are hit with some pretty wonderful aromas. The first I noticed off the bat was a lovely red berry smell, possibly cherry. After that I got an earthy sort of quality with a bit of assorted herbs, always nice to get in my opinion. And then, once you’re done with the smell, you are hit with an absolutely wonderful experience when you take your first sip. Straight away you get those fruits again but this time they seem to be more of a black fruit quality, blackberry perhaps. You also get a bit of a spicy hint to the lovely jammy flavour of this wine. And to top all this off you get a really smooth quality to this wine where everything blends together well and it all just seems to linger in your mouth after each sip. As for food pairing with this, I had a nice steak with a side of mushrooms that went pretty well with this wine. Besides that I think this would go quite nicely with a hearty stew or even with a chocolate cake. So, final opinion is that I loved this wine and think you might too if you are a fan of Chambourcin, any Cabs or even spicier merlots. So go on and give this a try, what do you have to lose at $16.
If you would like to purchase this wine you can get it from Snooth here. Remember to make sure they can ship to your state.
Merlot – Blackstock Vineyards and Winery - Dahlonega , GA
$15.99
An interesting Merlot and one that I did enjoy quite a bit, and am sad that my trip to this area is so short lived. When you open a bottle of this merlot you get a really nice aroma of what I can only describe as Jam (which being a big fan of jam here was very nice). As for the taste you start to understand that really nice jam smell since you get these subtle hints of berries and also a bit of herbs. Personally I had this as a sipping wine with some friends and without any food, but if you wanted to have something with it I might suggest a nice light tomatoes pasta or maybe some pesto (dubious on that one). So if you are a fan of merlot or light fruity wines then I would say you should give this a try, and even if not why not give it a try anyways (how will you know you don't like till you try if after all).
If you would like to purchase this wine you can get it from Snooth here. Remember to make sure they can ship to your state.
Mountain Red - Afton Mountain Winery - Afton, VA
$17.00
This review is somewhat about the wine and some about the winery. First the wine: Afton Mountain Winery’s version of a good everyday red wine would be their Mountain Red. It is a Blend of Sangiovese and Cabernet Franc. I am not sure of what the blend ratio is, so I will stick to the taste. The Mountain red was well balanced and easy to drink. It had a light floral and berry aroma. The taste of the berries was consistent in each glass but not overpowering. It had a light sweetness to it and very little after taste, which is a dangerous combination. Overall it was a wine that can be poured on a variety of occasions where a red wine is called for. Or for just sitting by the fire.
Speaking of fires, Afton Mountain Winery also has a nice fireplace and sitting area which makes it a good stop on a rainy day. The winery is a short and very scenic drive from Charlottesville. Besides the great wine that I have tasted there, one thing that has stuck with me about this winery is its Motto. “Grapes don’t grow in Ugly places” And the Afton Mountain winery certainly lives up it. I recommend this winery as a good stop if you are in the Charlottesville area.
Unfortunately, we couldn't find this for purchase online. So you'll just have to visit the winery (or a store) to purchase a bottle. For more information check out their site here.
Spicy Rivanna – Burnley Vineyard – Monticello, VA
$12.00
This is a personal favourite of mine from this particular vineyard. Basically it's their Rivanna Red wine but with a selection of various spices added to it. Immediately after you open this wine you notice the wonderful aroma with some great hints of nutmeg and orange peel. As for its taste, it has a nice complexity to it with flavours like cinnamon. This is a great wine to share with friends and is great when well chilled, but this wine is best served heated like a nice hot tea, and in my opinion hot is the best way to serve it as all the smells and tastes come out so much more. And if you're looking for something to eat with it I would suggest pumpkin pie as the spices go very well together. If you like lightly mulled wines and spices you'll love this wine so give it a go, especially at such a great price.
If you would like to purchase this wine you can get it direct from the vineyard here. Remember to make sure they can ship to your state.
Vintners Red – San Sebastian Winery – St. Augustine, FL
$8.95
Another great wine from the San Sebastian winery tour that was not only enjoyable but with some cooking potential we shall discuss in a bit. This was truly an interesting wine for me as it is made from Muscadine grapes (one of the native varietals), of which I have had very few made from this grape. Once it was poured into the glass I was hit by the almost intense fruit aroma, generally that much of a fruit smell makes me a bit weary but this was actually quite a nice smell. Thankfully that fruit smell carried over into the taste in a way that wasn't too overpowering, it was fruity and sweet but in the right balance. This was another wine from the tasting so was had without food, but I believe it would go great with some nice spicy food. Though honestly this would be a nice wine to have somewhat chilled sitting outside on a nice night. And as for the cooking comment from before, I was told by those at the winery that this was a great wine to use to make brownies with by simply replacing the water in the recipe with this wine (a must try at some point I believe). So, in closing I think this would be a nice wine for any one to try especially if you enjoy fruitier wines like pinot grigio.
If you would like to purchase this wine you can get it direct from the vineyard here. Remember to make sure they can ship to your state.
Here you will find the various ECoast White Wine reviews.
2004 Vidal Blanc – Three Sisters Vineyard – Dahlonega, Georgia
$14.00
This is a well priced white, and the first wine I've ever had from Georgia and I must say I wasn't disappointed. Now granted I wasn't blown away either, but still it's a nice wine. When you pour yourself a glass you get a nice fruity aroma with what I believe is a little bit of pineapple. As for its taste it was a bit fruity for my taste but the slight hint of apple was kinda refreshing. If you like fruity whites or a chardonnay you should probably like this wine. And if you'd like an idea of something nice to go with it I'd say some turkey, or take the vineyards suggestion of having it with some fried chicken (which was really quite nice).
If you would like to purchase this wine you can get it from Snooth here. Remember to make sure they can ship to your state.
2005 Johannisberg Riesling - Sand Castle Winery - Erwinna, PA
$16
Ah good old Riesling, always a safe bet when it comes to trying a new white. For some reason Rieslings just always seem consistently good to me, as it’s rare for me to get a bad one. And this particular one from Pennsylvania is no exception. When you first pour yourself a glass of this wine, and get your nose to work, you get this very pleasing aroma of honey suckle. Along with that you also find a hint of tropical fruit (couldn’t pick out exactly what) as well as a little bit of spice. Then once you take your first sip you are brought to an intriguing taste of melon, along with those tropical fruits from before. And thankfully that spiciness stays with the taste, but now it’s apart of the respectfully long aftertaste (not quite as long as I would like though). This wine is also somewhat dry with a good acidity to it, so it should go great with a lot of different foods. I personally had this with a chicken casserole, and it worked quite well. But I also think that this would go great with spicier foods such as Thai or even a nice chili, or even just a nice assortment of fruits or cheese. So, final verdict is that this is a tasty wine that Riesling fans, as well as general white wine fans, will really enjoy. And at 16 bucks it’s really quite the steal, so why not give it a try.
If you would like to purchase this wine you can get it from the Winery here. Remember to make sure they can ship to your state.
2005 Seyval – Jewell Towne Vineyard – South Hampton, New Hampshire
$8.00
This is an interesting Seyval, not the greatest but also not the worst, its just kind of a nice refreshing everyday sorta wine. The smell is quite nice with a some what orangey aroma which is quite enjoyable. As for its taste you get some nice fruity flavours that certainly don't stray far the realm of the citrus smell. It goes quite well with some spicy food, I had mine with a nice spicy chicken curry if you would like to give it a try. If your a fan of Chardonnays or pinot grigio I think you should enjoy this wine, so go ahead and give it a try.
If you would like to purchase this wine you can get it from Snooth here. Remember to make sure they can ship to your state.
2006 Chardonnay – Westbend Vineyard - lewsiville, NC (Yadkin Valley)
$18.00
This was one of the great wines I had during my visit to the Yadkin Valley wine bar in Charlotte international Airport. Since it was a tasting I wasn't able to get that freshly opened bottle smell that I do ever so love when opening wine, but I did still get a great smell none the less from my glass (you know the place you're supposed to get that aroma from, thoroughly at least). The aroma I did get from this was pretty pleasant with a light oaky smell with a little spice to it. As for its taste, you kinda get a nice little hint of spice that carried over a bit from the smell of this nice Chardonnay. You also get a very nice smooth buttery taste to it that is of course that classics taste that look for in a nice Chardonnay. Now, I had this at a tasting so wasn't eating anything with it but I do believe that it would go quite nicely with maybe some chicken or a nice pesto pasta dish. So, if you are a fan of Chardonnays then you should really give this wine a try as it worth far more then the price you pay for this wine. It is a great wine that is from a great region in North Carolina , so please give this a try - you wont regret it.
If you would like to purchase this wine you can get it direct from the vineyard here. Remember to make sure they can ship to your state.
2006 Estate Seyval Blanc – Snow Farm Vineyards – South Hero, VT
$13.00
I was quite excited when I got this wine as I have never had any wines from Vermont before, so this was a real treat. And thankfully my first experience with wines from Vermont wasn’t spoiled by this wine, quite the opposite, as it actually had me craving for more from this region. This Estate Seyval Blanc opens up with an absolutely beautiful aroma of what I believe to be grapefruit. You also get a quite lovely subtle hint of oak as well as maybe a bit of lemon (not entirely sure on that last one really). Once you have sufficiently taken in the smell and take your first sip you immediately notice that grapefruit smell coming in full force right off the bat. You also get a few less identifiable fruit flavours, a bit of oak and maybe even a hint of herbs in this wine. All this culminates in a very well rounded, crisp wine with great balance that makes it extremely versatile. As for food pairings, I had this with some spicy Thai food and it worked quite wonderfully. I also think that it would go well some sort of pork dish, though I have yet to test this out myself. In the end if you are a fan Chenin Blanc or of Chardonnay’s then I am fairly certain that you will enjoy this wine, and it’s got a great price so how can you pass it up?
If you would like to purchase this wine you can get it from Snooth.com here. Remember to make sure they can ship to your state.
2006 Shelter Harbor Chardonnay – Langworthy Farm Winery – Westerly, RI
$14.95
Ah Rhode Island, such a small state with an equally small wine industry but one that produces some really tastey wines. This Chardonnay from Langworthy is definitely no exception to this as it is really quite a lovely white wine. Once you open up a bottle of this Chardonnay and get a good whiff of the aroma you, are instantly hit by some great smells. The first and most prominent that I noticed, was this intriguing aroma of oak. Normally I’m weary with this much oak in the smell but this one was quite pleasing. After that, you also get some interesting hints of fruit that I believe might be pear and a bit of apple. Then, after you take your first sip, you get hit by those fruit smells from above popping up in the flavour. You also get a hint of melon and this wonderfully smooth, light, buttery after taste that really just seems to bring it all together. As for food pairings, I had this with a nice grilled chicken and assorted vegetable dinner and it was quite nice. I also believe that this would go well with some nice crab cakes or even some Caribbean cuisine. So, if you are a fan of Chardonnays of any kind or even wines like Pinot Grigio and Viognier I think you will like this wine. And, come on its only $15. You’d be crazy to pass up a deal of a wine like this.
