"State of Wine" Virginia Wine Tasting

What better way to spend a Saturday evening then tasting some of the best that Virginia has to offer in wine?  The Washington Wine Academy put on a show to Virginia's stuff with the winery's representing their product which was great.  Had a opportunity to find out what was really going on the wineries.  Not surprising, Cabernet France held the day.  Some great examples out there.  Surprising how many were doing Viognier.  A traditionally hard grape to get ripe and pick at the same time to display their aromatics without being to flabby.  Also interesting is that many buy grapes.  Made we wonder who from?  Would have liked to see a bit more Tannat.  Comments are below.

Trump Winery Blanc de Blanc 2008 - Way too tart - mouth puckering.  Not much to love.

Rappahannock Cellars Chardonnay 2011 - Tart lemon and apple.

Rappahannock Cellars Cabernet Franc 2011 - Classic Cab Franc.  Best of the night.

Rappahannock Cellars Meritage 2011 - Earthy with plum and black cherry.  Tart black cherry on the palate with medium plus tannin.  Medium plus acidity.

Pearmund Cellars Viognier 2011-  Nice.  Tart, flowery with peach.  medium plus body.

Pearmund Cellars Old Vine Chardonnay - muddy nose with oak.  Spritzy on the palate.  My least favorite.

Pearmund Cellars Late Harvest Traiminette 2011- Nice effort with balance between sweet and acidy.  Apricot and pineapple.

Pearmund Cellars Ameritage 2010 - Big tannins - agressive.  Bordeaux like nose with earth and tart and a bit green.

Boxwood Estate Winery Topiary 2011 - Nose of earth and forest floor with black cherry and pencil lead.  Good tannins with acidity to match.  Good length.

Boxwood Estate Winery Trellis 2011 - muted earthiness in nose.  Pale in color.  Good tannin but a little green with medium body.

RdV Vineyards Rendezvous 2009 - Opaque in color.  Black cherry and plum with earth in nose.  Fruit forward in palate but short on finish.  Disappointing.

Barboursville Vineyards Octagon 2009 - Bordeaux like with medium garnet in color.  Plum and black cherry in nose.  Tart with medium plus tannin.  Black cherry with good length and body.

Paradise Springs Winery Viognier 2012- Floral nose with apple.  Tart but strangely not acidic.

Paradise Springs Winery Cabernet Franc 2012 - Another nice effort.  Like the tannat that added spice and body.

Horton Vineyards Chardonnay - Muted spice, apple and pear.  Some acidity.  Pretty good - not over the top as expected.

Horton Vineyards Cabernet Franc 2010- Nice effort. Black fruit with tannins to match.  Not overdone.

Horton Vineyards Petit Verdot 2011 -  Opaque.  Mutted nose.  Aggressive tannin.  Thick with black fruit but a bit green. Full bodied but not overdone.

Horton Vineyards Syrah 2012 - Look for more purple in color.  Spice with black raspberry.  Tannins are fine.  Medium plus body and medium length with good acidity.

Horton Vineyards Boisseau 2006 - Nice clean nose with black raspberry and blackberry.  Tannins and acidity in check - firm.  Medium body and medium length.