Event - Blacksburg Fork and Cork

Who's ready for wine tasting? I am! Hello everybody and welcome to Megan and Liam's dank trip to the Blacksburg Fork & Cork. I was lucky enough to be accompanied this gorgeous spring day by my partner in life and crime, Liam, who was generous enough to model most of the pictures I took. 

Over the next week I'll show off 7 wines from the tastings, but for now, a pairing. 

Only the finest for us kids, a bottle of Our Dog Blue from Chateau Morrisette, which is a wine my dryer sensibilities and my sweet-craving boyfriend can both agree to tolerate, and corndogs. 

Surprisingly enough, the sweetness in the wine brought out the sweeter flavors in the corn dog (as long as you didn't put ketchup on it first). It did not, however, pair well with the funnel cake we stole I MEAN BOUGHT along with our lunch, where it didn't balance at all. The overall flavor became overwhelmingly sweet and just destroyed the experience. We ended up saving the rest of the bottle until after the funnel cake for the sake of our tastebuds. 

My personal wine of the day was the Virginia Mountain Vinyard's Cabernet Franc, which I bummed off some like-minded college students in line for a different tasting. The medium body was decidedly delightful against the red fruit flavors of plum and blackberry and a spicy finish of red currents and black pepper. 

And now, excited closeup pictures of dogs: 

 

That, was dogs. Thank you. 

Winery Visit - Chateau Morrisette

Chateau Morrisette 2: Wine Harder

Welcome to the gorgeous Chateau Morrisette in Floyd Virginia... again! This is my second visit but my first opportunity to partake of a full tasting! When I was here a few months ago, the tastings were flat booked but I snagged a spot on this foggy April day. After having a few wines at the restaurant last time I was here, I was very excited to try the full gamete.

The entire winery was stunning, completely blanketed in fog. Although the best views are on a perfectly clear day, the fog descending down the mountain and into the vineyards was gorgeous in and of itself. 

The tasting room was exquisitely quaint, high faulted ceilings and rustic wooden infrastructure. We came during a fantastic weekend: for the 40 Days sale, all wines were 40% off. As huge fans of Chateau Morrisette from the bottles my folks kept at home to the ones I got from the grocery store at the beginning of this class, this was an exceptional time. 

Wines Tasted: 2017 Vin Gris*, 2016 Viognier, 2016 4 White Grapes**, 2014 Cabernet Franc, 2015 Petite Verdot, The Black Dog, Our Dog Blue, Sweet Mountain Laurel, Red Mountain Laurel, Sweet Mountain Apple... and a Cherry and a Merlot

and the Cabernet Sauvignon**, and a few others. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a tad tipsy at this point. (Stars on my favorites)

[my personal favorite of the tasting]

We ended up trying some couple more than 10 wines, and they were fantastic. My boyfriend is, eh, not a lover of wine as I am, but he found a few sweet, juicy wines that suited his fancy. The Mountain Laurel wines as well as the non-grape wines were fruity and sweet enough for his unresolved palette. Maybe one day I'll get him on the track towards better wines... one day... if only he was still in college so he could take this course. 

Wine Dinner - Chateau Morrisette

Chateau Morrisette Visit: 

Welcome to the beautiful Chateau Morrisette! Nothing says crisp winter/spring months like trekking on over to Floyd with the family for... lunch. I was a little bummed to not be able to see the entirety of the vineyard/process rooms (my grandparents are, unfortunately, not as spry as they used to be), but the opportunity to eat lunch with a pairing sounded amazing to me. 

The restaurant was gorgeously quaint, white walls with rustic vaults. There were these little antler sconces on the walls that added a very Virginia touch to the whole thing. We were seated in the middle dining room next to a toasty fire, fantastic in its own right. 

    

For dinner, I ordered the oriechette: it was my cheat day and I had a mad craving for carbs.  The meal was paired with the Chateau Morrisette Viognier, the personal favorite wine of my mother. The pasta, first off, was exquisite: normally oriechette is served in the classic Italian style with broccoli rabe, but Morrisette's was unique, instead served with candied ginger and caramelized onions. That candied ginger ended up being the star of the show: when contrasted with the softer buttery flavors of the Viognier, the subtleties of the ginger and the intense sweetness and acidity of the flavors underneath really shown.  