If you would like to purchase this wine you can get it from Americanwinery.com here. Remember to make sure they can ship to your state.
2006 Traminette – Grove Winery & Vineyards – Gibonsville, NC
$14.99
North Carolina is always a good state for wine, though I’ll admit I tend to prefer their reds. So, when I picked up this wine I wasn’t expecting a whole lot really and was quite surprised at what I found. This Traminette wine had one of the best aromas I’ve had from a white in a while. Right from the start you get these beautiful herbal aromas with a hint of spice to it. You also get this lovely citrus smell to it all as well, though quite subtle to me. After you take a sip those subtle citrus aromas come through with this lovely spiciness to them. You also get a bit of some other fruit as well; I think it might possibly be apricot. That herbal quality comes through too, but this time a bit more subdued by the light sweetness of this wine. The finish was nice and long and was a bit drier then I had expected (and I do love dry wines). With this lovely white I had some tasty jambalaya, and I have to say it went quite nicely. I also think this wine would go great with spicy foods as well as some good thai or Indian food. So will you like it? Short answer, yes you will; especially if you are a fan of Rieslings or Gewurztraminer. Plus the price is great for a bottle of this stuff, so why not get yourself one.
If you would like to purchase this wine you can get it direct from the vineyard here or from Americanwinery.com here. Remember to make sure they can ship to your state.
2006 Viognier – Westbend Vineyard – Lewisville, NC (Yadkin Valley)
$16.00
Another one of the great wines that I had at the Charlotte Airport, which had a lot of the nice points that I tend look for in a viognier. This was another wine that I didn't get a chance to open the bottle myself to get that freshly opened smell which I love but still got a great aroma from the glass of course. The most noticeable smell to me was of flowers, which I believe was most likely honeysuckle (I could be wrong but I do try). Beyond the honeysuckle you also get a slight aroma of what I think is either pear or apple (who would have it be tough to tell the difference). As for the taste of this wine I was first struck by how sweet this wine is; it wasn't bad but it was a bit sweeter than you would expect from a viognier. After I accepted that fact I noticed the great flavours behind the sweetness, the most noticeable being a light citrus taste. This was surpassed though by the really great long finish that tasted vaguely of apples (making me think that smell was more on the apple side). With food I would have to suggest something along the lines of a mildly seasoned grilled fish or shrimp, though I didn't have any food when I tasted this one so this is just speculation. This is a great wine that you should all try especially if you are a fan of viogniers or whites in general. This was a bit sweeter than I like personally in a viognier but I still loved this one and definitely plan on getting another bottle, so give it try (you know you want to).
If you would like to purchase this wine you can get it direct from the vineyard here. Remember to make sure they can ship to your state.
2006 Wineworks White – Virginia Wineworks – Charlottesville, VA
$15.00
Virginia Wineworks is one of my favourite vineyards in the Charlottesville area. They make some absolutely wonderful, well balanced wines and this Wineworks White is no exception. Being made from mostly Viognier, with a bit of Vidal Blanc thrown in, you get a wine that really shows off some of the greatest qualities of Virginia white wines. It all starts with the amazing aroma where you get some very intense, though not overpowering, floral notes of various white flowers. After you move past this flowery smell you start to get some nice citrus fruit notes that are quite subtle. This citrus aroma carries into the taste quite well with a noticeable flavour of what I believe is tangerine. Along with this citrus quality you get an interesting, though short lived, after taste of what I think is cream. The acidity of this wine is well balanced which makes it good for pairing with food. Now I didn't have anything when I tried this wine, since it was a tasting, but I think it would go well with spicier foods and maybe even some grilled fish or chicken. This is a very nice, and well priced wine, and is one you should give a try if you are a fan or Viognier, Vidal Blanc or even Gewürztraminer. It's a great crisp white wine that goes great with foods or even on its own sharing with friends on your porch, so if you get a chance I recommend getting a bottle of this wine so you don't miss out.
If you would like to purchase this wine you can get it from Snooth here. Remember to make sure they can ship to your state.
2007 Chanteloup – Wolf Mountain Vineyards & Winery - Dahlonega, GA
$19.95
Yet another interesting wine from the great state of Georgia from a vineyard just north of the Atlanta area (well actually it’s closer to the Carolina’s but eh minor details). This dry white serves up a very pleasing aroma when you open the bottle being hit with some really lovely floral smells along with a slight hint of oak (I think). As for its taste that oak smell seems to give the wine a bit of a smokey flavor to it, though very subtle, and it also seems to have a bit of a taste of pineapple as well. This was a very enjoyable wine with a nice finish, though I do wish it was a bit longer of one, that I believe anyone who is a fan of Chardonnay or Viognier will enjoy quite a bit. And if you do get a chance to try this wine, might I suggest having it with some nice smoked fish (it went well with the salmon I had).
If you would like to purchase this wine you can get it from Snooth here. Remember to make sure they can ship to your state.
2007 Chardonel – James River Cellars Winery – Glen Allen, VA
$14.00
I had high expectations for this wine, being made from Chardonel, a hybrid grape. I’m very fascinated with the science behind hybrid grapes and their unique taste. So I was surprised when I didn’t enjoy this wine at first. Confusing me more, James River Cellars sells this wine as it’s “quintessential picnic wine” and I found that the warmer it got, the worse it got. I enjoyed the spicy citrus smell when I first opened and poured the wine. From the first sip however, the wine hit my tongue tasting very strongly of alcohol. Some will say, “That’s the point! You’re drinking wine!” But it was overpowering and left that strong taste in the back of my throat, without leaving room for any other flavors to get through. Then I tried the wine with an Asian dinner, shrimp lo mein, and it really did bring out all those great spicy citrus flavors. I also picked up a little banana, which was a nice surprise. This wine really is best when paired with a dish! It compliments the dinner without taking the show. I think it would also do well with other pasta dishes in a light sauce. In the end, this wine taught me to not judge a wine alone. Often a great bottle of wine just needs something by its side to make it great. If you enjoy fruity wines that are a bit off-dry, give the Chardonel a try. You might just love it.
If you would like to purchase this wine you can get it from the Vineyard here, orders are by phone. Remember to make sure they can ship to your state.
2007 Dry Riesling – Paumanok Vineyard – North Fork of Long Island, NY
$22.00
This is a very good wine from New York that I enjoyed quite a bit, and one that has worked its way to being one of my favourites. The aroma of this wine is amazing, you just want to shove your nose right in the glass and enjoy every bit of its wonderful floral smell of lilies. And as for the taste you are hit with this lovely dry apricot and apple flavour which has that great lasting finish that I love. This is a great wine to have with some Gorgonzola cheese or a nice piece of fish, or in my case the chicken Caesar salad I had with this one. If your a fan of Riesling you can't pass this wine up, even if your not a fan of dry Rieslings at least give this a try once, I'm fairly sure you shouldn't be disappointed.
If you would like to purchase this wine you can get it direct from the vineyard here. Remember to make sure they can ship to your state.
2007 Gewurztraminer – Elk Run Vineyards – Mt. Airy, MD
$21.99
Maryland has quite a reputation for wine these days and it is very well deserved, especially when they produce wonderful Gewurztraminers like this one. Now generally my favourite Gewurztraminers are of the German variety, but I must say Elk Run Vineyards really does well with this one. When you open up a bottle of this wine you get an idea of what you are in for pretty quickly with these wonderful aromas of spicy citrus fruits. You also get a light floral character to the smell of this wine with maybe a little hint of toast (I’ll be honest that one kinda surprised me). After you are done with the beautiful aroma and more onto that taste you are once again hit by that wonderful spicy citrus aroma, though this time you can more easily pick it out as grapefruit. Besides this you also get the always interesting nutty flavour to this wine that is indicative of a good Gewurztraminer. This wine goes great with so many foods, and with my tasting I had some great Orange Chicken take out, though this goes just as well with baked ham, curry or even a chicken pot pie. I think that if you are a fan of Traminer or Rieslings you will probably enjoy this wine quite a bit, the price point is a bit high for some but this is definitely worth a try.
If you would like to purchase this wine you can get it from Snooth.com here. Remember to make sure they can ship to your state.
2007 Riesling – Standing Stone Vineyards – Hector, NY
$15.99
New York is quite well known for their Rieslings so I had fairly high hopes for this wine and I was thankfully not disappointed by it one bit; which was a good thing considering I got this wine for me and my dad on a recommendation from a friend. This was truly enjoyable throughout, but of course you all know by now that the smell of the wine is my favourite part so let us begin there as always. Immediately upon opening this wine you are hit with these lovely subtle floral aromas (what kind I'm not sure but oh well). What comes through much more powerfully is an intense fruit smell, which I thought at the time was possibly some sort of citrus fruit. And this citrus fruit aroma brings us to the taste of the wine, which incidentally had a pleasing citrus fruit taste to it as well. Besides that, you also get a little bit of pineapple flavour to it and maybe even some honeysuckle (going with the floral aroma of course). Now as for food, the meal I had with this wine was a little unconventional for a white. Typically a dinner of steak and rosemary potatoes would call for a nice red, but this Riesling worked surprisingly well for it (and I think would go great with some spicy food or even pork). This is an absolutely amazing wine and one which you should all give a try, especially if you are a fan of Rieslings or any sort of semi-dry whites. Though honestly even if you aren't a fan of those wines, I say give it a try as it is great and well priced.
If you would like to purchase this wine you can get it direct from the vineyard here. Remember to make sure they can ship to your state.
2007 Seyval – Hosmer Winery – Ovid, NY
$10.00
Now a fairly prominent East Coast white wine, Seyval has always been a thing of interest for me. Because of this intrigue on my part I was really looking forward to trying one from the New York area, and I am pleased to report that I was not disappointed with it. When you first open the bottle and get a good whiff of the aroma you immediately are struck by these great scents of citrus, which is pretty standard for Seyval. But on top of that you also get some interesting aroma honeysuckle which is kinda subtle as well as an interesting earthy quality that I really can’t describe to well. Once you take a sip you quickly recognize the first major flavor as the citrus that you first noticed in the aroma. This time though it’s a bit more distinguishable as what I believe might be lemon (maybe). You also get a slight mineral quality to the wine coming in from that Earthiness earlier, and if I’m not mistaken I think there might even be a hint of peach. Best of all though is that you get a pretty decently long finish to this wine so your experience with it can last a little longer. Now, as for food pairings, I personally had this with some grilled chicken and assorted vegetables and would probably also go well with any spicy dishes. I will have to say that if you are a fan of wines like Chardonnay, Viognier or Pinot Grigio you will probably enjoy this wine. But hey even if you’re not, if you want a well priced and refreshing white wine I say give it a go.
If you would like to purchase this wine you can get it from Americanwinery.com here. Remember to make sure they can ship to your state.
