The Other 46

If I had the patience to cellar wines, this post would be focused on a vertical of the best Chardonnay in Virginia, rather than a single wine review.  Unfortunately, I have little willpower when it comes to Jim Law’s wines, and especially his Hardscrabble Chardonnay.  Instead, I feature his 2008, and urge you to read more about his 2007 and 2006 vintages previously featured on the site.  And for my fellow Virginians, if you’re serious about wine, I hope you hold back a few Hardscrabble wines in a cool, dark place. Trust me, you’ll thank me in 5 years.

Barrel fermented in French oak, the Linden Vineyards 2008 Hardscrabble Chardonnay was more restrained on the nose than past vintages.  Floral, apple, lemon zest and subtle oak on the nose.

Bright, clean and mineral-driven.  Amazing structure, typical of Linden, and especially the Hardscrabble wines.   A polished effort that is drinking well now and should do so over the next 5 to 10 years.

Chaddsford Winery 2005 Merican

One of the iconic wineries on the East Coast, Chaddsford Winery has been producing award-winning wines since their first release in 1983. Heralded winemaker Eric Miller is largely credited with launching a wine industry in Pennsylvania that now boasts more than 100 wineries and counting. Having achieved national acclaim and recognition, Eric’s wines have been featured in a number of prestigious wine and food publications.  A true wine pioneer that has dedicated his life to perfecting the art of winemaking.

One such wine that has raised the bar is their flagship Bordeaux blend, the Chaddsford Winery 2005 Merican ($40).   A classic blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot, the Merican makes a statement with a bottle that is almost twice as heavy as the norm.  A serious bottle of wine that not only looks the part, but acts the part.

The nose features delicate notes of tobacco, cedar and black raspberry.  An almost earthiness quality.

Spicy, rich, and intense, flavors of chocolate, currant and black cherries combine to seduce your every sense.

Founded in 1989 by Whitie and Margaret Hubert, Tarara Winery is a 475 acre farm that stretches along the Potomac River in Leesburg, Virginia.  A veteran on the Virginia wine scene, Tarara sources from several of the states best vineyards, including their estate vineyard Nevaeh.  I haven’t visited since Jordan Harris joined the team as winemaker, but I’m a big fan of his winemaking, and have had the opportunity to sample several of his wines.

Tarara’s primary focus is on terroir, and hence produce a number of single-vineyard blends.  The Tarara Winery 2008 Nevaeh Red is a blend of 71% Merlot, 23% Cabernet Sauvignon and 6% Cabernet Franc.  The wine was aged exclusively in new Virginia oak for 18 months and fermented on indigenous yeast and retails for $40.  From the website, “Nevaeh is made up of three distinct blocks – The Hill, The Road and The Pond. All of Nevaeh is planted to cane-pruned vertical shoot positioning with an average yield of just shy of 2 tons per acre. This helps with even ripening, better concentration and an easily sculpted vineyard.”

A somewhat tight nose (I recommend opening a few hours in advance), aromas of black fruit, namely ripe blackberries, black currant and a dash of black pepper.  Earthy undertones with cedar box, tobacco, cassis and black cherries on the palate.  Medium-bodied, solid tannins and good acidity, the wine impresses with each sip.  A well made wine that will reward the patient drinker.