| |
|
|
Features
Reasons to raise a glass
Dozens of Virginia vinos sipped, swirled -- and scored -- in the fourth Virginia Wine Lover Magazine Wine Classic.
By Patrick Evans-Hylton
For four years, we've been popping our cork over the incredible offerings of Virginia vino at the Virginia Wine Lover Magazine Wine Classic; this year we had more wineries enter than in years past, and we've had more winners in each category, as well.
Our panel of wine experts spent the day at Riverstone Chop House in Suffolk—noted for its remarkable wine list and the extensive wine list at its sister eatery, Vintage Tavern, also in Suffolk—examining the offerings from dozens of wineries.
The judges sipped, swirled and spat some 140-plus of the best wines produced across the commonwealth and evaluated each based on its own individual merit.
Evaluation was done doubleblind in flights, with each judge recording his or her findings on sheets printed with a grid of the UC Davis (University of California at Davis) 20 Point System. The Davis system assigns a certain number of points to each of its 10 categories ranging from bouquet to color to taste to aftertaste.
Our magazine team totaled and tallied each sheet to obtain an overall rating for each vintage, and we categorized the averages into four levels—Platinum, Gold, Silver and Bronze. We present our findings to you here:
The Criteria
The UC Davis 20 Point System evaluates wine on its own merits, looking at the following criteria and assigning the following points value:
Clarity – 2 points
Color – 2 points
Bouquet – 4 points
Total Acidity – 1 point
Sweetness – 1 point
Body/Texture – 2 points
Flavor/Taste – 2 points
Bitterness – 1 point
Finish – 1 point
Quality – 4 points
We tallied each judge's evaluation sheet and came up with an average and placed each in one of four categories:
Platinum
90 percent or higher
Gold
70 – 89 percent
Silver
50 – 69 percent
Bronze
49 percent or lower
PLATINUM LEVEL WINNERS
Breaux Vineyards
Viognier 2010
Cooper Vineyards
Viognier 2010
Chatham Vineyards
Vintner's Blend 2008
Cooper Vineyards
Coopertage 2008
Democracy Vineyards
Velvet Revolution Reserve 2009
Democracy Vineyards
Forum 2009
Democracy Vineyards
Unum Viognier 2009
Flying Fox Vineyard
Trio 2008
Flying Fox Vineyard
Viognier 2010
Fox Meadow Winery
Viognier 2009
|
Ingleside Vineyards
Sangiovese 2008
Lazy Days Winery
Viognier 2009
Narmada Winery
Viognier 2010
Pearmund Cellars
Ameritage 2007
Pearmund Cellars
Pan D'Or Vineyard Cabernet Franc 2009
Pearmund Cellars
Vinecroft Vineyard Viognier 2009
Potomac Point Winery
Richland Reserve Viognier 2010
Sunset Hills Vineyard
Viognier 2010
White Hall Vineyards
Viognier 2010
Winery at La Grange
Cabernet Sauvignon 2009
|
GOLD LEVEL WINNERS
Afton Mountain Vineyards
Cabernet Franc 2009
Afton Mountain Vineyards
Pentola D'Oro 2009
Afton Mountain Vineyards
Festa di Bacco 2009
Attimo Winery
A.D. 325 Chambourcin 2010
Attimo Winery
Sonnet 98 2010
Attimo Winery
Yesterday's Song Chardonnay 2010
Attimo Winery
Sweet Berry Sunset 2010
Breaux Vineyards
Nebbiolo 2006
Breaux Vineyards
Nebbiolo – Ice 2010
Breaux Vineyards
Jennifer's Jambalaya 2010
Breaux Vineyards
Marquis de Lafayette
Cabernet Franc 2008
Casanel Vineyards
Dulce Late Harvest Viognier 2009
Catoctin Creek Winery
Cabernet Franc 2009
Catoctin Creek Winery
Syrah 2009
Cedar Creek Winery