2007 – Viognier – Black Ankle Vineyard – Mt. Airy, MD
$22.00
This was a very pleasant first for me as I have never had Maryland Viognier before, and I must say I loved it. You get an absolutely wonderful aroma from this bottle of wine with hints of fruit and honey. These great smells carry over quite nicely into the taste of the wine as you definitely get a subtle hint of honey and the fruit flavours comes through as apple and apricot (though I'll be honest I may be wrong on this as I always have trouble pinning fruit tastes). The whole thing comes together quite well as a very well balanced wine. This wine goes well with everything from a good cheese to spicy Asian foods, I personally love it with a nice spicy Thai chicken dish. This is a great wine that any white whine fan should enjoy, especially for those of you who are fans of Muscat or Rieslings.
If you would like to purchase this wine you can get it from Snooth here. Remember to make sure they can ship to your state.
2008 Chardonnay – Wycombe Vineyards – Furlong, PA
$16.00
Pennsylvania is usually a pretty reliable state for getting a good bottle of wine, which is why I was a bit disappointed with this chardonnay. Now don't get me wrong it wasn't bad, it just wasn't something to write home about (though writing on the Internet about it is perfectly acceptable). The main redeeming quality for this wine is thankfully its aroma, I do always love a good aroma. When you open up a bottle of this you are pretty quickly hit with a really lovely smell of Oak, followed by some nice light fruits. You also get just a tad bit of vanilla to it all as well, which I think brings it all together nicely. Once you move onto the taste though things go a bit down hill a bit. Those soft fruit notes return as does the vanilla, but you also get an odd oat flavour. This is where thins went south for me, as a chardonnay really shouldn't have an off oat taste like that in my mind. Now I did have this with some lovely chicken and asparagus which did seem to help out my overall view of this wine. As for other foods I would say it may work with pork or even some hard cheeses. So to sum it all up, I'd say this wine was okay and if you don't mind oats maybe it would be right up your alley. For me though it was strange, so I don't know if I would buy this again. Then again at $16 who knows, maybe I'll give it another go in the future.
If you would like to purchase this wine you can get it direct from the vineyard here or from snooth.com here. Remember to make sure they can ship to your state.
2008 Homestead Reserve Riesling - Hazlitt 1852 Vineyard - Hector, NY
$16
As far as white wines I would have to say my favourite is most definitely Riesling, with Pinot Gris being a close second. So, when I got my hands on a Riesling from a vineyard in New York I had some fairly high expectations. And I am happy to report that this wine met and surpassed those expectations being one of the most delicious and complex Rieslings I’ve had in a while. When you pour a glass and get your nose right into it you become suddenly engulfed by the sweet smell of Citrus accompanied by a bit of nectarine. Along with this you also get a lovely floral aroma that stays with you quite a while and really reigns in the sweetness of the fruit overtones. Then once you finally take your first sip, you are transported once again to that citrus aroma and this time it’s far more recognizable as Tangerine. Along with this you also get a bit of a tart granny apple flavour that finishes off with a hint of minerality (hmm a lot of mineraly wines recently). And finally you get a very smooth and long finish to this wine as it just lingers with you for ages. Now as for food, I had this with some lovely Pad Thai and I think this would go great with anything spicy or some nice seafood (or spicy seafood). So, do I think you’ll enjoy this wine? Yes, yes I do, especially if you are a fan of Riesling, Gewurztraminer or Pinot Gris. And hey for under $20 you really can’t go wrong.
If you would like to purchase this wine you can get it from the Vineyard here or from Snooth.com here. Remember to make sure they can ship to your state.
2008 Pinot Blanc - Paradocx Winery & Vineyard - Landenberg, PA
$18.99
Pennsylvania is always a good state for white wines, well at least that has always been the case for me. So, when I got myself this wine I was hopeful but also hesitant seeing as how Pinot Blanc isn’t exactly what that state is known for. Thankfully though this wine did not disappoint. Starting in with a good whiff of this wine you are introduced to a strong, but not too strong, aroma of citrus. This is closely followed by a nice subtle hint of melon and perhaps a little pear. Then once you move into the taste you come back once more to citrus, though this time being far more notable as the lovely flavour of lemon. You also get that melon again, subtle but noticeable, as well as a very slight hint or minerality which intrigued me. Now as for food, I had this with some nice tilapia with asparagus and rice and it worked alright. Personally though I think that this would go far better with some sort of chicken dish or even some pork chops, but with the nice acidity of this wine it could go with nearly anything you like. So if you are a white wine fan, and especially a fan of Pinot Grigio then I think you will enjoy this wine. And hey it’s under $20 so in my mind you’re getting quite a bargain for a wine like this.
If you would like to purchase this wine you can get it from Snooth.com here. Remember to make sure they can ship to your state, and don’t forget to check the wineries site.
2008 Zephyr - First Colony Winery - Monticello, Va
$16.00
Zephyr is my favorite wine at First Colony, hands down. This beautiful white wine is a blend of Vidal Blanc and Petit Manseng, two that I already enjoy on their own. Tropical fruit aromas were easy to pick up, a little pineapple for example. I also got a hint of peach, which was nice because it tasted of very delicious, ripe peaches. Orange blossom was also evident on the palate and I think I may have tasted a little passion fruit. Zephyr is a very light wine, nothing overbearing. It’s easy to see that it was named for a sailing term, “a gentle breeze”. But don’t overlook this wine! Zephyr is an award winning wine and I highly recommend it. Although I mostly enjoyed this wine by itself, I would recommend pairing it with some light snacks, like fruits and cheeses. It is going to be amazing on hot summer nights. If you are in the area, stop by First Colony Winery! The staff was very friendly and knowledgeable, we had a great visit. Oh, and pick up a bottle of Zephyr while you’re there! If you enjoy a delicious, easy drinking wine, you’ll love Zephyr.
If you would like to purchase this wine you can get it direct from the Winery here. Remember to make sure they can ship to your state.
2008 Declaration Reserve – Democracy Vineyards – Lovingston, VA
$15.00
Now I’ll be honest I wasn’t originally expecting much from this wine as this was one of the first wines from the extremely new Democracy Vineyards (only officially opening their doors a few months back now). But I gotta say that I was very pleasantly surprised by this Rhone style blended white. When you open the bottle and get a good whiff you end up with an interesting fruit, which may or may not be apricot. You also get some lovely subtle floral smells (which I couldn’t seem to pin down). Once you move into the taste you discover a fruit forward taste coming in from the equally fruit forward aroma. It’s hard to try and pin down exactly what sort of fruit (or variety for that matter), but you definitely get a fruit sweetness that is quite delicious. Balancing out this fruit is a very light spice, which almost went unnoticed by myself as it was so subtle. Best of all though it had a really crisp and long finish, which I always adore. Now, as for food, I had this with a wonderful pesto pizza that seemed to work quite well with it. According to the vineyard things such as Poultry, white sauce pasta and grilled seafood go great with this wine and I can definitely see why. This is a great and affordable wine to give a try especially if you are a fan of Seyval Blanc, Chardonnay or even Gewürztraminer. So go on and give it a go.
Unfortunately I couldn't find some place online to buy this wine, you may be able to contact Democracy Vineyards here to see about ordering, or info on where it can be bought.
2008 Mamalange – Bar Harbor Cellars – Bar Harbor, ME
$14.95
This wine is a bit of an odd ball, and I do tend to love odd balls, as it’s made from Moscato grapes and yet it’s a dry wine. Typically Moscato is used in sweeter desserts and even sparkling wines, but on occasion you find dry whites made from it. And as you may know if you’ve been here before, I prefer dry wines and so this Mamalange had a bit to live up to. Thankfully, once you have this wine out you get some absolutely beautiful aromas. The most noticeable I got where these great fruit smells, primarily peach with maybe a little bit of lime. You also get these nice floral aromas, which may or may not have been honeysuckle (maybe some lavender too), as well as a bit of herbs. Once you take in a sip you’re brought right back to those fruits from before, though this time somewhat subdued. But you still get those great fruits flavours of peach put together with the herbs into a really lovely experience. Now I had this as an aperitif before my meal, but I think this would go great with smoked meats, fish and a variety of vegetables. Overall this is a great silky smooth, dry white that is really enjoyable and one which I think you all might like. This is especially true if you like drier Chardonnays or even Rieslings, and of course it’s a pretty decent price so why not try and get your hands on a bottle.
I could only find a 2007 online for you all, so if you would like to purchase it you can get it from Snooth.com here. Remember to make sure they can ship to your state.
2008 Rkatsiteli – Horton Vineyard – Monticello, VA
$15.00
This Is a very interesting white wine, and one which was completely new to me when I first had it at Horton. The aroma on this wine is quite enjoyable as it has a sort of orange aroma to it with some lovely floral qualities. And the taste is even more interesting than the smell with some really nice citrus flavours to it. As an extra bonus this wine also has a very well appreciated long, crisp finish to it so that nice taste stays with you for quite a bit. This is a very nice wine and one that I enjoyed quite a lot with some various cheeses. If you like Reisling wines you will probably like this particular varietal. Though honestly this is one everyone should try as its quite a rare wine in this country and one that is even more rare here on the East Coast with only Virginia and New York currently producing it (at least to my knowledge). An come on, it's only $15 so what do you have to loose.
If you would like to purchase this wine you can get it from Snooth here. Remember to make sure they can ship to your state.
2008 Vignoles – Nashoba Winery – Bolton, MA
$16.50
This was an intriguing white wine that is quite nice and was also my first wine from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and apparently was this winery’s first estate wine. Vignoles as a varietal wine can generally be hit or miss for me as it can be everything from overly sweet to massively dry. This one though was at that nice middle point that I enjoy. When you open up a bottle of this wine you are immediately hit by an interesting aroma of citrus and tropical flowers. You soon begin to get a bit of a hint of pineapple thrown into the mix after another good whiff of smell. These carry over into the taste quite nicely, especially the pineapple, but you also get some other fruit I can’t quite make out. Best of all though, you get a really crisp long finish to this wine - that I always enjoy - that tastes a bit of apple that just doesn’t want to leave your taste buds. Overall this is a really nice and crisp fruity wine, though not overwhelmingly fruity. It has a good acid balance so it goes great with foods, or on its own, and for me I think spicy foods are the way to go here (I had this with some nice curry and homemade flatbread). This is a wine worth a good try and one which I think a lot of you may enjoy if you are fans of wines like Pinot Grigio, Riesling or even Vidal Blanc. So give it a try, what do you have to lose?
If you would like to purchase this wine you can get it direct from the vineyard here. Remember to make sure they can ship to your state.
