I had no expectations when I pulled the Bluemont Vineyard 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon from the wine rack. I was in the mood for a Virginia red and decided it was time to pull the cork on the Cab. Renowned for their spectacular panoramic views and farm animal themed wines, Bluemont Vineyard is a favorite on the wine trail in Loudoun County, Virginia (read more about Bluemont Vineyard here).
Coincidentally, the Cabernet Sauvignon is not themed and leads me to believe this is a special bottling and not part of their regular lineup. If memory serves me correct, the wine retailed for $21 and is no longer available for sale. That said the 2009 vintage is now available for sale in their tasting room.
On the nose, aromas of black cherry, black currant and spice. A medium to full bodied wine with flavors of tobacco, blueberries, licorice and a hint of bell pepper on the finish (perhaps due to a splash of Merlot?). An enjoyable wine and one I will certainly revisit. Cheers!
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Normally bell pepper notes mean that some of the grapes were under-ripe when picked, according to the flavor wheel published by UC Davis.
Hi Peter,
Thanks for stopping by. I’m not familiar with the flavor wheel (I plan on taking a closer look), although I’ve heard about similar tools. That said I’m not a fan of subjective tools/charts. I prefer to form my own opinions. Personally, I’m a big fan of bell pepper flavors in my wine and actually seek out those wines with more “green” flavors. I actually had someone else in the room not pick up the “bell pepper”, so once again, every palate is different (isn’t that what makes wine so great!) Cheers!