The 2007 vintage in Virginia was the equivalent of the 2005 vintage in Bordeaux. Classic.  An outstanding vintage for reds especially, the combination of warm, dry conditions from Spring until harvest, helped shape fruit-driven whites and balanced, focused reds.  Delicious out of the gate, cellaring will reward the patient in a few years.

More and more 2007′s are finding their way out of the cellar and into tasting rooms across Virginia.  One in particular, the 2007 Cabernet Franc from Veramar Vineyard, found it’s way to my glass this weekend.  Awarded a very respectable 87 point score from the Wine Enthusiast, the Cabernet Franc didn’t disappoint.  Originally available for $35, the 2007 is no longer available for sale.

On the nose layers of dark fruit, cedar, and vanilla round out with a hint of oak and spice.  On the palate a woodsy blend of ripe dark fruit flavors, nutmeg and a touch of herbaceousness that I love in the variety.  A focused effort from Veramar Vineyards.  Cheers!

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Lynfred Winery 2009 Illinois Seyval Blanc

Home to more than 90 wineries and 450 vineyards, Illinois is proving great wine can be produced in the Prairie State.  Known for its unpredictable weather and temperature swings, winemakers have focused their efforts on French Hybrids, which make up 75% of the states total grape acreage.  Popular varieties include Chambourcin, Vidal Blanc, Vignoles, Chardonel, and Seyval, the focus of today’s post.

Founded by Fred and Lynn Koehler, in Roselle, Illinois in October, 1979, Lynfred Winery is the oldest and largest, continuously-operating, bonded winery in the state.  Producing over 50 varietals and 25,000 cases per year, Lynfred sources fruit from California, Washington, Michigan and Illinois.  The 2009 Seyval Blanc is from Correl Vineyards in Newton, Illinois.

The nose is ripe with melon, peach and tropical fruit.  Light to medium-bodied, the food-friendly, crisp wine displays nice minerality and lemon characteristics.  A delicious wine to open on a hot summer day.

Each September is Illinois Wine Month, and a perfect excuse to visit and enjoy a glass of Illinois.  A short drive from Chicago, be sure to visit Lynfred Winery and tell them TheOther46.com sent you.  Cheers!

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I decided to take this past Monday off to relax and catch up on chores, and much to my surprise, the TODAY show ran a special segment on the best wines in America.  Winemaker and restaurateur Joe Bastianich takes viewers through a flight of 7 wines from the other 47 states:

1. Brut Méthode Champenoise NV – Gruet Winery, Albuquerque, New Mexico ($13.75)
2. Ed’s Smooth Red NV – Fall Creek Vineyards, Austin, Texas ($11.99)
3. 2009 Chardonnay – Jefferson Vineyards, Charlottesville, Virginia ($14.99)
4. 2008 Century Rosé – Biltmore Winery, Asheville, North Carolina ($14.99)
5. 2007 Norton – Augusta Winery, Augusta, Missouri ($14.00)
6. 2007 Chambourcin – Alba Vineyard, Milford, New Jersey ($15.99)
7. 2008 Dry Riesling – Dr. Konstantin Frank Wine Cellars, Hammondsport, New York ($14.99)

I’ve featured a few of the above wineries on TheOther46.com and was ecstatic to see them featured.  Wine is being produced in all 50 states, so why not go out and eat and drink locally this weekend!  Cheers!

Ravines 2007 Cabernet Franc

I know, I know, another post on New York wine.  What can I say, I’m in a New York State of mind, especially after tasting the Ravines 2007 Cabernet Franc.  A wine like this makes me want to rename my website TheOther47.com or better yet, EastoftheWestCoast.com.  You never know what the future holds…

Ravines Wine Cellars is an award-winning, boutique winery located in the Finger Lakes wine region in upstate New York on the eastern slopes of Keuka Lake.  I first read about Ravines on the New York Cork Report and then had the opportunity to sample their excellent Pinot Noir courtesy of Lenn Thompson and the Finger Lakes Wine Country Tourism Marketing Association during the TasteLive event in March (read more here).  After the first sip, I was hooked.

