King Family Vineyards – Meritage – Monticello – 2021

King Family Vineyards – Meritage – Monticello – 2021

The wine is fresh and fruity with notes of black berry and black cherry. With aeration, we feel a little darkness. The tasting is fresh and fruity with some spices like black pepper. There are strong tannins, but the wine is young, and it can definitely age in the bottle thanks to its nice acidity….

Read more »

King Family Vineyards – Sauvignon Blanc – Monticello – 2022

King Family Vineyards – Sauvignon Blanc – Monticello – 2022

The first nose is refined with nice varietal notes of passion fruit, peach and pear. The second nose is still on freshness and fruits. During the tasting, the attack is fresh with a soft texture, almost creamy. We find more lime fruits notes such as lemon and grapefruit. There is also a little touch of…

Read more »

King Family Vineyards – Brut – 100% Chardonnay – Monticello – 2020

King Family Vineyards – Brut – 100% Chardonnay – Monticello – 2020

The wine is fresh with nice fine bubbles. We do have a good acidity and discreet notes of apple and almond. We do feel a touch of toast. It is light and fresh, dynamic and quite salivating with a hint of salt at the end of the tasting. It is a nice sparkling wine with…

Read more »

Michael Shaps Raisin d’Être White (100% Petit Manseng) – Monticello – 2017

Michael Shaps Raisin d’Être White (100% Petit Manseng) – Monticello – 2017

Michael Shaps Raisin d’Être White (100% Petit Manseng) – Monticello – 2017 The first nose is very nice with purity. There are notes of cooked apple, pineapple and mango. The second nose with aeration is also very clean and clear. The tasting is sweet and delicious. We can feel the nice acidity balancing the fruitiness…

Read more »

Michael Shaps Cabernet Franc – Monticello -2022

Michael Shaps Cabernet Franc – Monticello -2022

The nose is nice and fresh with black fruits and a darkness, deepness. We can also feel thanks to aeration the oaky notes which are present and well-integrated. The tasting is powerful and tannic with a nice acidity. There is a little vegetal note quite appreciable which adds to the complexity of this very (too)…

Read more »

Michael Shaps Petit Manseng – Monticello – 2021

Michael Shaps Petit Manseng – Monticello – 2021

The first nose is fresh and fruity with exotic perfumes like juicy mango and pineapple. The second nose opens with more fruits. The tasting is fresh with a nice vibrant acidity. There is also a little creaminess with roundness. We feel some butter, lemon, apricot and a nice oak well integrated and balanced. The mouth…

Read more »

Barboursville Vineyards – Octagon 2010 – Monticello – Virginia

Barboursville Vineyards – Octagon 2010 – Monticello – Virginia

The nose reveals notes of cooked fruits, Morello cherry associated with toasty / woody notes as well as spices and a slight tobacco note. The palate is fruity, elegant, fine, balanced and with a good little structure. It expresses well-defined fruity notes: morello cherry, cassis, black berries and cherries combined with spices. Good persistence.

Read more »

Barboursville Vineyards – Octagon 2005 – Monticello – Virginia

Barboursville Vineyards – Octagon 2005 – Monticello – Virginia

The nose reveals warm spice notes associated with toasted notes as well as hints of ripe fruit and tobacco. The palate is fresh, elegant, aromatic and fruity. It reveals notes of ripe red fruits (strawberry, cherry, raspberry) associated with a touch of cassis and fresh plum. The fruit flavors are pure and precise. Good finish.

Read more »

Barboursville Vineyards – Cabernet Franc Réserve 2011 – Monticello – Virginia

Barboursville Vineyards – Cabernet Franc Réserve 2011 – Monticello – Virginia

The nose reveals notes of black fruits (blackcurrant, blackberry, plum) and spices. The palate is well balanced, structured, mineral and full bodied. It reveals notes of black fruits (figs, cassis, plum), raspberry, cherry and spices combined with a light oaky note. The tannins are quite fine and well integrated. The finish is long and takes…

Read more »

Barboursville Vineyards – Viognier Réserve 2013 Monticello – Virginia

Barboursville Vineyards – Viognier Réserve 2013  Monticello – Virginia

The nose shows notes of flowers (peach flower and lemongrass) associated with citrus and exotic fruits. The palate reveals a beautiful texture. It is full bodied, balanced and reveals aromas of exotic fruits (especially pineapple), nectarine and slight notes of lemon on the finish. Good length.

Read more »