It’s been a couple of years since we tasted something from Virginia’s Early Mountain, so contemplate this a small replace into how this vineyard on the Monticello Wine Path in Madison County has advanced of late. One factor of word: All of the wines we’re reviewing as we speak are winery designated, drawn from fruit grown at Early Mountain’s Quaker Run Winery as a substitute of the extra basic (and cheaper) Shenandoah Valley releases we’ve beforehand seen.
Let’s attempt three varietals — just one a repeat from our prior protection.
2022 Early Mountain Chardonnay Quaker Run Winery – A basic American chardonnay presentation, although light-handed on the subject of oak — in a great way. Notes of guava, almond, and honeysuckle add loads of intrigue to an in any other case crisp and clear expertise, melding with fruit and extra of a patisserie expertise. All of it wraps up with touches of coconut cream and a mild banana word, recalling the tropics. Wonderful stuff that may go toe to toe with something from California. A / $85
2022 Early Mountain Tannat Quaker Run Winery – Do you know the phrase “tannin” got here from the tannat grape, which is well-known for its tannic construction? This bottling defies these expectations and proves to be quite tender — surprisingly chewy with an enormous blueberry character dominating. It’s sweeter than anticipated but additionally quite innocuous, with notes of violets and a few spice giving the considerably skinny end some nuance. B+ / $85
2022 Early Mountain Cabernet Franc Quaker Run Winery – Cabernet franc is the preferred varietal in Virginia, and Early Mountain does stable work with it. Softer than a California cab franc, the wine has a mild, rhubarb-like bitterness that performs properly with its core of cherries and a pinch of baking spice, which provides a imprecise sweetness to the combo. A bit flabby on the again finish and gritty with notes of turned earth, the wine may gain advantage from some added acidity to perk issues up. As is, although, it’s wholly approachable. B / $85
2022 Early Mountain Cabernet Franc Quaker Run Winery
USD85
