Quick Review: Stone Mountain Reserve Chardonnay 2009

US, Virgina, Stone Mountain Vineyards, Reserve Chardonnay 2009
++ // Smooth // Citrus // Vanilla, Oak, Lemon Zest // Heavy

QUICK REVIEW: Long Branch Wine Festival

While we didn’t have a chance to really keep track of our tastings, with the quick pace and dense crowds, we still noted a few wines that really grabbed our attention as excellent. Included are the tasting notes provided by the wineries.

VA, Rebec Winery, Sweet Sofia
“Our ‘niche’ wine, and authentic Bulgarian recipe, made with a combination of herbs.”
A wine, strongly flavored with savory herbs from a Bulgarian recipe, creating a unique flavor.

VA, North Mountain Vineyard, 2009 Cabernet Franc
“Harvested after an early October frost, yielding a spicy, medium bodied, dry red wine. 100% varietal and Estate grown; aged in French oak barrels for 9 months before bottling. Gold Medal at Virginia Governor's Cup and NY Finger Lakes.”

VA, Stone Mountain Vineyards, Chardonnay Reserve
“Barrel fermentation produces a rich wine with wide midpalate and long memorable finish with a hint of smokiness.”

VA, Stone Mountain Vineyards, Cabernet Franc Reserve
“Cedar undertones are highlighted by plum and raspberry in the rich supple wine.”

Wine and Wind in Long Branch, Virginia

Our friends at Nod 'n' Smile invited us to the Long Branch Balloon and Wine Fest in Virginia. A trip with friends on a beautiful fall weekend to enjoy a different wine region, it couldn't be passed up. We rushed down to Virginia on Friday night, and collapsed into bed late, to prepare ourselves for a fun filled Saturday. It was a beautiful fall day, with bright sun and just a hint of crispness in the air to complement colorful fall foliage, but we were subjected to a very strong wind that grounded the balloons all day.

While many visitors may have been deterred, we decided to focus on the wine, as we’ve never really had a chance to try Virginian wineries.