2009 February Archive

Update (3/5): Event is full. Be on the lookout for April’s tasting where we’ll focus on Chardonnay.

Update (2/23): This is a pre-paid event. The cost will be $65.00 per person and will be charged to your credit card about 10 days prior to the event. Please direct all inquiries to me (Jason).

Dear friends of Rappahannock Cellars,

I am happy to announce the first of a series of “production” tastings, on Saturday March 14 at 3:00 p.m. here at the winery. A “production” tasting is one on which your own wine is put up against other producer’s wines. The scale can be as limited or grand as you want. But the idea is to see how your wine stacks up against others out there. Wineries do this for several reasons. The first is to prevent what is called “house” palate – meaning that your palate is so used to tasting only your own wines that you forget what else it out there. The second reason is to better position your wine and style with a benchmark wine, a wine that is widely considered to be superior to everything else.

Continue reading Cabernet Franc Production Tasting

I’m happy to report that the first of our 2008 wines are now in bottle: the 2008 Seyval Blanc, the 2008 Noblesse Viognier, and the 2008 Rosé. Our bumper crop of Viognier last year allowed us to upgrade our Noblesse Blanc to 100% Viognier. The 2008 vintage brought us ripe grapes but with more acidity than in the past. Because of this, I increased the residual sugar level in this wine to twice what it had been – from 0.8% to 1.6% residual sugar. In winemaking, the goal is balance and this wine simply called from more sweetness to balance the higher than normal acidity. The Seyval Blanc is once again a dry, austere, stainless steel Seyval that will be perfect for the summer time. The Rosé this year is derived from 50% Merlot and 50% Cabernet Franc – the first time it has been made from this much Merlot. I believe the color and aromatics in this wine are an improvment from previous vintages.

Continue reading Cellar Update: February 2009

2008 Seyval Blanc

• Fresh aromas of orange and lemon peel, followed by slight grapefruit. This is a medium body white wine with medium acidity. Completely dry with no residual sugar, this wine is clean and austere, perfect for drinking chilled in the summer time. Stainless steel fermented and 100% Seyval Blanc. Drink now and within one year. Reminiscent of the 2006 stainless steel Viognier, a double-gold winning wine.

2007 New World Red

• Bright, forward fruit aromas of red licorice and cherry dominate the nose. 12 months of barrel age have softened this red, but this still a rich and robust wine. The fruit carries on into the palate, with grippy tannins giving way to a rich finish. Cellar for one year then drink for the next ten years. 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Cabernet Franc. Malolactic fermentation complete. Aged in older American oak barrels.

Continue reading February 2009 Club Shipment