2008 Viognier – Veritas Vineyard & Winery – Afton, VA
$16.99
To those of you who have been following my reviews you have probably picked up that viognier is one of my favourite varietals of wine, this is especially true for Virginia wines. And out of all the ones I have tasted this viognier from Veritas is one of my favourites. When you open up a bottle of this you are greeted warmly by some truly beautiful aromas, the most noticeable of which is citrus. You also get some lovely apricot, miscellaneous tropical fruits and even a bit of wild flower all coming together in this wonderful bouquet of smells. Once you move on to the taste you immediately notice those fruits once again, though this time you also get a bit of peach as well. You also get this lovely hint of caramel as well as a bit of mild spice, which makes it great for food pairings. On that note I had my glass of this wine with some nice salmon and asparagus, though I think that this wine would go equally as well with some spicier foods (thai perhaps) or even a nice pork chop. Now as for purchasing this wine … that may be an issue. My bottle has been sitting in my collection about a year before I opened it and apparently this wine is now quite hard to find. Last time I was at the vineyard they no longer had any in stock, but if you can find this in a store you need to get it (I also found it on Snooth for you). This is a great wine for any wine fan, but especially for lovers of viognier and other white wines.
If you would like to purchase this wine you can get it from Snooth.com here. Remember to make sure they can ship to your state.
2009 A6 - Cardinal Point Winery - Afton, VA
$19.00
The 2009 A6 at Cardinal Point is a delicious blend of Viogneir and Chardonnay. These two grapes really compliment each other! It’s 41% Viogneir and 59% Chardonnay, an interesting but very pleasing mix. The A6 has a rich fruit taste up front, think pear, and I could smell a hint of caramel. This award winning wine (Gold at the 2010 Virginia Governers Cup!) a good stepping stone for someone going from sweet to dry. It’s not too sweet, but it also isn’t dry at all. I enjoyed the A6 with tangy Thai sesame lime shrimp with an Asian soup and salad. It really brought out all of the unique flavors of my main dish without taking the show. From the A6, you get a great wine experience without that dry mouth taste at the end. It’s not quite Viogneir and it’s not quite Chardonnay, but it is quite perfect!
If you would like to purchase this wine you can get it from Snooth here or check out the Vineyard here. Remember to make sure they can ship to your state.
2009 Chardonnay - Virginia Wineworks - Charlottesville, VA
$30
This wine was quite an interesting new experience, and one I am happy to report did not disappoint. What made this wine so interesting is that it is Virginia’s very first box bagged wine with 4 lovely bottles worth of Virginia Chardonnay in a nice refrigerator friendly package. Now if you want to shrug off this wine because its in a box, that’s your business. But if you’re able to open your mind up to something new, keep reading. When you pour yourself a glass of this wine you get some truly lovely aromas of citrus right out of the gate. Then once you aerate this wine a bit you also start to get some various other assorted fruits (couldn’t quite place them) as well as a very slight hint of oak. After you’re finished up with the smell and move onto your first sip you are once again brought face to face with that lovely citrus from before. Also this time those other various fruits start to open up and show themselves to be a nice flavour of apple. And to top things off this wine is really quite crisp and refreshing with a wonderful finish that makes me think this will be great chilled in the summer.
Now, moving onto food. I had this wine with my dinners over the course of a week and I must say it went great with it all. It worked quite well with everything from an arugula pesto pizza to a hearty turkey three bean chili. And I’m pretty confident that this wine would go equally as well with some nice spicy Thai food, seafood of even just a good old fashioned cheese plate. So, if you are generally a fan or Chardonnay wines, or really any non dessert whites, I’m quite confident that you will enjoy this one. And if your the type to dismiss this wine for being in a box, I am telling you that you are missing out on a great wine at an amazing price. And at the equivalent of $7.50 a bottle for a Virginia Chardonnay what have you got to lose?
Unfortunately, I couldn’t find this wine anywhere online. So you’ll just have to find it in stores or at the winery. Check out their website for more info: Virginia Wineworks.
Gewurztraminer 2009 - Afton Mountain Vineyards - Afton, VA
$19.00
The Gewurztraminer is my favorite wine at Afton Mountain Vineyards! This “Gewurz” is very aromatic and flavorful. It’s a dry wine, but not intensely dry. I found it to be dryer than your typical Gewurztraminer, but not as dry as say - a Chardonnay. Afton’s Gewurz has a floral nose, with just a touch of pepper. I tasted a complex combination of fruit and floral, a bit of a battle between the two trying to see who can stand out the most. For me, the fruit one over in taste with the orange peel. I also got a hint of the pepper, making the wine a little spicy. The Gewurz has a very crisp, clean finish. I enjoyed this wine with a salad, topped with a Asian sesame dressing. I think it would also be great with any seafood dish or spicy meal. As always, I recommend a trip to Afton Mountain Vineyards. The views are breathtaking, the service is friendly and the wine is well, delicious.
If you would like to purchase this wine you can get it from Snooth here or check out the Vineyard here. Remember to make sure they can ship to your state.
2009 Harlequin Reserve Chardonnay – Veritas Vineyard & Winery – Afton, VA
$25
Veritas Vineyard & Winery is always a pretty safe bet for finding a delicious wine from Central Virginia, personally I don’t think I’ve had a bad wine from them. So, I was quite happy when I discovered that this barrel aged Chardonnay was no exception to that trend. When you pour yourself a glass of this beautiful golden coloured wine you’re instantly swept over by the aroma of ripe fruit. The predominant one of these was certainly pear, for me at least, but you also get some grapefruit. Besides this you’ll also find a lovely hint of honey, vanilla and fresh baked bread, which is always nice to smell. Then once you move onto the first sip you notice those fruits from before coming right back, though this time you also seem to get a bit of apple. Along with these fruits you may also notice a very light herbacious quality to the wine as well as the light telltale taste of oak, and who doesn’t enjoy that? And in the end of it all you’re rewarded with a wonderfully smooth and long finish to this wine that lets one enjoy it that much longer. As for food, I drank this with a lovely soy glazed salmon with a side of couscous and seasoned broccoli and it went splendidly with it all. But if you aren't a fan of fish I think that this would go just as well with a nice eggplant or cheese dish. So if you’re a fan of white wines, and Chardonnays especially, then this wine is really one that you shouldn’t miss. And I know that this is a bit on the high end price wise for some, but it is really worth a go.
If you would like to purchase this wine you can get it from the Vineyard here or at Snooth.com here. Remember to make sure they can ship to your state.
2009 Harmony White - Imagine Moore Winery - Naples, NY
$10.99
Ah good old New York, I have always loved the wines from the glorious empire state. That’s why I find it only fitting that the state that gave me my first taste of East Coast wine is the state that I get my first taste of Cayuga white from (this wine is 75% Cayuga). This wine has an absolutely delicious aroma to it that at the start is predominantly of mango and honey dew. though you also get an interesting spiciness to it all along with a hint of peach. Then when you move onto your first sip you are greeted by a fruity gum flavour, which I thought was odd at first but quickly grew to love. You of course also get those great fruits from before, especially the mango and peach, as well as an interesting hint of some kind of nut (sorry couldn’t pin it down). Now personally I had this with out food as it is a lovely semi-sweet sipping wine, but I can see this working well with some nice spicy Indian food. So, if you are a fan of wines like Gewurztraminer or Riesling then I think you’ll really love this wine. And hey for a wine that’s just a little over $10 this is a great value, so go ahead and give it a try.
If you would like to purchase this wine you can get it from Snooth.com here. Remember to make sure they can ship to your state, and don’t forget to check the wineries site.
2009 Landmark Series Chardonnay - Boordy Vineyard - Hydes, MD
$13.75
It’s been a while since I’ve done a Maryland wine so I figured I was a bit overdue. And thankfully for me I was able to get my hands on a lovely bottle of chardonnay from one of my favourite vineyards in that state. When you open up a bottle of this wine you start off by getting some lovely fruit aromas. The most notable of these for me was that of pineapple but you all seem to get a bit of apple in there as well. Along with this you also get a lovely hint vanilla and a very faint bit of oak. Then after you’ve taken a taste you find yourself back to the fruits, though this time being dominated by that pineapple (though light). You also find notice a bit of a buttered toast flavour mixed into it all, which I found quite appealing. Now as for food, I had this with a nice pesto pasta and it worked out very well. And if you like grilling I think that this would go just as well with some grilled chicken or perhaps some eggplant Parmesan if you aren’t much of a griller. So if you are a fan of Chardonnays or really any light, dry white then I think that you will really enjoy this. And come on it’s less than $15 so give it a go.
If you would like to purchase this wine you can get it from the vinoshipper.com. Remember to make sure they can ship to your state.
2009 Long Splice White - St. Michaels Winery - Saint Michaels, MD
$13.99
It’s Always nice to see more wines coming out of Maryland, it is truly a wonderful state for wine making in my mind. So, when I got my hands on a nice white wine from there I just couldn’t wait to uncork it. This wonderful wine is a blend of Seyval and Chardonnay, and you get some of the best characters of both within it. When you open up a bottle of this white you are instantly welcomed in by the amazing aroma of citrus that just seems to flow through every bit of the glass. Along with that you also get a hint of what I believe to be lemon peel as well as a bit of Cantaloupe. Then once you move into the taste you really get into the citrus from before, though this time with a little bit of lime. And to compliment it all you get an interesting aftertaste of honey to this wine which, quite honestly, wraps everything together perfectly. Now this wine has a nice acidity to it which lends itself to food pairing, though unfortunately I had this as just a sipping wine (which works too). But I think that this would go great with nearly anything from seafood to Thai, strong cheeses or even Mexican (honestly I think it’s that well rounded). I think that if you are a fan of Seyval, Chardonnay, Reisling or Pinot Grigio you will enjoy this wine quite a bit, so go on and give it try. What have you got to lose?
If you would like to purchase this wine you can get it from Snooth here or check out the Vineyard here. Remember to make sure they can ship to your state.
2009 Unum - Democracy Vineyards - Nelson County, VA
$16.00
If you are in the mood for an excellent light and refreshing white wine I would recommend the Democracy Vineyards 2009 Unum. This is a respectable, Oak fermented Viognier wine and a good representation of the varietal. When I sat down to review this wine I gave the glass a good swirl, this really opened the wine up letting a nice floral aroma engulf the glass. It has a very fragrant and sweet smell of spring flowers as well as a light hint of honey. The aroma smells just as the wine tastes, clean and fresh. When you first taste the wine it is very light with a slight buttery taste. However, the wine finishes totally different with very a crisp taste of citrus and leaves your taste buds very refreshed. It was real easy to get through the whole bottle!
I have had this wine slightly chilled and very chilled. I prefer it very chilled, letting it warm up a bit in the glass before drinking. This seems to really make the flavors more pronounced, especially the citrus at the end. I purchased my bottle after tasting it at the Vintage Virginia Wine Fest this past year, and had to buy a bottle. This is a great summer wine, especially when chilled, that would probably go great with some well picked cheeses.
Unfortunately we could only find this wine at the Vineyard here so you may have trouble finding this outside of Virginia.