The... main course, as it were ended up being roasted Brussel sprouts in a whipped feta cream sauce. We ended up ordering a few plates and they became the star of the dinner. The crisp, dry flavors of strawberry in the Vin Gris punched through the cream sauce, exemplifying the underlying flavors of pepper and lemon, and made the perfect blanket for the caramelized and bitter tastes of the Brussel sprouts. That night for dinner I ended up going home and making the exact sprouts withs sauce and opening up another bottle... it couldn't be helped.

The Vin Gris was exceptionally delightful... I ended up finishing it in the back seat of the car on the way home.  You can find the link to the tasting review previously in my blog.

The last food of the meal we ended up making the last course at home, if it still counts: cherry wine brownies. It was a simple fix that ended up making, simply, the best brownies I've had the chance to eat. It ended up being a simple exchange - switching the water in brownie mix for Chateau Morrisette's Cherry Wine - that created cherry based, fudgy, chewy, unparalleled brownie. Good god damn, if you haven't done this with a wine before you better; it's life-changing.

And there it is, three courses and three wines, each better than the last.

Tasting - Oliver Apple Pie

Name: Oliver
Variety: Apple Pie
Region: Bloomington, Indiana
Country: USA 
Price: $12
Review: For this seasonal wine, they painstakingly perfected the balance of tart, crisp, fresh apple and creamy sweet vanilla.

My Review: It's damn near impossible to convince me this is a wine non the less not a bottle of apple pie. It tastes... just like an apple pie a la mode. Bold flavors of apple wrapped up in cinnamon/nutmeg and vanilla. I bought a bottle of this for my partner as a dessert, and it was a delicious fix. I'm on my way to get another one to bake into a coffee cake. 

Tasting - Hawk Crest Cabernet Sauvignon

Name: Hawk Crest
Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon
Year: 2008 
Region: California
Country: USA
Price: $14
Review: A smooth and full-bodied wine. Juicy flavors of currant and dark cherry give way to subtle notes of dried herbs.

My Review: A sweet smell, decaying into a quiet current/cherry flavor wrapped up in some strange fertilizer aftertaste. Not my glass of wine... 

Tasting - Terra Del Giglio Chianti

Name: Terra Del Giglio
Variety: Chianti
Year: 2013
Region: Chianti
Country: Italy
Price: $9
Review: Dry, balanced and sapid, lightly tannic which turns into velvety softness.

My Review: It's a Chianti, nothing to write home about, but as usual not necessarily bad. It has a flat, bloody smell with hints of plum and... some sort of woodshop taste. It's uncharacteristically fine, and that's that. 

Tasting - Thorn Clarke Chardonnay

Name: Thorne-Clarke
Variety: Chardonnay 
Year: 2015
Region: Barossa Valley
Country: Australia
Price: $10
Review: The palate is medium to full bodied and exhibits predominantly peach and nectarine flavors, with cloves and cardamom evident from the use of a small amount of French oak. The wine finishes full and long with a nice balance of sweet fruit and creaminess.

My Review: A far bolder wine than expected, this wine is delightfully aromatic, tasting extraordinarily like it was picked off the tree at an orchard. I almost bought this wine, in fact, but the college budget needs the extraordinary to fit my pocket.

Tasting - Villa Pozzi Pinot Grigio

Name: Villa Pozzi
Variety: Pino Grigio
Region: Sicily
Country: Italy
Price: $12 
Review: Exhibits soft aromatic flavors of perfumed rose and soft honeysuckle that are attractive and indicative of the refreshing and rounded fruit style. Well balanced and clean, with depth of fruit showing through - finishes firm and crisply acidic.

My Review: This wine, as white wines often are, was incredibly non-descript. Although delicate and light, the flavors were incredibly subtle, tilting between floral and soapy. Not my perfect wine, but definitely not a bad wine none the less. 

