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 was never swayed by the ”Sideways Effect” on Merlot, which now seems a distant memory. I’ve continued to enjoy Merlot regularly, albeit with a twist.  I now prefer local Merlots over any others.  From Long Island, New York to Dahlonega, Georgia, I’ll pour a local Merlot over Napa Valley any day.  In fact, I need to host a blind tasting to prove my theory that these local examples deliver more quality than their expensive counterparts.

Located in the heart of Georgia wine country, Three Sisters Vineyards holds the historic distinction of being “Dahlonega’s First Family Farm Winery” and also happens to be one of my favorites on the wine trail (click here to read more about Three Sisters Vineyards). During my last visit, I had the opportunity to enjoy their excellent 2006 Merlot and luckily grab a bottle before it’s gone.

Three Sisters Vineyards 2006 Merlot

Aged in French and American oak barrels for 12 months, the Three Sisters Vineyards 2006 Merlot is made with 100% estate grown Merlot from Lumpkin County, Georgia. Bright red fruit, especially plum, were prevalent on the nose.  Flavors of red cherry, raspberry, tobacco and spice on the palate.  An earthy, full-bodied wine with balanced tannins and acidity (and enough structure to age for 5 years).  My only issue, this was my only bottle.  Cheers!

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Château des Charmes 2007 Merlot, St. David's Bench Vineyard

‘Tis the season for great wine and no free time.  With Christmas fast approaching and not to mention the dreaded “year end” in the business world, free time is a commodity these days.  That said I’ve managed to escape to North Georgia for some winery visits and have had the opportunity to taste some great wines along the way.  I even have plans to jump on the Virginia wine trail after Christmas (if Mother Nature allows).

In anticipation of TasteCamp 2011 in May, I recently pulled the cork on a Château des Charmes 2007 Merlot from St. David’s Bench Vineyard.  Located in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Château des Charmes is a family-owned winery run by the Bosc family, who represent the sixth generation of winegrowing expertise.

Canadian wines are difficult to locate in Florida (of course there are exceptions, especially when it comes to Ice Wines), but I happened to luck out when Château des Charmes wines were featured at the recent Epcot Food and Wine Festival.  Retailing for $21.95, the Merlot showed smokey notes with layers of vanilla and cherry.  On the palate a kaleidoscope of flavors including cassis, tobacco, plum, black cherry and dark chocolate.  A rich, full-bodied and age-worthy wine that will delight and impress even the most discriminating palate.

Receive 50% off shipping of 6 or more bottles of French wine with promo code “other73″.

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At an elevation of 951 feet, Bluemont Vineyard offers visitors a spectacular, panoramic view that stretches from Loudoun County, Virginia to Washington DC.  I finally had the opportunity to take in the views firsthand while visiting during the DrinkLocalWine.com conference in April.  After making my way up the long and winding driveway, I was excited to see I had the winery and the breathtaking views to myself.  Once inside, I was warmly greeted by Loree Rupy who expertly guided me through their current lineup of wines.  During my tasting, we were joined by winemaker Bob Rupy who gave me a rundown of vineyard happenings and spent time answering my questions.  Both were gracious hosts and made my visit extra special.

On the white card, the 2009 Vidal Blanc (The Cow) won unanimously.  Their most popular wine, the Vidal Blanc retails for $18 and is stainless steel fermented.  Nice citrus notes on both the nose and palate, the semi-sweet wine is the perfect accompaniment for a warm summer day.  I also recommend their 2009 Viognier, The Goat.  Before moving to the reds, Loree poured a glass of their Donkey, a Rosé produced from eight different grapes.  I was never a big fan of Rosé prior to my trip to Virginia, but walked away very impressed with the many offerings I sampled during the week, with Bluemont included.  Before moving onto the reds, I chatted with Bob about future plans.  He was excited about future plantings of Petit Manseng and Norton, two varieties that were big talking points during the conference.

I sampled four reds which included two Merlots from the ’08 vintage that retail for a reasonable $20.  The first was produced from 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon.  A classic Virginia Merlot with delicious red fruit and good balance.  The second, also my favorite, was a blend of 90% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc and 3% Malbec.  More red fruit on the nose with notes of vanilla and spice.  On the palate, a medium-bodied dry wine with spice, pepper, red cherries and a hint of green pepper on the finish.  My wine of choice to enjoy on the patio and featured in the pics below.  Before making my way to the patio with the Merlot, I finished my tasting with two Nortons (The Pig), a non-vintage and the ’08.  Deep red color in glass, both were rich, full-bodied dry wines with spicy overtones and berry flavors.  Retailing for $22, kudos to the Bluemont team for producing not one but two delicious Nortons that can be enjoyed by all (read my review of the $50 Veramar Vineyard Norton here).

The view, the wine and the team at Bluemont Vineyard is first class.  If you haven’t experienced Bluemont Vineyard, what are you waiting on?  Enjoy the view from the top and be sure to tell them TheOther46.com sent you.  Cheers!

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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 varieties.

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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A few weeks prior to the DrinkLocalWine.com conference, a few of us tossed around the idea of a Twitter Tweet-Up in Virginia.  Jennifer Breaux Blosser, Director of Sales and Hospitality at Breaux Vineyards, jumped on board and rolled out the red carpet for our small group this past Saturday.  Anyone who follows my blog, knows I’m a big fan of Breaux Vineyards (read more here) and I always plan a visit when I’m in Virginia.  The 404 acre estate has over 100 acres planted in 18 different grape varieties, making it one of the largest growers in the region, and a popular venue for events and gatherings.

