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.

Barboursville Vineyards, a winery with an extensive and impeccable track record, produces a reserve Viognier that ranks among the states best.  100% Viognier and fermented in stainless steel, the wine sees no barrel or malolactic fermentation.

Pretty white floral aromas lead the way, followed by pear, peach and honey on the nose.  Elegant and classic, the Barboursville Vineyards Viognier Reserve 2009 is the perfect example of just how good Virginia Viognier can be (and why I may become a believer after all).  Medium-bodied, the palate displays similar characteristics to the nose, but with added citrus notes that come through on the finish.  Wonderful acidity and balance.

Winemaker Luca Paschina has once again produced a wine that rivals the best Condrieu wines.

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.

The nose offers citrus, floral and stone fruit (think peach, apricot and pear).  Light bodied, good acidity and a refreshing mineral finish help make the Oktoberfest the perfect accompaniment to Asian foods or spicy dishes.

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.

At $19, the Chester Gap Cellars 2008 Merlot is a flat out steal.  In fact, all of their wine prices are reasonable, a rarity for Virginia wine.

The initial nose showed wild berries, herbs and a hint of cedar.  Secondary aromas of cherries and raspberries become more prevalent once the wine opened up.  On the palate, nice minerality with flavors of bright cherry, plum, mint and spice.  Medium-bodied with a lingering finish.

Enticing and complex, the wine will continue to improve with short-term cellaring.

I’m not certain where I purchased the wine, but I decided to open a red blend from Sawtooth Winery. Located in Nampa, Idaho, Sawtooth Winery produces a number of estate wines that are widely distributed and available locally across the US.  I’m a fan of their whites and reserve line of wines and was excited to try this one.

The Sawtooth Skyline Red 2005 is a blend of 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Syrah, 10% Merlot and 5% Primativo.  The Syrah shines through on the nose with aromas of black fruit, spice and smoke.  The palate is medium to full-bodied, round and smooth with currant, blackberry, earth and subtle coffee notes.  The perfect pizza wine that’s easy on the wallet.

Normally, I’d launch into my wine reviews, but quite frankly, each deserve their own post.  Let’s just say one of every wine came home and I wish I had bought more.  A special place producing special wines.  I’ll leave you with a few pics and encourage you to visit and experience what Virginia wine is all about.  Cheers!

The wine is made up of 51% Merlot, 44% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 5% Mourvedre. In the glass, the dark purple wine starts off with a nose of black cherries, plum and spice.  On the palate, bright red fruit, plum, and tobacco.  Well-integrated tannin and oak on the finish.  On day 2, the wine displayed more earthy qualities.  Easily one of the more complex and balanced wines I’ve had to date from the state.

By no means is this a cheap wine, and at $40 (sold out), the Genesis is one of the highest priced wines from the state.  But if you have the appetite for a local wine that delivers depth, balance and finesse, then I recommend you try the Genesis. Cheers!

Arizona Stronghold Vineyards 2009 Nachise

Partners Maynard James Keenan and Eric Glomski produce a number of wines from 100% Arizona fruit under their Arizona Stronghold Vineyard label.  Well-priced and widely distributed for local wines, the ASV portfolio of wines are a great introduction to the Grand Canyon State.

A Rhone blend, the Arizona Stronghold Vineyards 2009 Nachise is made up of Syrah, Grenache, Petite Sirah and Mourvedre. Aged in French oak, the $19 wine comes in at 14.3% alcohol.  A spicy, earthy nose, aromas of cedar, blackberry and red cherry are followed by a subtle hint of black pepper.

The medium-to-full bodied palate displays herbs, plum and cassis with a pinch of rosemary.  The end result is a a beautiful wine that is uniquely Arizona.

In celebration of the holidays, I am giving 1 lucky reader a copy of Blood Into Wine, the documentary featuring Maynard James Keenan and his mission to bring credibility to Arizona’s burgeoning wine industry (read more here).

To enter, leave a comment below and tell me your favorite Maynard wine or song. For additional entries, do the following but leave a separate comment for each (this will allow you additional chances to win).

• Like TheOther46.com’s Facebook Fan Page. If you’re already a fan, thank you very much! Just list your name below and indicate that you are.
• Follow @TheOther46 on twitter and retweet this contest
• Have a blog? Add The Other 46 to your blog roll and let me know you did.

Random.org will select a winner on January 6, 2012. U.S. residents only. Winner will be contacted via email and has 48 hours to respond. If no response is received, random.org will select another winner.  Good luck!

* Disclosure: I received a copy of Blood Into Wine for a giveaway. No other compensation was received.