The 2007 Cabernet Franc retails for $19 and clocks in at 12.5% alcohol.  A beautiful bouquet of red fruit, spice and a hint of vanilla greets the nose.  Raspberries, dark cherries, and more of the same spicy, herbal notes exhibited on the nose help carry this wine through to the finish.  A medium-bodied wine with great balance and complexity.  In summary, a wine I will be ordering more of for myself and a wine sure to impress family and friends.  Ravines hit a home run with this one, and at $19, the wine represents one of the best quality price ratio Cab Francs on the east coast.  Bravo Ravines!

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I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, I love sparkling wines.  I especially love sparklers that hail from the other 46 states.  Wineries in New York, Virginia and New Mexico are quickly earning a reputation for producing excellent value sparkling wines that are competing directly with California and France.  Quality is rising and the mainstream media is taking notice.

I recently had the opportunity to check off another state from my list of excellent sparkling wine producers when I opened the 2006 Château Reserve Méthode Champenoise Blanc de Blancs from Biltmore Estate.  Located in Asheville, North Carolina, Biltmore is producing a quality Blanc de Blancs from 100% North Carolina Chardonnay grapes that retails for a very fair $29.99.

Tiny bubbles set the stage for a lovely and balanced wine sure to impress.  Paired with food or served solo, the sparking wine from North Carolina is a winner.  Cheers!

Biltmore Estate Château Reserve Méthode Champenoise Blanc de Blancs - 2006 North Carolina

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After discovering New Mexico’s Gruet Winery more than a year ago in the pages of Wine Spectator, their non-vintage sparkling wines (Brut, Blanc de Noirs, Rose, and Demi-Sec) have become a permanent fixture in my home.  Whether celebrating a special event, enjoying a holiday meal, or relaxing after a long day at work, Gruet Winery serves up a portfolio of terrific sparklers that are sure to please even the most distinguished palate.

Tonight’s focus is on the light-bodied, semi-dry Demi-Sec.  Retailing for $13.75, the sparkler is distributed in 49 states and is truly one of the great quality-to-price ratio wines from the other 46 states.  A light yellow hue in glass, fruity aromas of pears, apples and citrus fruit introduce the wine.  On the palate, notes of almonds, pears, green apples and bright cherry flavors.  All in all, a delicious, light bubbly that satisfies without denting the wallet.  Cheers!

Gruet Demi Sec

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Sharpe Hill 2007 Select Late Harvest Vignoles

I often find myself drinking the same wines over and over again.  So when I pulled the Sharpe Hill Vineyard 2007 Select Late Harvest Vignoles from the cellar recently, it was a nice change.  I’ve had my fair share of Late Harvest wines produced from Riesling, Vidal Blanc and several other grape varieties, but never Vignoles.  For those unfamiliar with the variety, Vignoles is a hybrid white wine grape produced from a cross made by J.F. Ravat of two grapes, Seibel 8665 and Pinot de corton.  Popular in the Northeast and Midwest regions of North America, the fruit can develop very high sugar content while maintaining high acidity, resulting in great dessert wines.

In addition to being my first Vignoles, the wine also represented my first dessert wine from Connecticut.  I’ve had several excellent Chardonnays from the state, but never a dessert wine.  Vignoles is also one of the grapes in Sharpe Hill’s excellent Ballet of Angels wine (read my review here).

A wine that is made entirely from estate grown, botrytised Vignoles, the wine retails for $24.99.  On the nose, a bouquet of flowers, peaches and grapefruits set the stage for a rich, semi-sweet wine bursting with flavors of honey and apricot.  A tad short on the finish, but otherwise, a nicely balanced dessert wine that would pair perfectly with blue cheese.  Cheers!

