2022 Virginia
Governor's Cup Medalists Tasting Notes
Final Tasting - November 12
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2019 Chambourcin
Silver Medal
We aged this Chambourcin for 24 months in neutral American oak, creating a light- to medium-bodied dry red with vibrant acidity. Smoke, red fruits, blueberry, and plum come through on the nose, while you may taste tart red fruits on the palate with lingering warming spices on the finish and soft, supple tannins.
11.2% ABV; Shenandoah Valley AVA
Paired with truffles from Birnn Chocolates of Vermont
2019 Petit Verdot
Silver Medal
A bold, full-bodied dry red that was aged for 24 months in new American oak; look for notes of cedar, smoke, leather, and black fruits on the nose and juicy black cherry, leather, and dark chocolate on the palate with ripe, chewy tannins and a long, powerful finish.
12.9% ABV; Shenandoah Valley AVA
Paired with thinly sliced
manchego cheese
2019 Seyval Blanc
Silver Medal
A fuller-bodied dry white that was aged for 24 months in second-year American oak and features natural acidity that has been balanced by slight malolactic fermentation. You may find vanilla, green apple, and pear on the nose and vanilla, peach, lemon, and soft oak on the palate.
14.5% ABV; Shenandoah Valley AVA
Paired with a wheel of brie cheese
2019 Picasso
Gold Medal
The most highly acclaimed of our entries this year, Picasso is a blend of petit verdot, chambourcin, and cabernet sauvignon grapes that our winemaker aged for 24 months in new American oak. This is a medium- to full-bodied dry red that expresses smoke, black currant, cherry, and oak on the nose and follows with a deep and complex palate of spices, smoke, oak, fruit, and leather with grippy tannins.
12.8% ABV; Shenandoah Valley AVA
Paired with kalamata olives