2010 Viognier – Glass House Winery – Free Union, VA
$22
Some of you may remember that we here at ECoast Wines did a grand opening article on Glass House back in December, and also that we enjoyed it quite a bit. And since that article we have been back their a good few times to taste the amazing wines and chocolates. So, I was personally quite happy to find on our last trip to the winery that they had released the second batches (2010 vintage) of their white wines. And that of these was a beautiful new Viognier that simply begged to be drank, and of course reviewed. When you pour yourself a glass of this amber wine you quickly become enveloped in topical aromas. The Most predominant of which seems to be that of banana as well as some pear. You also get some minor floral hints of honey blossom, and maybe also a bit of vanilla (hard to tell on that though). Then moving into your first sip you really get a much stronger sense of that banana from the aroma. This time though you also seem to get a bit of pineapple along with a slight hint that vanilla again. And to finish it off you get a very creamy and long finish to this wine that really helps you appreciate it that much more. Now last I had this wine it was on its own with no food, but I suspect that this wine would go very well with a wide variety of dishes. Some food suggestions though would be pretty much any kind of curry or spicy Thai dishes, grilled fish would also probably work quite well. So if you are a fan of white wines like Viognier, Chardonnay or even Gewürztraminer then I think that you will really enjoy this wine. And though the price may be steep for some this wine is truly worth it, so go on and give it a try.
Unfortunately I couldn’t find this wine anywhere online for purchase, so unless you’re in the area you probably wont have much luck finding it. But do make sure to check out the Glass House Site.
Cuvee Blanc – Lakeridge Winery & Vineyards – Clermont, FL
$7.99
This was definitely an interesting wine to review as it is one of the few Florida wines I've ever had and of course being a new one for me is always nice as I do love new things. And of course being new I was very happy that I was not disappointed by this wine at all. The aroma on this wine was quite pleasant with some nice floral notes and a subtle but pleasingly noticeable hint of fruit (generic fruit smell to me but still nice). The taste was equally as nice, and amusingly appropriate for being a Florida wine, with some great flavours including peach and citrus. This wine was great with the nice dinner I had of grilled chicken with goat cheese and sun dried tomatoes (sounds decadent but was actually quite inexpensive with 3 people fed for under $10), and this would go great I think with any other good chicken meal. I believe that anyone who enjoys Chardonnays, and also those who like Pinot Grigio, should really like this wine and with the price you really have nothing to loss so go ahead and give it a try.
If you would like to purchase this wine you can get it direct from the vineyard here. Remember to make sure they can ship to your state.
Golden Delight – Haight-Brown Vineyards – Litchfield, CT
$13.98
Honestly, I’m still not entirely sure what to make of this Seyval Blanc wine. Don’t get me wrong here it definitely isn’t a bad wine it just seems to have something to it that I just can’t get past, though this doesn’t mean I won’t buy it again. When you open up the bottle you really get a nice smell of citrus to this wine that is quite refreshing. Besides the citrus you definitely get a strong aroma of honey, which apparently is added to the wine for flavouring. Once you take a sip, the first thing you really get is that citrus smell carrying into the taste as lemon with maybe a little grapefruit. You then get that honey again but with a slight earthiness to it. I think it’s this honey taste that gets me with this wine, it just seems a bit out of place for me personally (this coming from the man who loves his mead). Again though, don’t take this as a bad thing as it does seem to work for this wine. As for pairings, I had this as an aperitif (before eating) but I think this wine would go quite nicely with some form of fruit plate. So, if you are a fan of Seyval Blanc, Sauternes, Pinot Grigio, Muscat or even Riesling you may enjoy this wine and I would say to give it a try. And hey at that price why not give it a go?
Haight-Brown Vineyards has informed me that this wine is no longer available. I'm sorry for any of you who were unable to give it a try before it became so.
Rapidan River Semi-Dry Riesling - Rapidan River Wines - Leon, VA
$13.99
With the oppressive summer heat in full swing these days it’s always nice to have a nice chilled wine as a little refreshing pick me up. One such wine is the delicious Semi-Dry Riesling from Rapidan River Wines, which is made at the equally wonderful Prince Michel winery. When you open up a nice ice cold bottle of this wine you are brought in front of some lovely aromas of fruit and flowers. The most predominant of which was certainly that of honey suckle along with some other flora aroma I couldn’t quite pin down. Besides the floral notes you also get some quite lovely fruit aromas as well, which seemed to centre around a candied apple smell along with a bit of appricot. Then when you take your first sip you come right to that candied apple aroma from a second ago, but this time you also get some hints of honey. And to top things off you get a slight minerality to it that brings it all together quite nicely into a creamy smooth finish. Now I didn’t have this wine with any food, but I believe this would go nicely with a lovely chicken tandoori, gumbo or even an angel food cake. So if you are a fan of sweeter, semi-dry whites or just a fan of Rieslings in general then I think you will really enjoy this wine. And with the Summer heat cranked up outside why not chill it to the bone and give it a go.
If you would like to purchase this wine you can get it from the Vineyard here. Remember to make sure they can ship to your state.
Salem Fork Snow Hill White – Shelton Vineyard – Yadkin Valley, North Carolina
$9.00
I wasn't too impressed with this wine honestly, it was way to sweet for me even for a dessert wine. The aroma of this wine was quite nice and enjoyable as the grape smell carries through well with this wine. And the taste was okay, it was fruity and with a slight hint of chocolate. The problem for me was that it was too sweet and sugary, but it did go alright with some fruit (I had some apple slices with mine). If you like sweeter dessert wines you may like this but if not I'd keep your money to yourself personally.
If you would like to purchase this wine you can get it direct from the vineyard here. Remember to make sure they can ship to your state.
Vintners White – San Sebastian Winery – St. Augustine, FL
$8.99
I will admit up front, I love sweet and fruity wines. I have no shame in saying that nothing makes me smile as much a perfect dessert wine. San Sebastian’s Vintners White may not be a dessert wine, but it sweet and fruity - and it certainly made me smile! Upon opening this wine, I could immediately smell the muscadine. The wine had a lovely pale straw color and perfect “legs” after swirling. Which, after doing some research, I found the 3.0% residual sugar in this wine was the culprit for such long, beautiful “legs” or streaks on the side of the glass. And the wine tasted just as sweet! I first caught a very rich, intense fruity flavor - mostly muscadine and a bit of pineapple, which I loved. After further enjoyment, I also discovered a lingering spice. But just a hint. I tried this wine with fresh fruit and cheese. Mostly melons and berries, along with an amazing Dutch Gouda cheese. I suspect this wine would be great with any bold flavored meal, as it does have a very intense taste itself. I also enjoyed a glass of this wine alone, with a good book on the couch. San Sebastian’s Vintners White is definitely worth a try, you can’t beat the price and I thoroughly enjoyed relaxing with this wine.
If you would like to purchase this wine you can get it direct from the vineyard here. Remember to make sure they can ship to your state.
Here you will find our various ECoast Rosé Wine reviews.
Besides these, we also have a 2004 Sparkling Rose from Kluge which is in the Sparkling wine area here.
2006 Rosé of Pinot Noir – Catharine Valley Winery – Burdett, NY
$14.00
Whenever I get a New York wine in I always have higher expectations then I might have from some other states, such as Ohio. This I due to the reputation the state has for such wonderful wine, and thankfully I have yet to be really disappointed. This Pinot Noir Rosé is no exception; the second you get a good whiff of this wine you immediately notice the fruitiness of the wine from its overall wonderful aroma. The strongest of these smells, for me at least, was definitely that of strawberry. After that you did you also get a bit of generic berry and maybe even a little bit of citrus. Then once you take a sip you are reintroduced once more to that wonderful strawberry; and this time it’s accompanied by a bit of what I think is cherry. The wine also had a pretty decent finish and overall was a quite nice, light wine. Being drier and with a bit of acidity to it you could really pair this with nearly anything, for me though this went with some nice spicy chicken wings. Though I’m pretty sure this would go just as well with some prosciutto or maybe even some clam chowder. In the end this was a very enjoyable wine, and one that I plan to get again. And I think you may like it if you are a fan of Rosé, Pinot Noir or any light and slightly fruity wines. Plus the price point is very nice, so why not get yourself a bottle.
If you would like to purchase this wine you can get it direct from the vineyard here or from Americanwinery.com here. Remember to make sure they can ship to your state.
2007 Rose – First Colony Winery – Monticello, VA
$14.00
Generally I am not too much of a fan of Rose (and especially Blush) wines, but every now and then one comes along that I actually don't mind and even enjoy. One of these few exceptions is the Rose wine from First Colony Winery which is just a nice and refreshing wine through and through. And of course we start off with the great, and some-what subtle, overall aroma to this wine. You begin by getting some sort of a berry smell, possibly cherry, that quickly moves to a lovely floral aroma which I believe to be something along the lines of an orange blossom. After you move past these nice subtle aromas you get to the far less subtle taste of this wine that starts off quite nicely with that berry taste carrying over with hint of strawberry and cherry. After those flavours, you start to get some sort of a light spice to this wine as well as some sort of melon (which I can't quite pin down). Overall this is a nice, light, dry wine that would be quite nice when chilled on a summers day. This is another wine that I had at a tasting, thus no food besides crackers, but I think this would go nice with a light salmon meal or even a ham sandwich (how often do you hear of a wine that goes with that). If you generally aren't a fan of Rose wines, like myself, then this might be a good choice for you if you want to give it a try. And if you already like Rose, then I'm sure you'll love this one especially considering its awesome price.
If you would like to purchase this wine you can try and find it on Snooth.com here, but I must admit it can be hard to find online. Remember to make sure they can ship to your state and of course don't forget to check out the wineries site here.
2007 Rosé of Pinot Noir – Westport Rivers Vineyard & Winery – Westport, MA
$12.99
I’ll admit when I think of Massachusetts I don’t really think of Pinot Noir grapes, but apparently they seem to know what they are doing up there. This Pinot Noir Rosé hooks you in from the get go with some absolutely beautiful aromas when you open up the bottle. The first really noticeable smell you get is this lovely berry smell that may have a little cherry in there (I’m not completely sure on that one). You also get these wonderful hints of fruit as well as a floral quality to it all, and this sweet almost candy like smell I can’t quite place. Once you take a sip of this Rosé you get greeted once again by those berry and fruit aromas from above. That floral quality from before also comes through, and is a bit clearer this time as I believe it to be a rose flavour (how befitting that you have a rose flavour in a Rosé wine). This wine is pretty versatile as it works great as a nice sipping wine on a summer’s day (chilled of course), as well as working great with a variety of foods. Personally I had this with a tastey spicy Thai noodle dish, but it would go equally well with smoked beef, curry or even a light chili. I’m pretty confident that you will enjoy this wine, especially if you are a fan of Rosé wines or Pinot Noir and even if you aren’t its only $13, what do you have to lose?
If you would like to purchase this wine you can get it from the Winery here. Remember to make sure they can ship to your state.
