Just got home after having dinner following the tasting. My overall take was it was OK. There were a few standouts but 70% of the wines were lacking in mid-palate lift, acidity, or some kind of oomph. They came across flabby and off dry.
Of the off dry wines I really liked the Thibeau-Janisson Sparkling Chardonnay which while a touch sweet had great effervescence. The bubbles were tiny and tight like a Prosecco. Was hoping for some nutty notes but no dice.
Stinson poured a 2011 Tannat that reminded me of Sangiovese and had deep red and black fruit, mouth stripping tannins and showed great structure. Their 2013 Sauv Blanc was the only white of the night with some bright acidity.
Structure was lacking in a lot of the wines tonight but the 2011 Nebbiolo from Barboursville was not one of them. Blackberry, bramble, black cherry and white pepper notes abounded. Great tannic structure to this wine. Stood out in the crowd.
Barboursville also had a 2008 Bordeaux Blend called Octagon that was very enjoyable. A bit fruit forward with deep rich black fruit, black olive notes on the nose and some accompanying licorice. Came across like a high dollar Napa Cab blend. Very well balanced though and showed a good age-ability.
Veritas poured a Chardonnay and a Bordeaux blend both just came across as OK. Was hoping to find some acidity in these wines but it just didn’t happen. Maybe that’s an issue with VA? Many of the pourers were talking about their whites and how they possess such great acidity. I just didn’t get that at all.
Afton Mountain had a 2010. Brut Blanc de Noirs that actually was dry. Unlike all the other whites poured on the evening. Big carbonic bubbles. Nice fruit.
Their 2012 Super Tuscan labeled Festa di Bacco was very ripe and fruity which was weird since it sported 40% Sangiovese. Was a crowd pleaser blend but no wow factor.
Breaux poured a Viognier and a Cab Franc. Lots of Viognier tonight. I asked everyone if they had issues moving a 100% Viognier as it really doesn’t seem to be a great idea. To a man they all said they sell out. Different market. I guess. The 2013 Viognier from Breaux was flabby, has great aromatics but needed something that most Viogniers need. Acidity. They really should have done these as dessert wines in my opinion.
The Breaux 2007 Cab Franc had crazy aromatics, ripe but lean fruit, dark plum and stewed fruit palate and mouth drying tannins.
Ankida Ridge poured a 2013 Chardonnay. Another off dry tasting Chard that just seemed to weigh on the palate. Their 2008 Pinot Noir was interesting with Dark Cherry fruit but needed acidity, ripe fruit, none of the RRV cola or SoCo strawberry but then gain nothing to make it pop. Nice firm tannins though.
There were others but mostly it was more of the same. Lots of Merlot, Cab Franc, lots of flabby Chard and Viognier. Another variety popular in the white blends was Petite Manseng. Early Mountain had a Petite Manseng, Muscat blend that was super sweet. Maybe that’s what the market asks for. Just wasn’t my style.
Overall it was interesting but most of them didn’t fit my flavor profile short if the Nebb, Tannat, and Octagon.
Afterwards we had dinner at Starks and enjoyed a 2012 Ceritas Heintz Chardonnay, 2012 Halcon Esquisto and a 2010 Sandlands Mataro. Head and shoulders above the previous wines. The Ceritas was a incredibly plush and creamy with tart pineapple and green apple notes. Just killed it with our spicy Calamari starter.
Of the two Mourvedres the Sandlands was a winner for me showing a very nice polish to the entire package. The Halcon was much riper and fruitier which surprises me based on the vineyard location. But then again 2012 was one of those fruit years. The Sandlands just drank like a wine that had it all together. Very enjoyable.
Thanks go out to Adam Lee for helping arrange this evening. Saw Doug Wilder for a brief moment but otherwise didn’t see any other familiar faces.