Estate Bottled Cabernet
Franc 2008
Cedar Creek Winery
Estate Bottled Cabernet Franc 2009
Cedar Creek Winery
Estate Bottled Chardonnay 2009
Casanel Vineyards
Batucada Merlot 2008
Chateau Morrisette
Liberty
Chateau Morrisette
Petit Verdot 2008
Chatham Vineyards
Petit Verdot 2009
Chatham Vineyards
Cabernet Franc 2008
Chateau Morrisette
Angel Chardonnay
Chateau Morrisette
Rose' 2010
Chateau Morrisette
Frosty Dog 2009
Cooper Vineyards
Soleil Late Harvest
Viognier 2009
Cooper Vineyards
Cabernet Franc 2008
Fabbioli Cellars
Cabernet Franc 2009
Fabbioli Cellars
Tre Sorelle 2009
Flying Fox Vineyard
Petit Verdot 2008
Flying Fox Vineyard
Cabernet Franc 2008
Gray Ghost Vineyards
Cabernet Sauvignon
Reserve 2008
Gray Ghost Vineyards
Ranger Reserve 2009
Gray Ghost Vineyards
Gewurztraminer 2010
Gray Ghost Vineyards
Adieu Late Harvest
Vidal Blanc 2010
Gray Ghost Vineyards
Vidal Blanc 2010
|
The Hague Winery
Merlot 2009
The Hague Winery
Meritage 2009
Hickory Hill Vineyards
Country Red
Holly Grove Vineyards
High Tide Traminette 2010
Holly Grove Vineyards
Merlot 2008
Holly Grove Vineyards
Sunset Rose' 2009
Holly Grove Vineyards
Celebration Petit Manseng
2010
Ingleside Vineyards
Petit Verdot 2006
Lazy Days Winery
Petit Verdot 2009
Lazy Days Winery
Petit Manseng 2009
MountainRose Vineyards
Autumn Gold 2009
MountainRose Vineyards
Cabernet Franc 2009
Naked Mountain Winery
Cabernet Franc 2007
Naked Mountain Winery
Merlot 2007
Naked Mountain Winery
Raptor Red 2007
Naked Mountain Winery
Barrel Fermented
Chardonnay 2007
Naked Mountain Winery
Unoaked Chardonnay 2010
Narmada Winery
Yash-Vir 2009
Narmada Winery
Lotus Vidal Blanc 2010
Narmada Winery
Gulabi Chambourcin 2010
Philip Cater Winery
Late Harvest Dessert 2008
Potomac Point Winery
Heritage Richland
Reserve 2009
Potomac Point Winery
Richland Reserve
Chardonnay 2010
Potomac Point Winery
La Belle Vie Rose' 2010
Prince Michel
Cabernet Franc 2007
Rogers Ford Winery
First Frost Vidal 2010
Rogers Ford Winery
Select Virginia Red 2008
Sunset Hills Vineyard
Merlot 2009
Stinson Vineyards
Cabernet Franc 2010
Sunset Hills Vineyard
2009 Sunset Red
Twin Oaks Tavern
Cabernet Sauvignon 2009
Veramar Vineyard
Free Run Estate Club
Cabernet Sauvignon 2007
White Hall Vineyards
Cabernet Franc 2009
White Hall Vineyards
Petit Verdot 2009
Winery at La Grange
Meritage 2008
Winery at La Grange
Fletcher's Chardonnay 2008
Winery at La Grange
Cuvee Blanc 2009
|
SILVER LEVEL WINNERS
Afton Mountain Vineyards
Estate Reserve Cabernet
Sauvignon 2009
Afton Mountain Vineyards
Gewurztraminer 2009
Bluestone Vineyard
Beau Vidal Blanc/Traminette 2010
Bluestone Vineyard
Viognier 2010
Bluestone Vineyard
Chardonnay 2009
Bluestone Vineyard
Cabernet Sauvignon 2009
Casanel Vineyards
Batucada Cabernet Sauvignon 2008
Casanel Vineyards
Mas Que Nada Viognier 2009
Catoctin Creek Winery
Vidal Blanc 2010
Chateau Morrisette
Chambourcin 2009
Chateau Morrisette
Chardonnay 2008
Chateau Morrisette
Cabernet Franc 2009
Chateau Morrisette
Independence
Chatham Vineyards
Steel Unoaked Chardonnay 2009
Cooper Vineyards
Coopertage Blanc 2009
Democracy Vineyards
Declaration 2009
Democracy Vineyards
Village View Gold - Apple
Fabbioli Cellars
Cabernet Franc Reserve 2008
Fabbioli Cellars
Pear NV
Fabbioli Cellars
Sangiovese 2010
Flying Fox Vineyard
Rose' 2010
Fox Meadow Winery
Cabernet Franc 2008
Fox Meadow Winery
Pinot Gris 2010
