Dinner - Cave Ridge Vineyard (Fireside Dinner)

Cave Ridge Vineyard
Conicville, VA


Fireside Dinner

The menu for this dinner was an appetizer plate, a salad, an entree, and dessert (see image below).

Menu

     Upon entering the foyer, I was poured a glass of Cave Ridge Riesling. It was the perfect way to start the evening. The wine was pale, tinted yellow with a crisp and refreshing semi-sweet flavor. It was a perfect accompaniment with the cheese & crackers and bruchetta. It wasn't overpoweringly bold or sweet, it just complemented the food (both the food and the wine had lighter flavors).

In the foyer receiving our "welcoming" glasses of wine

Appetizer Plate (marinated shrimp, artichoke hearts, carrots,
garbanzo beans, tomatoes and mozzarella)

     The next course was a salad served with a Rambling Rose wine. The Rose is composed of 4 red and white wines that combine to create a lovely mix that displays characteristics of both the reds and the whites. It had hints of roses and other flowers on the nose, with citrus and a gentle sweetness on the palate. The marinated shrimp really stood out in this dish. Something about the acidity and the mild sweetness of the wine really brought out the sweetness of marinade.

     Following the salad was a chicken marsala fit for kings. It was tender and juicy and it had a layer of prosciutto that added an incredible extra dimension to the dish. But that was just the food. The wine is where things got fascinating. The menu called for a two vintages of Chambourcin, 2010 and 2011. According to the winemaker, 2011 was the rainiest season in the vineyard's history. This massive amount of rain produced a wine that left something to be desired. It was almost as if it was watered down. All the flavors and characteristics you would expect in a Cave Ridge Chambourcin were present, but they were held back and muted. In stark contrast to the rainy season of 2011 was the perfectly hot and dry season of 2010 (especially in the crucial month of August, as shown in the weather maps below courtesy of www.weather.gov). This vintage was noticeably darker in color and had much stronger earthy tones than the 2011. Being able to compare two vintages that are only one year apart but vastly different was an incredible experience. It perfectly illustrated just how important weather conditions during a growing season can have a HUGE impact on the final wine product. As a special surprise, the winemaker served a glass of 2012 Petite Verdot. As we were drinking, he explained that most of the bottles would be aged longer but he wanted us to have the unique perspective of trying the wine while it was still young.

VA Precipitation: August, 2010

VA Precipitation: August, 2011

     To conclude the meal, we were served a decadent dark chocolate raspberry tart with a Raspberry Noir. The sweetness of the Noir was a perfect match for the tart. And, of course, the raspberry flavors played off each other delightfully. I felt that, because the wine and the tart were such a phenomenal match, more of the fruit and chocolate flavors were able to surface...I subsequently went to fruit & chocolate lovers' heaven for several minutes while I enjoyed every last bit of my dessert.

     I had never been to a wine dinner before, but after this experience, it certainly will not be my last. The art (because after this dinner, I'm convinced there is nothing short of poetic beauty to be found in a well-paired food & wine combination) of pairing food with wine is absolutely fascinating. Not only that, but sharing good food with great wine and even better company makes for a fantastic evening that won't soon be forgotten.

After dinner, surrounded by glasses from the evening.

Festival - Blacksburg Fork & Cork

Blacksburg Fork & Cork 2013

Tyler, me, and Liesa

A. Wine Tastings

1. 2010 Savoy-Lee Seyval Blanc

    Varietal: Seyval Blanc

    Price: $19

    Winery Review: Crisp, white wine that is great for any time. Seyval blanc is a fruity and dry wine with a slight citrus twinge of lemon and grapefruit.
    Personal Review: This wine had a very nice crispness to it. There was a tart component that balanced particularly well by the fruity overtones. While not particularly complex, this was an enjoyable wine that I found very easy to drink.

2. 2010 Savoy-Lee Chardonnay

    Varietal: Chardonnay

    Price: $20

    Winery Review: Attractive, light straw-yellow color. Complex, elegant and woody nosed, with hints of pineapple nuances. This wine is well-married with honey and toasty notes.

