Delaplane Cellars
Petit Manseng 2021
Origin: Delaplane, Virginia
Retail: $29.95 | Sale: $26.96
Delaplane Cellars is nestled on Lost Mountain, overlooking Northern Virginia's Rural Historic Crooked Run Valley and was founded in 2007 with the help of a professional viticulturist, planting began in 2008. The 32-acre property features 10 acres of Bordeaux red varietals Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot, and French whites Sauvignon Blanc and Petit Manseng, the largest single planting by variety is Cabernet Sauvignon with approximately 2.5 acres. They offer carefully crafted wines made only from 100% vinifera varietals grown in Virginia. This medium-bodied wine has notes of pear, melon, pineapple, and apricot on the nose. On the palate there is a sparkling acidity and a burst of fresh-sliced citrus and pineapple with perfectly balanced sweetness, bringing to mind fresh honey drizzled over lemon curd. 100% Petit Manseng
Delaplane Cellars
Reserve Chardonnay 2020
Origin: Delaplane, Virginia
Retail: $32.95 | Sale: $29.66
This wine has a complexity that comes from the New World winemaking style. It was fermented in 40% new French oak, as well as second- fourth fill French oak. Seventy percent of the wine underwent malolactic fermentation. One whiff of the bouquet brings aromas of banana, a hint of cinnamon stick, and green apple that also follows onto the palate. 100% Chardonnay
Linden Claret 2020
Origin: Linden, Virginia
Retail: $29.95 | Sale: $26.96
The land that was to become Linden Vineyards was a long-abandoned apple orchard. Jim Law and his family purchased the 76 acres in 1983 after several years of looking for vineyard land with high elevations and east facing slopes. After clearing trees, they planted the first eight acres in 1985. The original vines were mostly grafted and propagated in-house from budwood obtained from the few local vineyards in the surrounding area. The first planting consisted of Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Vidal, and Seyval. The winery building was finished in time for the harvest of 1987, Linden’s first commercial vintage. The 2020 Claret shows aromas of crunchy red fruits, and spring garden herbs. It is medium bodied with a sappy freshness and a quaffable graceful finish. 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 16% Cabernet Franc, and 4% Petit Verdot.
Early Mountain Eluvium 2020
Origin: Madison, Virginia
Retail: $55.95 | Sale: $50.36
In 2005, Jess and Sharon Sweely planted the first vineyards on the property. Jean Case and her husband, Steve, purchased the property in 2010 and, after some renovations, re-opened it under the Early Mountain brand in 2012. In 2015, Early Mountain expanded its acreage to include Quaker Run Vineyard, 14 miles north of the Early Mountain estate in Madison County. That year, Early Mountain increased its acreage of classic Bordeaux-type varietals such as Cabernet Franc and Merlot and added new varietals including Malvasia Bianca, Sauvignon Blanc, and Tannat. On the nose the 2020 Eluvium is brighter than other vintages displaying dark stone fruits and berries, accentuated by confectionery and baking spices, forest floor attributes and a unique dried citrus component that brightens the savory character of this vintage. 2020 also brings a freshness to the Eluvium palate, with lively, but lengthy tannins. 75% Merlot and 25% Petit Verdot.