2009 Estate Rosé – Shinn Estate Vineyards – Mattituck, NY
$12.99
With the heat outside it is indeed summer and what better wine to enjoy it with then a nicely chilled Rose (which I have been drinking more of recently for that reason). And when it comes to Rose this particular one is now one of my favourites, and one that’s all the way from New York. When you open up a bottle of this you are pretty quickly hit with the fabulous aromas that really bring you into this wine. The first smell I got with this was that of lovely fragrant flowers, what kind I’m unsure but I can assure you that they are quite pleasant. After that you get this nice hint of fruit, mostly berry and melon I believe. Then once you take your first sip of this you are reintroduced to the fruits from above and this time, for me, it seems to be raspberry. You also get this interesting earthiness to the wine, which I don’t normally get from Rose. The finish is also quite nice and smooth, though I must say I wish it would have stayed with me a bit longer (I do love those lingering wines). As for food, I had this wine nicely chilled with a BLT and it went wonderfully. And I would guess that this Rose would go well with things like Chicken Cacciatore or even a Calzone. Overall this really does make for a great summer wine that I think would be perfect for barbecues and picnics. And its price point is pretty low so it really is something I don’t think you should pass up, especially if you are a fan of Rose wines or even lighter merlots.
If you would like to purchase this wine you can get it direct from the vineyard here or from Snooth.com here. Remember to make sure they can ship to your state.
2010 Summer Farm Rose - Pippin Hill Farm & Vineyard - North Garden, VA
$19
For those who have read my reviews in the past you may know that I’m not generally a huge fan of rose wines, but that I am a big fan of Cabernet Franc. So, when I encountered this particular Rose from Pippin Hill I was quite intrigued as it is a 100% Cab Franc rose. Then you add into the mix that this was a Rose aged in Oak (Neutral of course) and from a new vineyard on the block here in Central Virginia, my interest was certainly peaked.
So, with said interests peaked I poured a glass of this salmon coloured wine and gave it a good swirl and sniff. The first aroma that you seem to get right from the start is that of berries and watermelon, which the berry comes off pretty nicely as raspberry. You also get a lovely hint of spice along with what I can only seem to describe as coffee cake (not exactly, but it’s the closest I can get to a good descriptor). Then after a good sip you move back to that berry, though this time as more of a cherry flavour. Besides this you also find some hints of cranberry with a somewhat jammy quality to it, which is odd for a Rose but also quite pleasing. The finish is nice and smooth leaning in the direction a good Cab Franc should (earthy) and with a nice refreshing quality to it that makes it great for chilling. Now as for food, I had this with a Turkey burger topped with some sauteed peppers and it went splendidly. Though I think this would go just as well with a good salad, perhaps a mozzarella and tomato one, or just nice and cold on the porch with friends. So, if you are a fan of lighter reds, Cab Franc or just Rose wines in general I think you will enjoy this particular wine and at the price why not give it a go.
Unfortunately there isn’t any place online that you can currently purchase this wine, so please take the time to check out the Vineyard website here and perhaps make your way there to buy a bottle in person.
Florida Muscadine Blush – Rosa Fiorelli Winery and Vineyard – Bradenton, FL
$15.76
I’ll admit I thought that this might be a flop of a wine when I first saw it. Even though I love Muscadine wines I am not a big fan of blush style wines. I will have to say though that this one surprised me a bit and though I may not have loved this wine, I certainly didn’t hate it. When you open it up you’re pretty quickly hit by a variety of aromas to sift through. Probably the most prominent of these was a sweet berry aroma that I couldn’t quite make out but did find somewhat appealing. You also get a hint of fruit in the aroma along with some subtle floral notes along with that stronger berry smell. Once you take the first sip you’re struck by that berry yet again, though this time it’s a bit more noticeable and may even be cherry. You also get a slight honey taste to the wine, or at least what I think may be honey. Generally I don’t like blush wines because they’re just so intensely sweet, this one though I am happy to report is not (it’s more of a semi-sweet). Besides being semi-sweet it is also quite a smooth and easy drinking wine that I think stands well on its own, as I had it. Though if you want food with it I think it would go great with spicier foods or even a chocolaty dessert. If you are a fan of Blush or Rose wines I think you should enjoy this as well as if you like sweeter whites. So, don’t be afraid, give it a go like I did.
If you would like to purchase this wine you can get it direct from Americanwinery.com. Remember to make sure they can ship to your state.
NV Honeysuckle Rose – Grinder's Switch Winery – Centerville, TN
$13.67
I was recently having wine with some friends and had the opportunity to taste a wine from the state of Tennessee that one of them had brought back from home. Now I know that this isn’t an east coast state, but you know what it’s close enough and it’s certainly a wine I would like to share with you all. When you get into this bottle you don’t get a whole lot straight away, but after a few swirls it really started to open up. And when it did you got some absolutely wonderful aromas, predominately apple. You also get some far more subtle floral hints to it, so subtle in fact I couldn’t really pin down exactly what. Then once you take a sip that apple nose really starts to move away, being replaced mainly by a delightful Cherry flavour. I also got a slight spiciness from the taste of this, but that may have been the influence of the food. Which on that note, we had this with a light turkey chili and I gotta say it went very well with it. I also think that this wine would go great in the summer with any kind of picnic foods (potato salad, sandwiches and such). Over all this is a pretty good light wine that I think you might enjoy if you are a fan of Rose, light reds and even drier whites. So I think you should give this wine a try, and at $14 what have you got to lose.
If you would like to purchase this wine you can get it from Vinnoshipper.com here. Remember to make sure they can ship to your state.
Pink Magnolia Rosé – Duplin Winery – Rose Hill, NC
$7.49
Ah Duplin Winery, I am always intrigued by the wines they produce as they are the largest producer of Muscadine wines around as well as one of the big wine producers here on the East Coast. This Pink Magnolia Rosé is made from an interesting combination of Magnolia and Noble Muscadine grapes which should put it at the sweeter end of the Rosé scale. Once you open the bottle you don’t really notice a whole lot at first, but after you swirl the glass a bit more you start to get some light fruit aromas. You also get a faint herb character to the smell as well as a very slight hint of musk (though not bad musk). After you are down with the aroma and move to the taste you start to get some slightly more prominent fruit flavours to this wine. The most obvious of which is definitely apple, a bit tangy but nice, as well as an interesting after taste of wild grapes. As for food, I had this with some nice spicy trout I cooked up and it went quite well. I believe it would also go well with a quesadillas or even a ham sandwich. This is a fairly sweet Rosé so if you are a fan of those, or of Blush wines and White Zinfandel, then you’d probably enjoy this Magnolia. So go on and order yourself some, and for under $10 what have you got to lose?
If you would like to purchase this wine you can get it from Snooth.com here. Remember to make sure they can ship to your state.
Here you will find our various ECoast Champagne & Sparkling wine reviews
2000 Blanc de Noir – Westport Rivers Vineyard & Winery – Westport, Massachusetts
$29.99
To celebrate my return from my overly long hiatus from the site I ordered myself a nice sparkling wine from Massachusetts. Now this is the first time I’ve ever had a sparkling wine from that region so I was unsure of what to expect, but I must say I was pretty happy with the purchase. To begin, like with all sparkling wines, the bottle opens to a quite satisfying pop. This is soon followed by what were some truly wonderful aromas of fruit, quite possibly cherry and maybe even a hint of lemon. I also got a little bit of vanilla in the nose, though honestly I could have been imagining that one (There was a nearby candle). As for the taste, the cherry follows through quite well with somewhat of a creamy quality to it. I was also surprised to find that the wine wasn’t as sweet as I originally anticipated from the start with all the fruit aromas. The finish on this wine was really something, lingering for a bit but not too long and ending on a rather nice and light tart note. Now I had this wine on its own with some friends, though I agree with the Vineyards notes that this would go pretty well with asian foods. Personally I wouldn’t mind trying it with some nice spicy thai food. This is definitely a wine to recommend to you all, especially if you like Blanc de Blanc sparkling wines. The price point may put you off a little bit, but if you can spare the $30 why not get yourself a bottle and share it with some good friends or family.
If you would like to purchase this wine you can get it from the Vineyard here or from Americanwinery.com here. Remember to make sure they can ship to your state.
2004 Sparkling Rose – Kluge Estate – Monticello, VA
$28.00
This review may be older now, especially since Trump bought the winery, but nonetheless it is a great wine. So here we go. Rose wines are one of those wines I'm not too big on, but for some reason you add some bubbles to it and I seem to like it quite a bit. The colour of this wine is quite a beautiful salmon colour (I'll admit I would have said pink but salmon sounded better). When you breath in this wine you're hit with some nice floral aromas, I honestly can't identify exactly what floral smells but they are quite nice none the less. The taste of this wine is equally as nice with some cherry and raspberry hints to it. Like most sparkling wines and Champagnes this goes quite well with things like Duck or seafood. So, if you like champagnes or rose wines then this is a great wine for you.
If you would like to purchase this wine you can get it direct from the vineyard here. Remember to make sure they can ship to your state.
2005 Blanc de Blanc - Sakonnet Vineyards - Little Compton, RI
$29.95
Add bubble to nearly any drink and odds are is that I’ll enjoy it more, I mean come on who doesn’t like bubbles. And it’s because of this love of bubbly that I always like to have a few bottles of sparkling wine on hand in my collection. Now usually this means a nice Prestige Cuvee or perhaps a Blanc de Noir, but I have also always had a fondness for a good bottle Blanc de Blanc. These 100% Chardonnay sparkling wines always seem light and refreshing to me and so when I found this one from Rhode Island I was curious to see their take on the French white of whites.
The first thing you’ll notice with this wine is that they have méthode champenoise proudly displayed on the label. This simply means that Sakonnet went the traditional route with production of this Sparkling wine, with second fermentation and riddling being important parts. Which scores them a few point before even opening the bottle, though when you do you suddenly discover some quite pleasing aromas. The primary scent you get seems to be that of a nice ripe pear. Besides that you also get some hints of pineapple as well as apple. Then once you take a nice sip you once again come to the pear and apple from the aroma. Along with that you also get a bit of an earthy quality to it with a slight aftertaste of flint, which was odd though intriguing at the same time. When paired with food this wine did quite well with a nice baguette served with brie and grapes. Though I think this would go just as well with some nice chocolates or perhaps some sort of creamy dessert. Now I must admit that this certainly isn’t the best Blanc de Blanc I’ve had, but it is quite nice and certainly worth a go if you can handle the cost. So, if you are a fan of dry whites (especially Chardonnay) or bubbly wine then go on and grab a bottle to see for yourself.
If you would like to purchase this wine you can get it from the
Vineyard site here. And don’t forget to make sure they can ship to your state.