    Personal Review: This Chardonnay had a distinctly buttery nose with tropical whiffs. It managed to maintain a nice oaky component without being heavy. On the palate it was smooth, and the finish carried some hints of honey.

3. 2006 Savoy-Lee Johnson Mountain White

    Varietal: Cabernet Franc, Chardonnay

    Price: $19

    Winery Review: This blend of Cabernet Franc & Chardonnay is unique. The wine has a light smokey opening and then moves into a candied caramel apple center and then has a sustained honeyed finish. Pairs well with Shrimp, Seafood, and Sushi.

    Personal Review: The powerful aroma of this wine put me off immediately. It filled my nostrils with a pungent odor similar to rotten wood burning. This smell completely coated the glass, and I feel that it ruined the rest of the Savoy-Lee tastings because I could not get it out of my nose. On the palate, though, this wine was much less unpleasant than on the nose. It had a very mouth-filling structure and just a hint of sweetness.

4. 2006 Savoy-Lee Johnson Mountain Picnic Red

    Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc

    Price: $15

    Winery Review: This blend of Cabernet Sauvignon & Cabernet Franc is a wonderful, fruity, light red wine! It is terrific, chilled and served with light fare on a hot day-a great patio wine!

    Personal Review: While not overly red in color, this wine was still rather full-bodied and full of flavor. However, its flavor profile would probably be best suited for someone who likes New World-style reds due to it's minimal earthiness and very fruit-forward nature.

5. 2006 Savoy-Lee Cabernet Franc

    Varietal: Cabernet Franc

    Price:$20

    Winery Review: Rich and full bodied with a subtle nuance of dark cherries.

    Personal Review: This wine had an oaky nose with a small berry component. The oakiness was also present on the palate. I have found that many Virginia Cabernet Francs are well balanced and rich, and this one was no exception. Along with cherry, there were also herbal undertones.

6. 2011 Fincastle Vineyard & Winery Traminette

    Varietal: Traminette

    Price: ~ $20

    Winery Review: Sweet white with intense floral aromas of honeysuckle, violets, and roses.

    Personal Review: The bouquet on this sweet white was positively colorful with hints of a wide variety of flora and fruit. Although sweet, this wine maintains a light composition and avoids the syrupy texture a lesser quality wine might have developed.

7. 2010 Fincastle Vineyard & Winery Cabernet Sauvignon

    Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon

    Price: ~ $20

    Winery Review: Our Cabernet Sauvignon is a full bodied dry red aged 2 years in American oak, with cherry and black currant notes.

    Personal Review: I found this wine to be decent. The aromas coming off this wine were actually quite nice; they were fruity but definitely had vegetal hints. It had a nice vanilla component that melded well with the notes of fruit. However, the fullness of this wine left something to be desired.  

B. At least 1 food and wine pairing description on top of the 7 wines. You gotta eat while you’re there right? Describe the wine on its own and how it tastes with the food you’re having.

2010 Fincastle Vineyard & Winery Cabernet Franc

On its own, this wine sported berry and mineral notes on the nose. It was full-bodied and featured a rich texture complimented by well-balanced acidity and a little spice on the finish. When paired with a spaghetti, chicken parmigiana and lasagna dish covered in red meat sauce, I couldn't decide if the wine was making the food better or the food was making the wine better, but magic was being made. As I was eating, the wine produced a mouth-filling sensation that wrapped my taste buds with warm tannic feeling. The berry and mineral components mellowed a bit, but the acidity cut through the thick meat sauce and brought out more of the chicken and cheese flavors that had previously been drowned with sauce.

Tara and me

D. Finally - what was your favorite wine of the day and why?

My favorite wine of the day was, without a doubt, Hill Top Winery's Cranberry Table Wine. It did not involve grapes in any sense, and it was my first experience with fruit wine. My favorite part of the wine, besides the overall taste, was the experience of drinking this wine. The first sip was a massive rush of cranberry tartness. It was as if a giant cranberry had just landed a haymaker right on my mouth. With that out of the way, the second sip yielded more sweet and subtle cranberry flavors that caressed my tongue and put me in a berry nirvana. While the cranberry flavor of this wine is big, big, BIG and the original tartness is enough to knock your teeth out, I thoroughly enjoyed this wine and purchased a bottle to take home with me.

