Welcome to ECoast Wines wine reviews. Here you'll find a nice selection of wines from all over the East Coast (and some from near enough places to the East Coast) and a short but sweet synopsis of each.
Our reviews here aren't quite like those from most other review sites as we don't give rating points and scores. Instead we just talk a bit about the wine, how we liked it, what foods went well with it and a if we think you'll like it based on if you like certain other wines. So never be discouraged to try one we didn't like as it may be right up your alley.
For your convenience we have included a link at the bottom of each review that will lead you to a page where you can find the wine online. Now remember they may not ship to your state so please always check that first. Also, remember that this may not be the only place you can find these wines online.
And of course always remember to drink what you love and love what you drink.
Here you will find the various ECoast Red Wine reviews.
2002 Sangiovese – Valhalla Vineyards – Roanoke, VA
$18.00
Out of all of the Italian varietals, Sangiovese is by far my absolute favourite. So this 100% Sangiovese from Valhalla Vineyards had some pretty high expectations to live up to, and I am extremely pleased to say that they did. I first tasted this wine at the Vintage Virginia wine festival and loved it so much I had to find it at a local shop. When you first open up this wine you’re immediately hit by some pretty fabulous aromas. The most prominent thing within the aroma was definitely this lovely floral smell that just jumps out at you. Besides this you get a pretty mellow smell of spice along with a fruit smell I can’t quite make out. Once you move onto your first sip you immediately notice how well balanced the wine is, with the alcohol not overbearing the fruit and vice versa. The spice carries over into the flavor very nicely, as you would expect from a good Sangiovese. That previously unidentified fruit smell also comes in a bit more pronounced leading me to believe that it might be plum (maybe). As for food pairings, this is a good light red so can go with pretty much any pasta you can come up with. I personally had it with a nice pepper and tomato pasta with some grilled chicken, the spice of the pepper really bringing out that same spice in the wine. This is definitely a great buy for any lover of red wine, and thanks to it being fairly light a lot of you white wine fans out there might also enjoy this. Mostly though if you enjoy a light Cabernet or Pinot Noir I think you should enjoy this wine, and for a price like that for a 7 year old wine why not give it a shot anyways.
If you would like to purchase this wine you can get it from Snooth here. Remember to make sure they can ship to your state.
2003 Cynthiana – Valenzano Winery – Shamong, NJ (Outer Coastal Plain)
$14.99
This is a truly American and East Coast wine as it is made from a native Norton varietal. The deep red colour of this wine is quite nice as is the spicy, raspberry aroma that comes through fairly well. As for its taste I was pleasantly surprised by the mix of chocolate and coffee flavours that it had, and kept, with a decent finish. This went quite well with some grilled chicken for myself, though I think a steak would probably also go well. If your a fan of Norton wines or of a nice merlot you'll most likely enjoy this, and at that price I'd say its worth a try for you all.
If you would like to purchase this wine you can get it from Snooth here. Remember to make sure they can ship to your state.
2003 Proprietor's Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon – Empire Winery & Distillery – New Port Richey, FL
$14.99
This wine I am definitely not entirely sure what to make of it. When I opened the bottle I was a bit worried at first as I got a strong metallic like smell from the bottle. This was pretty overpowering and made so that I was not able to discern any noticeable pleasing aromas from the wine which saddened me quite a bit as the aroma is usually one of my favourite parts. As for the taste, that metallic smell carried over but thankfully not too strongly and I was able to pick up a slight taste of what I believed to be Black Currant. Normally I would avoid this wine after a strange taste or smell, but this metallic taste can be caused by the grapes being stored in a poorly tinned container. So this could be a one off thing, and hopefully the next bottle goes better. But for the sake of sticking with my usual review method, I did have some nice herb and lemon baked potato wedges with some rice and assorted vegetables (this made the wine at least bearable). And finally if you are a fan of Cabernet Sauvignon I would say to still give it a try as this may have been a one off thing with a single batch, especially since I have heard good things about this wine from others.
If you would like to purchase this wine you currently need to look in stores (sorry), a list can be found here.
2004 Frontenac – Crowne Valley Winery – St. Genevieve County, Missouri
$12.00
Now I know its not exactly East Coast but hey its close enough, and its quite a nice wine so we just wont tell anyone. The aroma of this was wasn't too impressive you get a slight hint of grapefruit and cherry but nothing much. The taste though was were I really enjoyed it you get a nice fruity taste of plum. And thankfully with all good wines (at least for me) this wine had a nice long lasting finish to it. And as an extra bonus for you meat lovers, this wine goes great with some grilled meat for me it was a nice chunk o'pork. So if you like a nice Cabernet and some meat I do believe you'll love this wine.
