Selections Archive

2009 Chardonnay
Fermented and aged for 8 months in French and Virginia oak barrels. This Chardonnay offers a heavy perfume of apricot, granny smith apple, and graham cracker on the nose. The palate is treated to apple, oak, and hay character against a sublime texture. 100% Chardonnay.

2008 New World Red
A blend of Old and New World style.  Robust fruit-forward Cabernet Sauvignon from the family’s vineyard in California is blended with restrained and nuanced Virginia Cabernet Franc to produce a unique Meritage-style wine. Aged for 14 months in French and American oak barrels.  Drink for the next 10 years.

Continue reading September 2010 Club Shipment

2008 Seyval Blanc

The last of the 2008. This wine has developed a wonderful honey character to complement the background of tropical fruit.  The palate has evolved a creamy richness that finishes with a pleasant crispness.  Completely dry. Drink now. 100% Seyval Blanc.

2008 Red Virginia Dessert Wine

Continue reading August 2010 Club Shipment

2009 Chardonnel

• This Chardonnay – Seyval cross delivers on aromas of green apple, citrus blossom, and a hint of vanilla, followed by flavors of tropical fruit in a light veil of buttery oak. The palate is well balanced and viscous, with subtle acidity, leading to a lengthy finish. Try this wine with a butter-leaf lettuce, candied pecans, sliced green apple, and lightly graded bleu cheese, salad. Drink within 24 months of vintage.

2008 Cabernet Sauvignon

Continue reading July 2010 Club Shipment

2009 Chapelle Charlemagne Chardonnay

• A Chablis-like Chardonnay made in stainless steel without any oak. Fresh lemon peel and straw define the aroma and palate. Tight acidity rounds out the finish.

2008 Claret

Continue reading June 2010 Club Shipment

2009 Rosé

• Wonderful aromas of kiwi, lychee, and Orange Julius while the palate offers a velvety dry texture with melon rind flavors. Almost dry – 0.8% residual sugar. Made in the French Loire Valley style. 40% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Cabernet Franc. Pair with green salads, Drink through 2011.

2008 Cabernet Franc-Chapelle Charlemagne vineyard

• Expressive toast, spice, and jam aromas. Classic Cab Franc black pepper spice on the palate against backdrop of cassis, toasted barrel character, and well-integrated tannins. 12 months barrel age in newer Eastern European oak barrels. Malolactic fermentation complete. 100% Chapelle Charlemagne vineyard (Rappahannock Co.) Cabernet Franc. Drink now through 2013.

Continue reading May 2010 Club Shipment

2009 Viognier

• Taut acidity and clean aromas of apricot and spice characterize this refreshing white wine. 44% barrel fermented and aged in neutral French oak barrels. The balance was fermented in stainless steel and blended to highlight bright, clean fruit and subtle texture and spice. No residual sugar. 100% Viognier.

2008 Cabernet Franc

• Gorgeous dark color and pure Cab Franc character. Subtle toasty spice on the nose. Reminiscent of the best of French Loire Valley Cabernet Franc. A streak of minerality runs through the palate. 14 months age in mostly Eastern European oak barrels. Malolactic fermentation complete. 100% Cabernet Franc.

Continue reading April 2010

2009 Seyval Blanc

• Fresh, clean aromas of tropical fruit and lime. Fermented in stainless steel tanks and bottled early to preserve its fresh aromas and flavors. Crisp acidity complements the rich palate. Made from grapes from our estate Glenway vineyard and from Loudoun Co. Drink now and through the next 12 months. 100% Seyval Blanc.

2007 Cabernet Sauvignon

• The king of the Bordeaux varieties makes a rare appearance in the Rappahannock Cellar line-up. Cassis, eucalyptus, and coffee define the aromas in this limited-production wine. The palate follows with jam, toast, and vanilla character. Aged for 12 months in American and Hungarian oak barrels. Full malolactic fermentation. Drink now and for the next five years. 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Petit Verdot.

Continue reading March 2010 Club Shipment

2009 Viognier – Ducard vineyard

• From the Ducard vineyard in Madison County, this is the first release from the 2009 vintage. Partially fermented in oak barrels, this wine is classic Virginia Viognier. Ripe aromas of apricot, honeysuckle, honeydew melon, and citrus fruits persist through to the palate. Short barrel aging highlights the fruit character while letting the fruit dominate. Malolactic fermentation was blocked, retaining the natural acidity which provides a crisp finish. Drink now and through the next 12 months. 75 cases made.

2007 New World Red

• A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon from the family’s vineyard in northern California and Cabernet Franc from our estate vineyard at the winery. Intense ruby color accompanies aromas of black fruit and toast against a robust palate. Aged in French and American oak barrels for 12 months. Complete malolactic fermentation. Will age for at least 5 years.

Continue reading February 2010 Club Shipment

2008 Claret

• A rich nose of cocoa, black cherry, and vanilla spice characterize this Cabernet Franc-dominated wine. The palate is completely dry and offers medium tannin and acidity, though tempered with a creaminess from complete malolactic fermentation. Aged for 12 months in French oak barrels. This wine has not been fined or filtered and will benefit from aging at least until 2015.

Solera

• This is a non vintage wine made from Vidal Blanc in the style of Spanish Sherry. The most important facet of the production of Sherry is the Solera system of fractional blending. Every year’s bottling is dominated by the most-recent vintage (2008 in this case), but is also blended with every previous vintage, which can date back to the founding of the winery. At Rappahannock Cellars, the Solera was established in 2000. This wine is characterized by aromas of almonds, cashews, and citrus fruits. The palate is rich in texture with a sweetness that balances the strong acidity of Vidal Blanc. 8% residual sugar. Will last forever. Sulfite free since 2006.

Continue reading January 2010 Club Shipment

2007 Chardonnay

• Sad to see this gem go. Aging beautifully now and still teeming with fresh fruit. Barrel fermented and aged in French and Virginia oak. Malolactic fermentation mostly complete for a style very similar to Burgundy. Runner up in the 2009 Virginia Governor’s Cup Wine Competition and described as reminiscent to outrageously expensive Puligny-Montrachet (Burgundy). Drink within the next two years.

2008 Cabernet Franc – DuCard Vineyard

• Very aromatic, expressing quintessential northern Virginia terroir. Medium bodied with a rich garnet color. Smooth and refined tannins on the palate followed by a slight toasty finish. Complete malolactic fermentation and 12 months aging in French oak. 100% Cabernet Franc from DuCard vineyard in Madison Co. Age for up to 5 years.

Continue reading Winter 2009 Club Shipment