Lindsay and me

Tasting - Rapidan River Peach

Name: Rapidan River Peach
Variety: White Blend
Region: Leon, VA
Country: USA
Year: NV
Price: $9.99

Winery Review: This delicious sweet wine is full of ripe Peach fruitiness. Try this wine chilled with fruit-based salads, Southern BBQ, or other spicy dishes.

My Review: This wine was an orange-yellow color. It had a sickeningly sugary odor with a hint of candied peach. On the palate, this poor excuse for a wine was just as bad, if not worse, than the smell. One syrupy, sugary sip follows another. This wine is composed of almost nothing but sugar and alcohol. I will surely not be drinking this wine again.

I tasted this wine on its own, without food.

Tasting - Reserve Grand Veneur Cotes du Rhone

Name: Reserve Grand Veneur Cotes du Rhone
Variety: 70% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 10% Cinsault
Region: Rhone Valley
Country: France
Year: 2010
Price: $14.95

Winery Review: As for their other values, the 2010 Grand Veneur Cotes du Rhone Reserve displays loads of ripe flavors. It is very concentrated for a Cotes du Rhone, and is actually an amazing wine. Classic garrigue, black cherry liqueur, lavender, licorice and spice box are all present in this full-bodied, intense, and rich Cotes du Rhone. This is a sensational effort to drink over the next 4-5 years, although it might last even longer.

My Review: With heavy licorice and spice components on the nose, I fully expected this red to have something more to it. While a decent wine, I had built up expectations based off of the location of the vineyard. Perhaps without any preconceived notions, I would have received the wine better. I would also have liked to try this wine after it had been aged longer.

I tasted this wine on its own, without food.

Tasting - Lobetia Tempranillo

Name: Lobatia Tempranillo
Variety: Tempranillo
Region: La Mancha
Country: Spain
Year: 2011
Price: $9.95

Winery Review: Organically and naturally grown and made, this wine allows the varietal and the terroir to stand out cleanly. It shows a nice cherry color with a violet shade because of its youth. Red berries and cherries on the nose. On the palate it is fresh, slightly astringent, and harmonious with a long finish.

My Review: This deep red-colored wine had distinct notes berry, jammy notes on the nose. Despite its darker color and the slightly earthy presence, it was not all that heavy or complex. This would not be my first choice of Tempranillos.

I tasted this wine on its own, without food.

Tasting - Lobetia Chardonnay

Name: Lobetia Chardonnay
Variety: Chardonnay
Region: La Mancha
Country: Spain
Year: 2011
Price: $9.95

Winery Review: Organically and naturally grown and made, this wine allows the varietal and the terroir to stand out cleanly. Clean, bright color with a greenish-yellow tone. On the nose, exotic fruits like pineapple. Full flavored, fresh, with good acidity in the mouth, it finishes with tropical fruits.

My Review: This light green wine smelled like a wet lawn that had just been mowed. There was a kind of citrusy tang that meshed well with the acid levels of this wine. I would like to try this wine again, maybe at a picnic on a sunny day.

I tasted this wine on its own, without food.

Tasting - Trattoria Busa Alla Torre Da Lele

Name: Trattoria Busa Alla Torre Da Lele Pinot Grigio
Variety: Pinot Grigio
Region: Veneto
Country: Italy
Year: NV
Price: $7.95

Winery Review: Named after the famous restaurant in Italy! This is their house white wine! Coppery color from extended skin contact, round and rich texture with juicy melon aromas and flavors with a sweet fennel note on the ultra smooth finish. Great value Grigio! Drink now.

My Review: Pale yellow in color, this Pinot Grigio had a delightful, appley fresh aroma (almost like an apple orchard after a spring rain). Any melon components I might have missed on the smell, I definitely announced their presence on the palate. Given my negative predisposition to melon flavors, this wine was not my favorite.

I tasted this wine on its own, without food.