2005 Westport Brut RJR – Westport Rivers Vineyard & Winery – Westport, MA
$26.99
Not a whole lot of people think of Massachusetts when they think about quality wine, and especially not a quality Brut, but if you read this site you know better than that. And to blow away those sceptics all you have to do is look at Westport Rivers Vineyard, which I’ve reviewed their Blanc de Noir previously, and the absolutely stunning Brut RJR they create. When you pour yourself a glass of this bubbly you are greeted by some lovely fruit aromas off the bat. The most dominant of which, for me at least, was of a pleasing ripe pear. But you also get some lovely hints of apple blossom as well as the smell of fresh baked bread. Then after you’ve enjoy that a bit and move to the taste you start getting some really interesting flavours. The strongest being an intriguing cherry mousse, which quite frankly I wasn’t expecting. You then also come back to those previous aromas with hints of pear as well of a bit toast to bring it all together. Best of all for me though was the finish which was long, very crisp and quite simple beautiful. Now I had this wine on it’s own with some friend, but if you wanted it with food I think it would go splendidly with some chicken or a nice fruit platter. So should you buy it? For me that's a no brainer, but for others the price might put you back a bit. So if you are a fan sparkling wines, especially Brut, or even pinot noir (this is 65% pinot) then I think you’ll enjoy this. And yes the price is a bit high, but trust me it is truly worth it.
If you would like to purchase this wine you can get it from the Vineyard here. Remember to make sure they can ship to your state.
2007 Blanc de Blanc Brut – Schulze Vineyards & Winery – Niagara County, NY
$15.96
Ah New York wines, I do love them so very much. Not because they are from the Empire State but rather because it is just so rare that I get a bad wine from there and this Sparkling wine is no exception. When you open up this bottle (or, rather, pop the cork as is always so satisfying with sparkling wines) you are pretty quickly hit with some great fruity aromas. The most notable of these fruity smells is definitely peach, and less noticeable is a slight hint of what I can only describe as a nutty quality. Once you take a sip of this wonderfully smooth, bubbly wine, the first thing you notice is that peach aroma coming through right into the flavour of it all. After that you also get a nice taste of mango to it, as well as a very slight hint of honey which is quite pleasing. Now as for this wines food pairings, I had this with a lovely grilled chicken past which worked very well. But if you want to be more adventurous you may want to try this with a pesto pizza and even some potato chips (upon the suggestion of a friend and it works surprisingly well). I’m pretty sure if you are a fan of other sparkling wines you will enjoy this, especially if you are a fan of still viognier and chardonnay wines. And as a bonus this is a great sparkling wine at a great price, so you really have no excuse not to give this a try.
If you would like to purchase this wine you can get it from Americanwinery.com here. Remember to make sure they can ship to your state.
Blanc de Blancs Champagne – Brotherhood Vineyards – Washingtonville, NY
$10.99
The expectations I had for this wine were quite high considering its award winning status as well as being from America's oldest winery, and thankfully this amazing sparkling wine did not let me down. To begin with, when you open up this wine you get a joyously wonderful pop of the cork that comes with all Champagne (and come on who doesn't like that). And after that little bit of fun you get hit by the impressive, yet subtle, aromas that are carried very well by this wine. The main smells you get out of this are primarily of fruit, mainly apple, as well as a nice aroma of flowers; I'm not too sure but maybe lilies. As for the flavour, that nice fruit smell stays with the wine quite well giving you a lovely crisp apple taste. You also get a hint of spice to it as well as a very nice long and dry finish, which I always enjoy. Now when I had this wine it went well as a part of a nice light chicken dinner with some assorted vegetables, though I do believe this would go quite well with some shellfish (or even a plate of cheese). This is a must have for any fan of sparkling wines or nice dry whites, and remember to have it with some food as champagnes aren't just for celebration after all. So go on and give it a go if you can. It's a great wine from an amazing and historic winery, and trust me my friends - you won't be disappointed.
If you would like to purchase this wine you can get it direct from the vineyard here. Remember to make sure they can ship to your state.
Blanc de Fleur – San Sebastian Winery – St. Augustine, FL
$16.99
With the new year coming up soon we at ECoast Wines decided to take you all on another trip into the world of East Cost sparkling wines. This time we are heading down south to the state of Florida to try out a wonderful bottle of Blanc de Fleur from San Sebastian. This particular methode Champenoise wine is made with some fairly non-traditional grapes, Carlos Muscadine, and is quite an interesting drink.
To begin, as always with a good sparkling wine, you get the satisfying pop when opening up a bottle. And shortly after said pop comes the rush of interesting and delicious aromas such as pear. You also get hints of fresh baked bread, some minor floral notes as well as musky grape. Now onto the taste, you get some lovely flavours of grape and pear. You should also get some great little hints of yeast and a bit of a syrupy quality (taste wise, though very light). So, what sort of foods would this go with with particular wine? Well, this is a Florida wine so we are going to have to suggest some good seafood, perhaps with a light cream sauce, or maybe just some good chocolate. In the end this is an interesting and tasty wine with some great bubbles and an interesting semi-sweet nature that many would enjoy. So in our opinion this sparkling wine would be a great pick if you can get a hold of a bottle in time for new years, especially at this price.
If you would like to purchase this wine you can get it from the Winery here. Remember to make sure they can ship to your state.
Sparkling Brut – Barboursville Vineyard – Barboursville, VA
$17.99
I do always enjoy a nice sparkling wine, and Brut tends to be my go to for when I’m in the mood. And thankfully there are a lot of great East Coast Bruts to choose from, and for my purposes today I bought a lovely one from Barboursville Vineyard (one of my favourite vineyards in the area). So to the review, as with any sparkling wine you get the always enjoyable pop when you open up a bottle of this. On the nose you get some really lovely aromas of fruit, primarily pear. But you also get an interesting hint of bread, thanks to the secondary fermentation no doubt. Once you move to the taste you come right back to that nice pear flavour and this time it seems to be accompanied by a bit of apple as well. There also might be a bit of citrus in this wine, though that may just be coming from the acidity. Overall this is a really nice, easy drinking brut with some great bubbles to it (and who doesn’t like bubbles). For food pairings, I have eaten this with some nice chicken and vegetables in the past and it went quite well. I think that this would also go equally as well with a wide variety of sea foods, Barboursville suggests mussels. So if you are a fan of Bruts, Blanc de Blanc or really any variety of sparkling wines and Champagnes I think you will enjoy this wine. Plus the price point isn’t too high so go on and give it a try.
If you would like to purchase this wine you can get it direct from the vineyard here or from Snooth.com here. Remember to make sure they can ship to your state.
Scintilla – Veritas Vineyard & Winery – Afton, VA
$30
It’s been a while since we’ve done a sparkling wine review here on ECoast Wines, so we figured it was about time to get one in (especially with New Years quickly approaching). To do this we return once more to another wine from the fine folks over at Veritas Vineyard & Winery and their amazing Scintilla. This particular wine is a Blanc de Blanc Brut, or a dry 100% Chardonnay wine, and is made in the traditional Champagne method with good old in bottle second fermentation.
So, to start off with the opening of the bottle you get the nice and satisfying pop of the cork that you should get with any good sparkling wine. And as for the aroma you quickly get introduced to some lovely fragrances of lemon and pear. Along with this you also get some hints of apple blossom and toast. Moving onto the first sips of the wine you are brought back to those peach notes from before, but this time they are joined by a delicious flavour of apples. You also get some minor hints of yeast with a slight aftertaste of minerality that is always enjoyable. As for food, we had this with a delicious roast chicken with grilled mushrooms and vegetables and it went quite well. This particular wine would also probably go well with some assorted cheeses, grilled fish or just with some nice chocolates. So if you are a fan of sparkling wines in general, or sparkling chardonnays in particular, then you should probably enjoy this wine. And even though the price is a bit on the high side for some, it is certainly worth the purchase.
If you would like to purchase this wine you can get it from the Vineyard here. Remember to make sure they can ship to your state.
Here you will find our various ECoast Dessert Wine reviews
1999 Vintage Port – Horton Vineyard – Monticello, VA
$20.00
I'm a big fan of Ports normally, but I honestly wasn't to impressed with this Port. Now don't get me wrong it isn't horrible and I would probably buy it again, but it's certainly nothing spectacular. On pouring yourself a glass you are hit with a nice floralish smell(again I can't identify exactly what but still its nice). After taking a sip you will be happy to know that its is quite smooth, as good port should be, but you don't get as much of the spice as you'd expect. It does make for a good after dinner drink, and for the price its quite nice for a 10 year old port. So, if you like ports I'd say give it a try but I wouldn't go out of my way.
If you would like to purchase this wine you can get it from Snooth here. Remember to make sure they can ship to your state.
2006 Porto Elena – Villa Bellangelo – Dundee, NY
$23.99
I am a huge fan of all Port style wines, so I had some pretty high expectations for this wine before I even opened the bottle. This expectation was compounded by its price, which is on the upper end of the scale of what I tend to review. Thankfully , this Ruby Port style wine didn’t disappoint, though to be honest it didn’t blow me out of the water either. When you open up a bottle of this wine you are met with some pretty pleasant fruity aromas, of which the only one I can really make out clearly is what I believe to be plum. Besides the fruit you also get a hint of the spirits that fortified this wine, though thankfully this wasn’t overbearing at all. After you take your first sip you are once again brought face to face with that plum aroma you got early on, which does make for a lovely flavour. You also are hit with a nice hint of what I think may be cherry, which would make sense as this is a blend of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Now port is a wonderful wine to have on its own, though as this is a lighter Ruby Port this does mean it can go quite nicely with some food. Personally, I had this by itself as a digestif (after dinner drink) but I strongly believe that this would go great with some chocolate cake (and who doesn’t love chocolate cake). In the end, this is a wonderful Ruby Port style wine that I believe you may enjoy if you are a port fan or a fan of sweeter reds. Its price may be a bit off putting for some, but I believe in the end it is worth the price as it is pretty well balanced with some great qualities, so go on and give it a go.
If you would like to purchase this wine you can get it from the Vineyard here or from Americanwinery.com here. Remember to make sure they can ship to your state.
2007 Estate Reserve Late Harvest Riesling – Stony Lonesome Wine Cellars – Seneca Lake, NY
$16.00
From the start I was expecting a fair amount from this wine seeing as how it is a New York Riesling, though it being a late harvest (or ice wine), I tempered that expectation a bit (you know me and sweet wines). But in the end I was quite pleased with this dessert wine and I’ll share with you why. Once you open up this bottle of wine you pretty quickly get the sense you’ll be drinking something sweet as you get a good whiff of assorted sweet fruits. I’m fairly certain you get a bit of apple in the aroma as well as a little apricot (maybe). Besides this you also get a strange smell of powdered sugar (I’ve never smelled that before in a wine, huh). Once you take your first sip those fruit aromas really come through in the flavour, especially the apple. You also get a decent citrus flavour that I quite enjoyed. Now I had this wine as an after dinner wine (or digestif if you want to be a wine geek like me) and thus no food, though I do believe this would go great with some shellfish or strong cheeses. Over all this is a great dessert wine that is thankfully not too sweet and is quite well balanced. So if you are a fan of any sort of ice wines or regular Rieslings I would say to give this a try, It’s definitely worth it.
