8.7 & 8.8

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For a printable PDF of this weekend’s notes, click here!

Walsh Family Bethany Ridge Sauvignon Blanc 2020

Origin: Virginia
Retail: $24.95 | Sale: $22.45

This was the original estate wine for the Walsh Family, planted in 2007. It sits high up on the Catoctin bridge, with steep, well-drained stony soils. The goal with the Bethany Ridge Sauvignon Blanc is to produce an acid-driven, refreshing wine with a mid-palate density that reflects the quick ripening power of Bethany Ridge, more akin in many ways to Sauvignon Blancs coming out of the Loire.

Kept fresh in stainless steel, these expressive aromatics of grapefruit, lemon zest, and freshly cut grass lead into a vibrant, fruit-driven, densely-packed mid-palate. Bright, refreshing acidity with a clean but rich and lingering finish.

100% Sauvignon Blanc



Walsh Family Rosé 2020

Origin: Virginia
Retail: $24.95 | Sale: $22.45

The majority of this wine comes from Cabernet Franc grown on a single vineyard, Weatherlea. This is the only other Loudon Valley floor wine outside of the estate. With a rosé this delicious we are glad they decided to continue working with it! The Cabernet Franc is complimented with grapes from a 3rd leaf Cabernet Sauvignon block at Bethany Ridge, hoping to accentuate the zesty acidity and also add some complexity to the aromatics. As per usual, our goal is to produce highly aromatic dry rosés with texture. This was made for hot-weather sipping and a plate of charcuterie.

77% Cabernet Franc | 23% Cabernet Sauvignon



Guide Field Blend 2020

Origin: Virginia
Retail: $21.95 | Sale: $19.75

The grapes in this Field Blend are coming from the Walsh estate, Bethany Ridge Vineyard in Loudoun County, VA. Everything was hand-harvested and pressed together. The resulting juice was inoculated and fermented in stainless steel drums, after which about 1/3 of the wine was moved to a neutral Acacia barrel where it was aged on its lees for 6 months.

This wine has a wonderful body with racy acidity that lifts everything up, making it feel zesty. The finish is long and evolving, with a hint of salinity that keeps you coming back for more.

65% Petit Manseng | 35% Viognier




Walsh Family Petit Manseng 2019

Origin: Virginia
Retail: $26.95 | Sale: $24.35

Petit Manseng and Virginia are seemingly a match made in heaven.  The ‘un-sung’ grape from southwest France feels right at home here.  With small berries and loose hanging clusters the petit grapes can fare much better in our hot and humid summer months.  They can cross the finish line of harvest with ripe and tropical flavors and still loaded with plenty of acidity to keep it refreshing.  This dual vineyard Petit was aged in 100% neutral French oak with 4 months of stirring the lees.

Dense, spice-driven aromatics of thai spice and coconut mingled in with exotic stone fruit. Relatively dense in the mid-palate, but with a refreshing, gripping acidity and an oak-derived length.

100% Petit Manseng





Walsh Family ‘En Passant’ 2017

Origin: Virginia
Retail: $32.95 | Sale: $29.65

The En Passant bottling is meant to honor the meticulous winegrowing and winemaking of Mark and Vicki Fedor, the founders of North Gate Vineyard. When Walsh Family Wine took over the North Gate property, it also included wines in tank and barrel. Rather than bottle these wines and claim them as Walsh Family Wines, their team chose to create this
“in passing” bottling, to highlight the most
premium barrels of two vintages of winemaking
by Mark and Vicki Fedor. This wine was created by blending what they felt were the most premium barrels from the 2017 red vintage at North Gate. This is the second of two En Passant bottlings, after which they will retire the name.

The blend is big and brooding, with aromatics of dark cherry, cocoa, licorice, and nice open spices. This is a dense wine, with hearty tannins built both by ripe fruit and by oak.

62% Merlot  |  20% Cabernet Franc  |  13% Petit Verdot  |  2% Tannat  |  2% Cabernet Sauvignon


Walsh Family Russ Mountain Merlot 2019

Origin: Virginia
Retail: $44.95 | Sale: $40.45

High up on a southeastern facing ridge the Russ family established this vineyard. The Walshes took over management of this incredible Merlot vineyard in 2018 and this is the second great year for one of the best Merlots in Virginia. Aged in 100% French oak with a balanced mix of new, one and two year old barrels. Lush blackberry fruit joined to a lush and dense mouthful of wine with plenty of  fresh minerality to keep you wanting the next taste.  

97% Merlot | 3% Petit Verdot