Tasting - Chateau Morrisette Vin Gris

Name: Chateau Morrisette 
Variety: Vin Gris 
Year: 2017
Region: Floyd, Virginia
Country: USA
Price: $19
Review: Aromas of raspberry, strawberry, and peach open to a palate rich with strawberry. Refreshing acidity and fruitiness linger through the finish

My Review: A wine so good I finished it in the car on the way back from dinner. If it's not apparent by now, I have a love of blush/roses and this one is delightful. The dryness and acidity in contrast with the sweeter flavors of summer fruits makes for a fantastically balanced wine, served superbly with a light pasta or a long backseat car ride. 

Tasting - Francis Coppola Cabernet Sauvignon

Name: Francis Coppola
Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon
Year: 2013
Region: California
Country: USA
Price: $15
Review: The 2013 Director's Cabernet Sauvignon delivers dark, rich nuances of black currants, cherries, cloves, and spicy oak. Luscious and textured on the palate, this wine has beautiful spice notes,a strong finish, and supple tannins.

My Review: This wine had turned by the time I got it. I'm currently in the midst of returning it and getting another bottle. Pending. 

Tasting - Castello Del Poggio

Name: Castello Del Poggio
Variety: Prosecco
Region: Veneto
Country: Italy
Price: $12 
Review: Bottled in Veneto, the region famous for Romeo and Giulietta and the beauty of Venice, this crisp and fruity Prosecco with golden apple notes pairs perfectly with fresh seafood, cured meats, guilt-free desserts, and unconditional joy. Hello Sweet Life.

My Review: A fantastically delightful wine. I'm a tad bias because I love the feel of bubbles in my wine but this prosecco was delightfully crisp and perfectly balanced between dry and sweet. My partner, who generally loathes dryer wines, happily partook of this demi-sec with me, making the night even more delightful.  

Tasting - Duplin Scuppernong Blush

Name: Duplin
Variety: Scuppernong Blush
Region: North Carolina
Country: USA
Price: $8
Review: Made from the famous Scuppernong grapes, lightly blended with Coastal James grape, sweet and mellow, best served chilled.

My Review: This wine is, in my opinion, undrinkable. It's not just sweet, but undrinkably sweet, almost bordering on children's strawberry juice before it approaches wine. My partner, who loves juice, enjoyed this wine and ended up drinking it for me so it wouldn't go to waste. 

Tasting - Dark Horse Rose

Name: Dark Horse
Variety: Rose
Year: 2016
Region: California
Country: USA
Price: $9
Review: Dark Horse Rose boasts a refreshingly dry style that explodes with flavors of fresh red fruit, subtle minerality, and a hint of floral which all race toward a bright, crisp finish.

My Review: This is more of what I was looking for. I previously tried the Chardonnay from this maker and the mouthfeel/general flavor of the wine was screaming for influences of red. I was fortunately correct: this wine is a burst of subtle fruit flavors that melt on the tongue with tastes of mineral water and roses. Although I could use a little sweet to cut the intense dry, I have no major problems with this wine. 

Don't tell the snobs, but I actually put a splash of Duplin Blush in my glass of this wine, and the very small addition of sweetness greatly enhanced the fruit flavors and cut the dryness to open up the wine. 

There's also... dang... some taste in it that hits a spark of my childhood. I think it's the scent and minerality of my grandmothers shell soap, but I'm still exploring the flavor. 

Tasting - Dark Horse Chardonnay

Name: Dark Horse
Variety: Chardonnay
Region: California
Country: USA
Price: $10
Review: Smooth and easy-drinking, this medium-bodied wine has the attributes many people enjoy: vanilla and coconut aromas, lightly sweet apple flavors that coat the palate, and a pear syrup quality that lingers on the finish.

My Review: I was delightfully surprised by this wine. Unlike most California Chardonnays, it tips away from the traditionally buttery taste, instead going for a fruity, flat flavor. The mouth feel is slightly more viscous than expected, which made the wine feel like a thin syrup. It's not my favorite Chardonnay, but I'm looking forward to trying the others by the maker: I forsee a this mouth feel/flavor being exceptional with fruitier, red notes. 