Breaux Vineyards DLW10 Tweet-Up

Our group was treated to a behind the scenes tour of the bottling room and barrel tastings courtesy of the winemaker, Dave Collins.  The 2007 Malbec and Petit Verdot blend impressed (a future Cellar Club release), with it’s balance of tannin and fruit.  We then made our way to the tasting counter to sample the current selections of white wines.  The 2008 Viognier and Barrel Select Chardonnay scored high on my tasting sheet along with the Syrah Rosé with it’s strawberry and cranberry notes.

After our tasting, we headed back to the barrel room for a tasting of Breaux reds paired alongside a fabulous lunch prepared by Grandale Farm Restaurant.  And if that wasn’t enough, we were joined by Paul Breaux, President and CEO of Breaux Vineyards.  We chatted about the history of the vineyard and winery along with his vision for the future.  Easily the highlight of my visit.  And what about those reds?  My favorite Virginia wine, the 2002 Reserve Merlot, took first place followed by the earthy, 2001 Cabernet Sauvignon.  Elegant and reserved, a beauty drinking fabulously well.  The surprise of the tasting, the 2001 Nebbiolo, was a favorite around the table (I regret not reserving a spot for the Nebbiolo vertical tasting that same day).

What makes Breaux so special, aside from the great wine, is the people. From top to bottom, the team welcomed us and made our Twitter Tweet-Up an event to remember.  Bravo Breaux!

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The DrinkLocalWine.com conference festivities kicked off with an informal gathering of wine writers at Lansdowne Resort to enjoy a tasting of wines from the other 47 states.  Hosted by Dezel Quillen at On The Potomac, we each brought an assortment of wines from New York, Texas, Colorado, Maryland, Hawaii, Utah, North Carolina, and Virginia, the focus of the weekend.  An impressive lineup of 25 plus wines were poured throughout the night paired alongside an assortment of local cheeses and charcuterie including house-made Pan Seared Duck Foie Gras and Chorizo Sausage and Creamy Polenta.

There were 4 standouts on my tasting sheet amongst a solid lineup.  Highlights included the Lenz 2001 Estate Merlot with its earthiness, leather, and black cherry notes, followed by the herbaceous, varietal correct Windham 2004 Cabernet Franc (winery is now named Doukénie Winery).  The New York Cork Report White Wine of the Year, the Billsboro 2008 Riesling impressed all, while the Glen Manor 2008 Sauvignon Blanc displayed the potential of the variety in the state.  Honorable mentions included the Thibaut-Janisson Blanc de Chardonnay, Brennan Vineyards Viognier, and the Benmarl Baco Noir.  New York and Virginia definitely represented!

The tasting proved to be a great start to the conference and helped promote the other 47 states.  I also had the privilege to meet a few other great wine bloggers including DrinkLocalWine.com co-founder Jeff Siegel (The Wine Curmudgeon), Allan Liska (CellarBlog), Sean Sullivan (Washington Wine Report), Tammy Colson (Southern Wine Trails), and Raelinn Schmitt (Wine Ophelia).  An evening to remember…

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A friend of the family kindly purchased and shipped us the Merlot from Smoky Hill Vineyards & Winery, located in Salina, Kansas.  Smoky Hill is the largest grape-producing winery in Kansas, with 20 plus acres under vine.  Estate wines include Seyval Blanc, Chardonnel, Chambourcin, and Norton to only name a few.  Obviously they grow several varieties, so I’m to blame for the mishap.  I simply said “any” wine will do and should have done my homework.

As for the wine, I was not a fan.  Almost port-like on the nose, the Merlot was syrupy and unbalanced on the palate and was mediocre at best.  In fact, if I had tasted blind, I would have guessed Robitussin cough and cold medicine!

I look forward to revisiting Kansas wines in the near future, but next time, I’ll do my homework.  Cheers!

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Breaux Vineyards 2002 Reserve Merlot

Before I recap my trip to Virginia and Maryland this past week, I wanted to catch up on a few wine reviews from my previous trip to Virginia.  Tonight’s review features the 2002 Reserve Merlot from Breaux Vineyards.  A perennial favorite and one of the top producers in the state, Breaux Vineyards is located in Loudoun County (read more about my visit here).

This wine has a dark red color and an expressive nose, showing rich, dark fruits and a little earth.  On the palate, notes of black cherry, licorice, and plum.  Well structured and smooth.  The 2002 Reserve Merlot is a great example of the potential of the variety in Virginia.  The wine retails for $39 but is available from their website for $30.  I recommend grabbing a bottle or two before it’s too late.  Better yet, if you’re in the area, stop by and tell them TheOther46.com sent you!  Cheers!

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Château Morrisette The Black Dog Red Table Wine

Tonight’s pour comes to us from Château Morrisette, located in Floyd County, Virginia off the scenic Blue Ridge Parkway.  During our trip to Virginia, I sampled the Château Morrisette Black Dog alongside a nice cheese platter, after our marathon flight.  My Southwest flight was delayed in Orlando, and unfortunately, I sat on the tarmac for 2 hours.  Needless to say, I was more than ready for a glass of wine.

A semi-dry red blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Chambourcin, the nonvintage wine retails for $9.99.  Overall, an easy drinking, medium bodied wine, with good fruit and spice.  A surprisingly good quality to price ratio wine that is widely available.

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