Fox Meadow Winery
Riesling 2010
Gray Ghost Vineyards
Cabernet Franc 2010
Gray Ghost Vineyards
Chardonnay 2009
Gray Ghost Vineyards
Riesling 2010
Gray Ghost Vineyards
Victorian Red
Gray Ghost Vineyards
Victorian White
The Hague Winery
Petit Verdot 2009
The Hague Winery
Chardonel 2009
Hickory Hill Vineyards
Merlot 2008
Hickory Hill Vineyards
Chardonnay 2008
Hickory Hill Vineyards
Red Bud Rose'
|
Hickory Hill Vineyards
Cabernet Sauvignon 2008
Holly Grove Vineyards
Coastal Trio 2010
Ingleside Vineyards
Colonial White
Ingleside Vineyards
Cabernet Sauvignon 2005
Ingleside Vineyards
Cabernet Franc 2007
Lazy Days Winery
Merlot 2009
Lazy Days Winery
Sweet Lazy Days
White Wine 2009
MountainRose Vineyards
Blair White 2009
MountainRose Vineyards
Pardee Red 2009
Narmada Winery
Midnight Chambourcin 2010
Narmada Winery
Mom 2010
Narmada Winery
Dream Traminette 2010
Philip Carter Winery
Cleve 2009
Philip Cater Winery
Governor Fauquier
Vidal Blanc 2009
Potomac Point Winery
Abbinato 2010
Prince Michel
Quaker Run Farm Syrah 2006
Prince Michel
Pinot Grigio 2009
Prince Michel
Symbius 2006
Prince Michel
Arete' Cabernet-Merlot
Prince Michel
Arete' Merlot
Prince Michel
Mt. Juliet Vineyard Petit
Manseng 2007
Prince Michel
Barrel Select Chardonnay 2006
Rogers Ford Winery
Jacob Christopher
Chardonnay 2008
Rogers Ford Winery
Summerduck Rose 2008
Stinson Vineyards
Mourvedre' 2010
Stinson Vineyards
Sauvignon Blanc 2010
Sunset Hills Vineyard
Sunset Rose' 2010
Sunset Hills Vineyard
Chardonnay 2010
Twin Oaks Tavern
Raven Rocks Red
Twin Oaks Tavern
Estate Grown, Shenandoah
Valley Chardonnay 2010
Veramar Vineyard
Free Run Estate Club Merlot
2008
Veramar Vineyard
Riesling - Vidal Blanc 2008
White Hall Vineyards
Pinot Gris 2009
Winery at La Grange
Cabernet Franc 2009 |
BRONZE LEVEL WINNERS
Bluestone Vineyard
Vidal Blanc 2010
Casanel Vineyards
Mas Que Nada
Chardonnay 2009
Catoctin Creek Winery
Cabernet Sauvignon 2009
Chateau Morrisette
Cabernet Sauvignon 2008
Gray Ghost Vineyards
Cabernet Sauvignon
Unfiltered 2009
|
Gray Ghost Vineyards
Merlot 2010
MountainRose Vineyards
Riesling 2009
Prince Michel
Dry Rose' 2006
Rogers Ford Winery
Virginia White 2008
Veramar Vineyard
Estate Club Viognier 2009
Veramar Vineyard
Estate Club Reserva
Chardonnay 2007 |
SPECIAL THANKS
A special thank you to owners Cindy and Chef Sam McGann and Brian and Teresa Mullins and their staff at River Stone Chophouse in northern Suffolk for their hospitality in hosting the third annual Virginia Wine Lover Magazine Wine Classic judging. Their stunningly beautiful artsand-crafts-style restaurant was the perfect venue for the judging. We encourage you to stop by and sample the award-winning cuisine and outstanding wine list.
River Stone Chophouse
8032 Harbour View Blvd.,
Suffolk
757-638-7990
www.riverstonechophouse.com
THE CRITICS
Adam Steely Sommelier; Co-owner Blue Talon Bistro, Williamsburg
|
Charlie Rizzo
Sommelier, River Stone Chophouse, Suffolk
|
Chris Parker
Owner, New Horizon Wines, international exporter of Virginia Wines |
Ian Honaker
Sommelier; Owner Let's Talk Wine shop, Chesapeake
|
Marisa Marsey
Food and Wine writer; Johnson & Wales University representative
|
Marc Sauter
Sommelier, Co-owner Zoes Steak & Seafood Restaurant, Virginia Beach
|
|
|
Patrick Evans-Hylton
Virginia Wine Lover Magazine executive editor; food and wine educator
|
|
|
|