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The Idaho wine industry has experienced tremendous growth in the past decade, increasing from 11 wineries in 2002 to just over 40 in 2010.  With the recent designation of the Snake River Valley AVA, Idaho’s wine industry is well-positioned for continued success and growth.  Over the past year, I’ve had the opportunity to experience an array of wines from large producers like Sawtooth Winery and Ste. Chapelle Winery to smaller, boutique wineries like Pend d’Oreille and Hells Canyon Winery.  In celebration of Idaho Wine Month in June (for more details visit IdahoWines.org), I thought I’d recap a recent wine I sampled from Hells Canyon Winery.

Located in the Snake River Valley in Caldwell, Idaho, Hells Canyon Winery produces approximately 3000 cases a year.  Overlooking the banks of the Snake River at an elevation of 2700 feet, Hells Canyon vineyards are some of the oldest in the state, made up of Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Syrah varietals.

A few weeks back I pulled the cork on the 2006 Merlot Reserve.  Retailing for $30, the wine represented my first Merlot from the state.  Aromas of black cherry, plum, fresh herbs and pepper blend together to deliver a complex, multidimensional nose.  A medium-bodied, age-worthy Merlot, the palate displayed similar flavors as the nose with an added touch of vanilla.  Well integrated tannins and just enough acidity round out the wine.

With each new vintage Hells Canyon selects original sporting art to represent the experience of Idaho.  In fact, when you buy Hells Canyon wines you are pledging your support for wildlife conservation organizations.  Each year, the winery donates 10% of net profits to the cause.  Great wine and a worthy cause.  Cheers!

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I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the quality of Maryland wines sampled during the Twitter Taste-off at the DrinkLocalWine.com 2010 conference.  I’ve praised Maryland wines for some time now (see my earlier recap) and continue to be impressed with the quality of wines being produced.  I didn’t have time to sample all of the offerings, but did revisit two favorites, Elk Run Vineyards and Black Ankle Vineyards.  I also had the opportunity to meet Kevin Atticks, Executive Director of the Maryland Wineries Association and author of “Discovering Maryland Wineries,” my first regional wine book.  Highlights included the textbook Cold Friday Chardonnay from Elk Run and the Black Ankle Leaf Stone Syrah (in my opinion, the best Syrah from the East Coast).

Black Ankle Vineyards 2007 Crumbling Rock

But tonight’s post focuses on a wine I purchased during my last visit to Maryland, the 2007 Crumbling Rock from Black Ankle.  The 2009 Maryland’s Governors Cup winner, the Bordeaux-style blend retails for $45 and clocks in at 15.1% alcohol.  In the glass, the wine displayed a beautiful nose of black fruit and cherries with a hint of nutmeg and leather.  Flavors of cinnamon, spice, tobacco, and red fruit coat the palate.  An age-worthy wine from the excellent 2007 vintage.

The Maryland wine industry is on the cusp of great things, and it was a welcome site to see the enthusiasm for the wines.  Cheers!

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Biltmore Estate 2008 Chardonnay

Home to more than 90 wineries and the country’s most visited winery in Biltmore Estate, North Carolina is on the up and up when it comes to local wine.  Focusing on native Muscadine and European-style vinifera grapes, the number of wineries have more than quadrupled since 2001 [1].  Ranked 7th for wine production in the United States, North Carolina recently recognized it’s 3rd American Viticultural Area (AVA) in the Haw River Valley, joining Swan Creek and the Yadkin Valley.

Located in Asheville, Biltmore Estate Winery opened its doors in 1985 and welcomes over 1 million visitors annually to sample their award-winning estate wines.  In addition to their portfolio of wines produced from their 94-acre estate vineyard, Biltmore also produces a variety of wines from grapes sourced outside of North Carolina.

Tonight I feature the 2008 Estate Chardonnay.  Retailing for $15.99, the dry, full-bodied Chardonnay displays aromas of oak and tropical fruit on the nose.  On the palate, much of the same.  Buttery, oaky, and fruity were some of the words tossed around.  A simple, straight-forward wine that begs for a patio, a nice cheese platter, and good friends.  Cheers!

Works Cited
[1] Dosier, Susan. North Carolina Wine Fact Sheet. “http://media.visitnc.com/news/55/102/Wine-Industry-Facts/d,mediakit.html” (accessed April 19, 2010)

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