Virginia vs. The World - A Blind Taste-Off
Washington Wine Academy
Tasted Monday, March 11, 2013 by isaacjamesbaker with 601 views
Introduction
Hosted by the Washington Wine Academy, the theme of this tasting was quite simple: pit Virginia chardonnays and cabernet-based blends against similar, comparatively-priced wines from other regions all across the world. For chardonnays, we tried to stick to the $18-$35 price range, and $25-$55 for the red blends. To ensure the wine tasting was as objective as possible, the wines were all tasted blind. We lumped the Virginia and world wines together into a white flight and a red flight, tasted them, wrote our notes, ranked the wines and finally unveiled the bottles.
Several other oenophile friends and wine bloggers, many with extensive experience with Virginia vino, attended the event: David White (Terroirist); Frank Morgan (Drink What You Like); Christian G.E. Schiller (Schiller-Wine); Aaron Nix-Gomez (Hogshead Wine). Well, let’s get down to the wines. I’ve organized the notes to start with the one I liked the least and move toward the one I liked the most.
2010 Gloria Ferrer Chardonnay Flawed
USA, California, Napa / Sonoma, Carneros
Corked. That moldy, TCA aura underlines everything else. The cork taint isn't the worst I've seen, but it's still ruinous.
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2010 Domaine Roger Luquet Pouilly-Fuissé Vieilles Vignes 82 Points
France, Burgundy, Mâconnais, Pouilly-Fuissé
This wine smells underripe, like green apple peels, grapefruit rind, but there's also a distinct grass and chive note that reminds me more of sauvignon blanc. The palate is light and tangy, lacking depth and complexity. Citrus rind, Sweet Tart candies and green onion linger on the finish. Not bad, but a bit weak. One of the few 2010 Mâcon chardonnays I haven't gotten too excited about.
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2010 Ox-Eye Vineyards Chardonnay 84 Points
USA, Virginia, Shenandoah Valley
Sweet aromas of cotton candy, cateloupe, honeysuckle and just a hint of sea breeze, which I like. Plump on the palate, but soft as well. The green melon fruit is mixed in with nougat, hazelnut and coconut. Lacking serious complexity, but a solid chardonnay nonetheless.
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2010 Ankida Ridge Chardonnay 85 Points
USA, Virginia
On the nose: honeysuckle, green pears and a mix of bright floral and citrus peel notes. The palate is bold and creamy, but not overbearing. Some honeycomb and graham cracker flavors accent the green pear and buttered popcorn. A bit flat on the finish, but overall a solid chardonnay. A self-described “family-run micro vineyard” located at 1,800 feet, this chardonnay has piqued my interest in Ankida.
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2010 Linden Chardonnay Hardscrabble 86 Points
USA, Virginia, Northern Virginia
This chardonnay shows a richer, more extracted nose of peanut shell, bruised yellow apple, some nougat and honeysuckle. Round on the palate but medium acid keeps it balanced. The flavors of yellow pear, whipped honey, peanut and pina coloda taste a tad sweet. Overall a nice wine, although I didn't enjoy this vintage as much as I have other Hardscrabbles. The fruit comes from the Hardscrabble Vineyard, which sits on an eastern slope of the Blue Ridge in Fauquier County. At an elevation of about 1,300 feet, the vine age ranges from 16 to 25 years.
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2010 Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Chardonnay Karia 87 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley
Aromas of white peach, pineapple and green melon. Medium-bodied on the palate with ripe pear and melon fruit, but the wine maintains a softer overall package. Creamy finish with notes of caramel and honeycomb, but not too oaky or thick. A sleeker styled wine that clocks in at 13.5% alcohol, this chardonnay is aged 8 months on the lees in 29% new French oak. Several tasters commented that this wine tasted "manipulated," and I see where they're coming from, but I enjoyed its approach.
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2010 Domaine Des Moirots Christophe Denizot Montagny 1er Cru Le Vieux Chateau 90 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte Chalonnaise, Montagny 1er Cru
Complex on the nose, offering a mix of orange blossom, honeysuckle, flinty minerals and a note of kiwi. Zestier than the other wines, with great acidic cut. Flavors of lemon curd, green apple and pear fruit, highlighted by subtle cream and nutty flavors. Long, mineral-laden finish. This was my favorite wine of the flight, and the group's as well. Might be a little unfair to the other wines because 2010 white Burgundies, even ones like this that cost around $25, simply rock.
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