If you would like to purchase this wine you can get it direct from the vineyard here. Remember to make sure they can ship to your state.
2004 Vito's Pride – Buck Shoals Vineyard & Winery – Hamptonville, NC
$14.00
Yet another blend wine, this one though I wasn't too big on really. This blend is mainly made from Sangiovese (though 3 other varietals are in it as well) which is what really disappointed me as I love Sangiovese wines and so my hopes were quite high for this wine. The aroma of this wine was decent and enjoyable with some nice fruit smells to it with a bit of spice to it. The Taste on the other hand is were it all went downhill for me. The fruit, which was quite nice in the smell, became detrimental in the taste. It was just to over powering for me as I prefer more subtle wines. It did go fairly well with some lasagna though so it at least has that. Though just because I didn't like it doesn't mean that you wont so if you enjoy fruitier reds you might like this so give it a try, but if you prefer subtle wines Like me I don't think your missing anything.
If you would like to purchase this wine you can get it direct from the vineyard here. Remember to make sure they can ship to your state.
2005 Chambourcin – Stony Knoll Vineyards – Dobson, NC (Yadkin Valley)
$15.00
This was the last of the wines I had in my flight at the Yadkin Valley Wine bar in the Charlotte International Airport. The aroma of this wine was quite nice, even though I wasn't able to get that freshly opened bottle smell that I do love so much. The most recognizable of these pleasant aromas was the fruity smell of what I think was cherries. Along with this cherry smell you can also gather a bit of what I can only describe as an herb and spice kind of smell. After you move past these great smells and work your way to the actual tasting of the wine, you are hit by something a bit different. That fruity aroma does carry over into the flavour of the wine but with a somewhat tart taste to it. Some might not like this tart taste, but overall I think it works fairly well and is nowhere overpowering (which tends to be the problem with the tart wines of the world). Besides this tart fruity flavour you also get a nice hint of oak to the wine that is very subtle but is noticeable. This is a wine which I believe would go quite well with a nice chicken pasta dish or possibly some nice barbecue. This wine is quite nice, even with its slight tart flavour, and if you are a fan of lighter reds or even rose wines then I think you might really enjoy this. So go on and give it a try.
If you would like to purchase this wine you can get it from Snooth here. Remember to make sure they can ship to your state.
2005 Norton – Grove Winery and Vineyards – Gibsonville, NC
$18.69
This wine had a lot to live up to since it happens to be of my favourite American Varietal, Norton (or Cynthiana depending on where you live). Thankfully, it didn’t disappoint me though I have to be honest that it really didn’t get me overly excited either. Though don’t get me wrong it is still quite good and definitely worth the purchase for me. And it really shows that worth when you get that initial hit of the oh so Norton raspberry aroma, which is truly a lovely thing. You also get an interesting spiciness to the smell as well as an interesting hint of eucalyptus (which I must say I haven’t gotten from a Norton before). Once you move onto the taste you are again hit with that strong raspberry flavor, though this time it’s joined by a fruity jam sort of flavour. You also get an interesting hint of what I believe to be coffee in this wine, though that could just be me. All these aromas and flavours come together quite well for a meal were I had a nice grilled steak with some lightly seasoned asparagus, though I think it would go equally well with any red sauce pasta. So if you are a fan of wines like Merlot or a good Cab then I believe you should enjoy this wine pretty well. And if you aren’t then go on and try something new and give it a shot, who knows you might like it.
If you would like to purchase this wine you can get it from Americanwinery.com here. Remember to make sure they can ship to your state.
2005 Octagon 8th Edition – Barboursville Vineyard – Monticello, VA
$39.99
I am a very big fan of Red wines and this is hands down the best wine I've had to date. This wine is a wonderful proprietary red that hits you with a pleasing earthy aroma of plum and a bit of coffee (a strange combo to me but hey it works). The taste is equally as nice with a hint of berry with a nice smokey spice to it. The finish on this wine is very smooth and lasting keeping with you for a bit. And of course a great wine should go with some great food, personally I like this wine with either a good steak or a nice chicken and olive pasta. So, If you like Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot or Nebbiolo then you should love this wine as these are the varietals that this wine is made from, and even if your not a fan of those this wine is worth the money to try if even only once.
If you would like to purchase this wine you can get it direct from the vineyard here. Remember to make sure they can ship to your state.
2006 Barbera Reserve – Barboursville Vineyard – Monticello, VA
$21.99
Barbera is an interesting Italian red, one I'm not a immense fan of but at least some what of one. It's got a bit of a chocolate smell to it with a bit of an earthy quality I can't quite pin down. After taking a sip you get some nice fruity raspberry taste with a bit of a nice spice to it. If you are a fan of Sangiovese, Chianti or really any form of Italian red then you should like this wine, but if not try it any ways its a decent wine. And really any good red sauce pasta is great with this wine, it also goes quite well with lamb.