Tasting - Schmitt Sohne Riesling

Name: Schmitt Sohne
Variety: Reisling
Country: Germany
Price: $8
Review: This medium-bodied Riesling has peach and fine apple aromas, a firm and fruity palate and crisp acidity that results in a well-balanced, easy to drink wine.

My Review: Normally, I loathe sweet wine... this was only partially an exception. Although the wine is very, very sweet, the slight levels of apple and acidity help balance it out somewhat making it, at least, drinkable. I should have distrusted a wine with such a "quirky" font... 

Tasting - La Grange Cabernet Franc [AMAZING]

Name: La Grange
Variety: Cabernet Franc
Year: 2013
Region: La Grange, Virginia 
Country: USA
Price: $43, a gift
Review: A rich and complex wine with notes of earth and berry aromas with delicate flavors hinting at pepper, cranberry and oak. 

My Review: This is, without a doubt, the best red wine I had. The flavor is exquisite: blooming with deep berry flavors and hints and feelings of the earth and the barrel. It tastes like you dream, you feel, a wine should taste like. This was also my first experience with aeration, which caused the flavors to blossom on the palette. I finished two of these bottles in a week, and have no qualms about spending the money. Next time, I'm getting a case. 

Tasting - Chateau De Segries Cotes-Du-Rhone

Name: Chateau de Segries
Variety: Cotes-Du-Rhone
Year: 2015
Region: Rhone
Country: France
Price: $15
Review: This beautiful Grenache boasts black raspberry, pepper and spice in a ripe, round palate accented by notes of herb and black cherry. This delicious wine is perfect for a weeknight supper with rich pork or lighter meat dishes.

My Review: I shared this wine with a peppery spiced pork, as recommended by the Somm at Kroger, and find myself easily forgetting this wine. Although the peppery, herbaceous flavors paired exceptionally with the pork roast, the wine itself was generally flat and underwhelming. 

Tasting - El Cortijillo Verdejo

Name: El Cortijillo
Variety: Verdejo
Region: La Mancha
Country: Spain 
Price: $10
Review: Scents of pumpkin, pyrazines and general murkiness lead to a dilute palate. Fruitless flavors of onion and lime finish bitter and with notes of green peppercorn.

My Review: Verdejo couldn't be more correct, this is a "green" tasting wine. From top to bottom, this wine taste like a "yellow-green" color. The flavors are flat, tasting of grass and leaves, finishing with an acidic splash that lingers. I had this wine alone, but damn if I didn't want to go eat some lawn clippings and chase windmills just to sense the full flavor. 

Tasting - Yasa Garnacha

Name: Yasa
Variety: Garnacha
Year: 2015
Region: Calatayud
Country: Spain
Price: $10
Review: This is a very elegant and complex wine offering blackberry, smoky and peppery aromas. Rich and smooth on the palate with fruity flavors and a long finish.

My Review: I was recommended this by another student at the Vintage Cellar and I, not being the confrontational type, bought it. I was not disappointed. This red wine manages to escape the feeling of the "bloody reds" with mouth filling flavors of spice and soft fruits that lingers in the mouth. It doesn't let you forget it's there without being forceful or aggressive as many reds are.  

It was one of these magical flavor moments. 

For the cheap consumer, I highly recommend as it was recommended to me. Red wines have entered my heart, and a new adventure in wine begins. 

Tasting - Fragile Rose

Name: Fragile
Variety: Rose
Year: 2015
Region: Languedoc - Roussillon 
Country: France 
Price: $19
Review: Soft aromatics of dried rose petals prevail and invite a tasting. With bright hints of strawberry and ripe stone fruits, the wine leads to an opulent mid-palate. Finishing with purpose, it is long and riddled with layers of texture and grace.

My Review: Now this, is a damn good rose. Despite the annoying plastic topper, which I had to wedge off with a pocket knife and some elbow grease, this bottle does not disappoint. In contrast to the other roses I've had, this one doesn't come off nearly as sweet (in the best of ways) and instead lingers softly through apricots and peaches and delightful floral flavors. Viva la France, current king of Roses in my book.