The Tasting Panel magazine

August 2013

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VIRGINIA Virginia THE 2013 GOVERNOR'S CUP CASE SHOWCASES VIRGINIA'S IMPRESSIVE OFFERINGS Is for Wine Lovers by Anthony Dias Blue A merica's great enophile president, Thomas Jefferson, had a dream of making great wine in Virginia, and now his vision has come to fulfillment. The Old Dominion currently has more than 230 farm wineries, and the most prominent among them are receiving attention well beyond the state's borders. Virginia has also become a destination for wine travel, with wine tourism—and wine sales—reaching record levels. Each year, the Virginia Wineries Association sponsors the Governor's Cup Competition to showcase the growing quality of the Commonwealth's wines and to raise the profile of its producers. The entries must be made entirely from Viginia fruit, reflecting the terroir of this special and very beautiful wine-growing region. I recently sat down to taste through the twelve top-scoring wines from this year's Governor's Cup Competition, a collection called the Governor's Cup Case. Here are my notes. Barboursville Vineyards' 2009 Octagon, Twelth Edition, won this year's Virginia Govenor's Cup Competition. Barboursville Vineyards 2009 Octagon Twelfth Edition, Virginia ($50) Smooth and rich with sweet vanilla and ripe blackberry; lush, dense and balanced; stylish and long. 70% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc, 10% Petit Verdot, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. 91 Cooper Vineyards 2010 Reserve Petit Verdot, Virginia ($30) Toasty and smooth with juicy plum and blackberry; spicy and long. 86% Petit Verdot, 14% Cabernet Sauvignon 87 King Family Vineyards 2010 Meritage, Monticello ($28) Lush and dense with notes of chocolate and ripe blackberry; lush, rich and showing vanilla oak and spice; balanced, deep and long. 43% Merlot, 27% Petit Verdot, 22%Cabernet Franc, 8% Malbec. 91 Lovingston Winery 2009 Estate Reserve, Josie's Knoll, Monticello ($25) Smooth and toasty with spicy, smoky plum and blackberry; tight and earthy. 85% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc, 5% Petit Verdot. 86 Philip Carter 2010 Cleve, Virginia ($45) Smooth and spicy with juicy blackberry and ripe black currant; vibrant and complex with lovely style and depth. 50% Petit Verdot, 50% Tannat. 91 Pollak Vineyards 2009 Reserve Cabernet Franc, Monticello ($40) Smooth and juicy with ripe plum, black raspberry and toasted oak; clean, balanced and mellow; lush, tangy and long. 90 Potomac Point Winery 2010 Richland Reserve Heritage, Virginia ($27) Dense, rich and juicy with ripe blackberry and cassis; clean, stylish and silky textured; balanced, complex and quite impressive. 32% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Tannat, 5% Petit Verdot. 91 Rappahannock Cellars 2010 Meritage, Virginia ($33) Tangy and edgy with bright black raspberry and spice; juicy and lively. 41% Merlot, 26% Cabernet Franc, 23% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Petit Verdot. 88 RdV Vineyards 2010 Lost Mountain, Virginia ($88) Deep and complex with spice, ripe plum and cassis; tangy, juicy and showing smooth vanilla oak and soft tannins; stylish and rich. 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot. 91 RdV Vineyards 2010 Rendezvous, Virginia ($75) Smooth and silky with seamless plum, blackberry and mocha; dense and lush with lovely acid structure; notes of soft oak and spice; long and rich. 44% Merlot, 24% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Petit Verdot, 12% Cabernet Franc. 90 Sunset Hills Vineyard 2010 Mosaic, Virginia ($50) Smooth and ripe with rich flavors of plum, blackberry and spice; bright, fresh and juicy; long and balanced. 37.5% Merlot, 37.5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18.75% Cabernet Franc, 6.25% Petit Verdot. 88 Trump Winery 2008 SP Rosé, Monticello ($29) A tangy and crisp sparkling rosé with lively acidity and dry, juicy flavors; racy and bright. 95% Chardonnay, 5% Pinot Noir. 86 For more information on Virginia wine, visit www.virginiawine.org. august 2013  /  the tasting panel  /  51 TP0813_034-65.indd 51 7/24/13 9:48 PM

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