If you would like to purchase this wine you can get it direct from the vineyard here. Remember to make sure they can ship to your state.
2006 Category 5 – Raylen Vineyards – Mocksville, NC (Yadkin Valley)
$20.00
This is another one of the Yadkin Valley wines that I had during my rather pleasant layover at Charlotte International. As with the other wines during my tasting experience there, I of course couldn't get that freshly opened bottle aroma that I love so much. But, of course you can always get just as good of a smell from a nice pouring of the wine as I did here. The aroma you get from this wine is pretty nice with some pleasing fruit smells. The most notable of these fruit smells was what I believed to be plum with maybe a little currant though the currant was very subtle. As for the taste of this wine, you really get a lot of great flavours that really round out this nice wine. The plum taste carries over pretty nicely, and you also get a nice flavour of vanilla to it that gives it a little something special. You also get a bit of a kick with this wine with the slightly stronger taste of alcohol than I generally like, but its nice long finish really made it all even out in my book. Now I didn't have food with this one as it was a pairing, but I really think this would go well with a nice steak, meatloaf or even a nice sun-dried tomato pasta. This is a lovely wine that has a lot going for it which I believe you will love quite a lot, especially if you are already a fan of wines such as merlots or cabernet sauvignons.
If you would like to purchase this wine you can get it direct from the vineyard here. Remember to make sure they can ship to your state.
2006 Tuscarora Red – Rockbridge Vineyards – Raphine, VA
$10.00
This was a fairly interesting wine that I picked up at a local store on a whim, one which I wasn’t expecting a horribly large amount from. Though, I am pleased to say that this wine surpassed my expectations, granted it didn’t shatter them but it did surpass them. When you open up a bottle of this wine you pretty quickly get hit by a decent aroma of berries, maybe even black currant (maybe). You also get a somewhat herbal quality to the smell, now I can’t say what herbs precisely but it just has that quality to it. After you are finished with those dominant smells and move into the taste you really notice how well that berry aroma follows through into the flavour (still thinking black currant maybe). Beyond the berry taste you also get a pretty decent fruitiness to it that thankfully isn’t too intense. Overall this is a really nice and well balanced wine that has a soft finish and good acidity to it that really lends itself to food. I personally had this with some pizza and it worked great, but if you want a more formal meal with it then any red Mediterranean dish would go great with this I think. This is an excellent purchase and one I think you all shouldn’t pass up, especially if you are a fan of wines such as Chambourcin, Cabernet Sauvignon or even a Petit Verdot. So go on and give it a go.
If you would like to purchase this wine you can get it direct from the vineyard here. Remember to make sure they can ship to your state.
2007 Claret – Veritas Vineyards – Afton, VA
$17.00
This is another great wine that I enjoy quite a bit and tend to buy often. When you open a bottle of this great wine you get hit by some really nice aromas, most notably a strong smell of herbs and spices. The taste of this wine is equally as nice for me as it's a Bordeaux Blend (which being a fan of Bordeaux helps with the whole liking of this wine). You get a a lot of great berry flavours to this wine, mainly raspberry, and also a slight hint of nuts (according to the vineyard it's almonds but I didn't quite taste that personally). And of course any good wine needs some good food to go with it and this one tends to go nice with a lot of things both fancy or not. Pasta and steak are always good with this Claret but I personally like having this wine with a nice Blue Cheese Burger, it is absolutely amazing. So this is a great wine that is a must for you to try, especially if your a fan of Cabernet Franc or Merlot. I hope you enjoy.
If you would like to purchase this wine you can get it direct from the vineyard here. Remember to make sure they can ship to your state.
2007 Engagement – Mountfair Vineyards – Mountfair, VA
$25.00
Mountfair is quite the new comer to the Virginia wine industry but one which is definitely holding its own in the area. This red is an interesting mix of a few varietals and has a beautiful deep red colour to it (almost a blood red really). You also get a really interesting smell to it once you get your nose right in there with some hints of black cherry. After taking another whiff or two you also start to get a bit of an oaky aroma to the wine which is subtle but very appealing. Once you move into the taste you find an interesting combination of fruit which I can't quite identify (odds are though at least that cherry flavour came through). You also get an interesting vanilla undertone with a hint of oak in the taste as well. Best of all, it has a pretty decent finish that lasts for a little bit, though I would have preferred it to last a bit longer. All in all, it’s a delicious red that I think would go well with any sort of grilled meat, especially poultry, and may even go decently with a quiche. This is a very smooth, easy drinking wine and one which I think you'd love if you're a fan of Merlot, Cabernet Franc or even a lighter Pinotage. So, go on and give it a try if you have the chance.
