Phil likes making a wine that he will enjoying drinking, and thinks that winemakers who cater to their clientele do them a disservice. A good gauge of how well he is making wine is that he drinks a lot more of his own wine now than he used to.
“What we’re trying to do here is something at the highest level in the Napa Valley. I can guarantee that.” It’s his hope that people leave with a sense of what it takes to make his wines.
The 2011 North American Wine Bloggers Conference is now in the books. More than 300 wine bloggers descended upon Charlottesville, VA and despite the tremendous heat and humidity a great time was had by all. Next year’s conference will be held in Oregon in August with British Columbia the likely host for 2013. Here are [...]
Mountfair Vineyards, 2009 Engagement, Merlot, Cab Franc, Cab Sauv, Petit Verdot blend from Virginia. Less than 13% alcohol. Less than two years in oak. Has a “twang” to it, but it finishes nicely. $25, Fritz Repich is the winemaker, came from the high tech industry. Wine is a passion. Really like the way it feels [...]
At the WBC, speed tasting while blogging, 2008 Maycas del Limari 100% Chardonnay, 10 month French Oak MT from Chile, 8 miles from coast, breezy desert. Hints of vanilla from the oak, wonderful mouth feel, lingering finish. Average retail $18 – $22. Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Syrah do well in the region. I would buy [...]
I tasted several wines during my visit and it’s clear to me Marshall hasn’t lost his touch. The 2010 Sauvignon Blanc was crisp and reminiscent of a New Zealand Sauv Blanc. The 2010 White Merlot surprised me because I didn’t expect to like it.
“Dorland Enchantment”. It’s a term Johnny Roberts used when he told a group of writers about reading Barbara Horton’s history of Dorland Mountain Arts Colony. There’s no doubt that Dorland is a special place indeed. Robert and Ellen Dorland homesteaded the colony in the 1930s and they set up a conservancy with Barbara Horton a [...]
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