If you would like to purchase this wine you can get it from Americanwinery.com here. Remember to make sure they can ship to your state.
2007 Late Harvest Vignoles - Swedish Hill Winery - Romulus, NY
$23
Dessert wines always pose an interesting dilemma for me since I do love sweet things but when it comes to wine I prefer them dry. And with a lot of dessert wines the limit of sweetness I can withstand is a somewhat fine line between tasty and mortifying. Thankfully, this wine walked said line quite nicely and made for a nice overall wine experience. When you start with the aroma you are really brought into the whole thing with some pleasing tropical smells, most notably that of pineapple. But you also get an interesting hint of peach as well. Then as you move onto the taste you come right back to that strong pineapple aroma, but this time you are also joined by a hint of grapefruit as well. And to top it all off you also get a nice hint of honey in the aftertaste. As for food, I had this as an aperitif with some pate and it was absolutely delicious. But I also think that this wine would go great with some chocolates, ice cream or just on its own. So if you are a fan of sweet things and late harvest wines then I think that you’ll really love this wine, so go on and give it a go.
If you would like to purchase this wine you can get it from Snooth here (2005 Vintage) or check out the Winery here. Remember to make sure they can ship to your state.
2007 Neubia Nectar – Sugarleaf Vineyards – Monticello, VA
$17.00
Sugarleaf Vineyards is quite the new comer to the Virginia wine scene only being in operation for a few years now. They have made a lot of headway in this time and this Neubia Nectar is probably one of their most interesting wines. As a slight change of pace to the normal reviews, the first really noticeable thing about this wine is its highly viscous nature as it really clings to the sides of the glass. This is the first big indicator that you are indeed about to drink a dessert wine. After this you can really put your nose into it and get some very distinct aromas out of this wine. The first noticeable smell is a nice floral honeysuckle aroma followed by a really crisp apple sort of smell. Once you get past these lovely aromas you move onto the interesting combination of flavours that this wine seems to have. You start by picking up a little bit of that apple from the smell of the wine, but this is quickly taken over by intense mango and citrus flavours (I'm thinking orange on the citrus note). Now this is a very highly acidic wine that really makes your mouth water, but is also extremely sweet which makes food pairings interesting. Now, I had this at a tasting with no food, but if this wine was to go with anything I would think it would be a semi-sweet dessert like sugar cookies (a bit strange but I think it would work). But really this is a wine that is best drank on its own after a nice dinner as a dessert all on its own. So, it you are a fan of sweet Vidal Blanc wines or any form of sweet dessert or ice wine I think this would be a good buy for you. And even if you're not I say give it a try, I mean come on I'm not a huge fan of sweet wines but I even liked this one.
If you would like to purchase this wine you can get it direct from the vineyard here. Remember to make sure they can ship to your state.
Black Jewel Port – Forks of Cheat Winery – Morgantown, WV
$17.75
Ah Port, by far my favourite standalone wine varietal (as I prefer to drink it by itself without food). This particular port was given to me by a friend who was passing through West Virginia and thought I might enjoy it. Thankfully, this friend was right on the money as this proved to be a very tasty Ruby style Port. When you pop the cork on this wine you are instantly greeted by the familiar, and always welcome, aromas of fruit and berries. And since this is a fortified wine (as all ports are) you of course get the ever present smell of alcohol, which though detectable was not overpowering. After taking your first sip you are once again introduced to the fruit and berries from above. This time I’m pretty sure that the fruit was plum, and that the berry aroma was coming through as cherries. You also get a slight hint of caramel to the whole thing which really surprised me, in a good way of course. And to top this all off you get a wonderfully long, smooth finish that gives you this lovely warming feeling (thanks to it being fortified). Like I said at the start I tend to drink ports on their own, though I think this one would go well with some hard cheese or maybe even some brownies. So my opinion is that if you are in West Virginia, or don’t mind calling in an order to the vineyard, get yourself a bottle of this. I am pretty sure you’d enjoy it, especially if you like ports or other types of dessert reds.
If you would like to purchase this wine you can get it from the Vineyard here. Remember to make sure they can ship to your state.
Jersey Devil Port – Valenzano Winery – Shamong, NJ
$14.99
Oh man I gotta tell you, I certainly have some mixed feelings about this particular wine. On the one hand this is a really nice and delicious port style wine, on the other hand it’s dangerous being that delicious and having 19.5% alcohol by volume. You really have to watch yourself with this one as before you know it you’ve been dragged down into the land of overindulgence. So how delicious is this wine? Well, when you open it up you get this wonderful aroma of caramel (and of course alcohol, thanks to being fortified with brandy). After that you move into these fantastic fruit smells of dark cherry and maybe even a bit of raspberry, all with a nice hint of spice and oak to it. When you move onto the taste you get those fruits once again, especially the dark cherry for me. This time though they are accompanied by this interesting hint of chocolate, which doesn’t surprise me as it is made from their Cynthiana which I reviewed a while back. Unlike most ports, especially those with this high of alcohol in them, the burn from the alcohol is quite subtle and goes with the long smooth finish quite nicely. For me I had this lovely port on its own after dinner, though I think it would go very well with chocolate cake (which I now crave). I’m pretty sure if you like ports, sweeter Cynthiana’s or really any sweet red you will enjoy this wine. And to top it all off you get a full 750ml for the price (most ports are half bottles instead of full) so what do you have to lose.
If you would like to purchase this wine you can get it direct from the vineyard here (Online or by phone) or from Snooth.com here. Remember to make sure they can ship to your state.
Mountain White - Afton Mountain Vineyard - Afton, VA
$14.00
It had been a while since I had paid a visit to Afton Mountain Winery and I was pleasantly surprised to find several new wines that I fell in love with. One of those wines was the white table wine, Mountain White. Being one of the cheaper bottles at Afton Mountain, one might assume this wine to be nothing special. But they would be wrong! While the Mountain White is not my favorite from Afton Mountain, it is in a close second. The Mountain White is listed at the winery as a “sweeter” wine. If you read my reviews, you know I really enjoy sweet wines. But the Mountain White isn’t that sweet to me. Yes, sweeter than a Chardonnay alone - but not overpowering. A blend of Vidal Blanc, Riesling and Chardonnay make up this wine. I first pick up hints of green apple or pear, but the smell doesn’t do the taste justice. Pineapple and citrus are the main components of this wine, with a crisp finish. I enjoyed this wine with pasta in a light Parmesan sauce. This wine would also be great paired with a plate of fresh fruit, think apples and berries. If you enjoy wines that are a little sweet and very smooth, you might just enjoy the Mountain White at Afton Mountain Vineyards. I will be returning to Afton Mountain a lot sooner this time, we had a great experience! The gentleman guiding our tasting was Brandon and he was not only friendly and polite, he was very knowledgeable about the wines and the winery. Stop in at Afton Mountain, taste their wine to find your favorite and tell them we said hello at ECoast Wines!
Unfortunately, we couldn’t find any place online to purchase this wine but please check out the page for the Winery here.
NV Red Rapture - Haight-Brown Vineyard - Litchfield, CT
$30.98
I have been a fan of Port style wines for quite a while, as a matter of fact it was one of the first styles of wine that I really got into. So, whenever I find a new one to try I tend to get quite excited. And of course adding to that excitement for this wine is that it come from a state I have issues getting wine from, Connecticut, and is also made of a varietal that I rarely ever see, Marechal Foch. So why don’t we just jump straight into it then.
When you pour yourself a glass of this wine you quickly notice just how dark in colour this wine is, as it seems to be of a deep inky-ruby hue. Then once you get your nose into the glass you start to pick up some interesting aromas of spicy black cherry and strawberries. Along with this you also seem to get some hints of mocha with a bit of smoke. As for the taste you really get those berry notes from the aroma, especially the dark cherry. besides this though you also get some lovely hints of chocolate along with a nice light minerality. And of course being a port, this wine had a lovely reserved sweetness to it along with a good long finish. Now I had this port on its own as a digestif, but this wine would go splendidly with an assortment of fruits and nuts or perhaps an apple or pecan pie (really any semi-sweet dessert in my mind). To sum up, basically if you are a fan of Port style wines, semi-sweet reds or heck even Beaujolais then I think you would really enjoy this one. And I know the price may be a bit steep for some, but I really did find this wine delicious and if you like what you read here then perhaps you would too.
If you would like to purchase this wine you can get it from the
Vineyard site here or Americanwinery.com here and remember to make sure they can ship to your state.
Port – San Sebastian Winery – St. Augustine, FL
$19.95
One more wonderful wine from my tour at the San Sebastian Winery and one which is in my opinion one of the best ports I have ever had (granted it's technically not a port seeing as how it's not from Portugal). The colour of this wine is just this beautiful dark purple, with an amazing aroma of raisin with a slight spice to it. And to top it all off you get an interesting smell of brandy that really gives this wine something special. As for the flavours, that spice and brandy smell carries over amazingly into the taste. There are also some fruit flavours to it as well, cherry maybe ... it's a possibility, as well as something else I can't quite pin down. This is a wine that in my opinion should be drank by itself being sipped and enjoyed thoroughly. Forget about food pairing, this is a sit by a nice fire with some good friends drink (though if you must a simple risotto tends to go well with ports as well as milk chocolate things). So if you are a fan of any form of port then this is a must try for you, and honestly to the rest of you please give it a try as it is an amazing wine and well worth your time.
If you would like to purchase this wine you can get it direct from the vineyard here. Remember to make sure they can ship to your state.
NV Port of Chambourcin – The Winery at Wilcox – Wilcox, PA
$19.99
Port style wines have been a favourite of mine for many years now, and because of this I can sometimes be a bit picky as to what I enjoy. But still I always seem to have an insatiable urge to try new ones. And thus in comes this interesting 100% Chamourcin port from the fine state of Pennsylvania. This is certainly a non-traditional port style wine, which intrigued me, so let’s see how it fairs.
When you open up a bottle of this particular port you immediately notice the strong smell of alcohol, as with any port. The difference here though is that it’s not quite as strong of a smell as you might see with traditional ports as this is fermented to its alcohol content rather then fortified (a bold move in my opinion). But after a few good swirls in the glass you begin to notice the other aromas coming through, the first of which being that of cherry. You also get some interesting hints of plum and tobacco. After your first sip you are brought back to the high alcohol content, but you also get some subtle hints of licorice. Along with this you may also get some lovely berry flavours as well as a nice smooth, almost velvety finish to it all. As for food pairing, I had this wine as an after dinner digestif but I believe that it would go well with a rich chocolaty dessert or perhaps even a hearty beef stew (oddly I think it would work). Overall I did truly enjoy this wine for its lovely aromas, flavours and even its strange non-traditional creation. So, if you are a fan of port style wines, chambourcin or sweeter reds in general then I think you may also enjoy this wine. And the price point certainly isn’t too bad so you might as well give it a go.
If you would like to purchase this wine you can get it from the Winery here or from Snooth.com here. Remember to make sure they can ship to your state.