Unfortunately you can only buy it by the case from the vineyard here, other than that you'll have to find it in stores (contact the vineyard for that information).
2007 Norton – Daniel Vineyard – Crab Orchard, WV
$20.00
Since I moved to Virginia I have had an interesting fascination with Norton wines, being one of the oldest and greatest of the native varietals of America. The aroma is quite nice with an almost spicy raspberry smell to it that you can't help but enjoy. Another thing that fascinates me about this wine is the taste, which I find to have and interesting licorice/chocolate taste to, it's subtle but very pleasing. I have always liked to have this with a nice cheese platter, perhaps with some sharp cheddar of gouda, and some good friends. But a nice pasta dinner is equally as nice, if you're not a fan of cheese (which I don't see how thats possible). So, I would have to say if you're a fan of Cabernet Sauvignon's then you should probably like this wine and of course if you just like trying new things then you should be fine here.
If you would like to purchase this wine you can get it from Snooth here. Remember to make sure they can ship to your state.
2007 Petit Verdot – Jefferson Vineyards – Monticello, VA
$19.95
Originally used as a bordeaux blending grape, Petit Verdot has really made its own niche as a single varietal wine here in the new world. And it's here in this niche that this amazing Petit Verdot from Jefferson vineyards really excels. When you open this wine up you get hit by an amazing aroma of both spice and Violet. Shortly after this initial burst of great smells you start noticing the more subtle aromas of some sort of dark fruit (which I can't quite identify) and even believe there may be a little bit of bannana. After you get a good whiff and move on to take a sip you are get some pretty nice flavours right off the bat, beginning with that spice and dark fruit carrying over from the smell. You also get a pleasant taste of black currant and a bit of tobacco. And most importantly of all you get a nice long, dry finish with some subtle notes of herb's that really stay with you. Now I had this wine at a tasting, so no food, but I really think that this would go great with a heavy pasta sauce or a nice strong cheese. This is an amazing wine and one which you should really try, especially if you are a fan of Bordeaux or Meritage wines. If you want a nice heavy tannin wine that will age well then get yourself one of these bottles, you will love it and for the price how can you go wrong.
If you would like to purchase this wine you can get it from Snooth here. Remember to make sure they can ship to your state.
2007 Proprietors Reserve Red (Chambourcin) – Chaddsford Winery – Chaddsford, Pennsylvania
$12.99
Chambourcin is a popular varietal of wine for growers on the east coast, and for good reason it does tend to make for a nice wine like this one. For this particular wine you get this bueatiful dark purple colour with a nice aroma of plums. For the taste you get some nice hints of vanilla and cherry with a fairly long finish to it, though honestly I wish it was a bit more. This is a really good wine to have with some pasta, I had a nice tomato and basil penne that was great. So if you enjoy a nice merlot or Cabernet Sauvignon then I would think you would like this wine.
If you would like to purchase this wine you can get it direct from the vineyard here. Remember to make sure they can ship to your state.
2007 Tony's Red – Annthony's Road - Finger Lakes, NY
$8.99
an interestingly fruity red, though honestly not much of an aroma to it (at least to me, you might get more). You can smell a bit of fruit though that fruit is far more in the taste. And as for that taste, I've never been much of a fan for sweeter reds but this was quite a refreshing wine. It isnt a bold or complex wine though its also not subtle, the fruit is nice and the alcohol is low and not overbearing. Its a wine that think I would buy again but not for anything particularly special. Definitely a wine that needs to be chilled a bit and would go great on a summer BBQ or picnic. If your not a big fan of reds but love sweet whites you should really like this wine.
If you would like to purchase this wine you can get it direct from the vineyard here. Remember to make sure they can ship to your state.
2008 Red Star – Veritas Vineyard & Winery – Afton,VA
$18.00
This is the first video review on the site and I hope you all enjoy it. There are a few parts I stumbled on a bit, but hey like I said it's the first (I'm allowed a few first mistakes right). And for those of you who prefer our standard written reviews just keep on reading below.
Veritas is by far one of my favourite vineyards out there today, so I always like having a bottle from them around the house. Nowadays that bottle is typically a Red Star since it's a beautiful wine for having on a hot summer days like today. When you open up the bottle you are hit with some lovely aromas right away. These are mostly fruits such as cherry and raspberry, but you also get a few other fruits I can't quite put my finger on. Besides that you also get a little floral hint to this wine with what I think may be violet. As for the taste you are instantly brought back to those, especially the Cherry, but this time you also get a good hint of red currant. Besides that you get a very light spiciness to this wine as well as a nice light jammy texture, which is very refreshing. Over all this is a nice light bodied wine with a decent finish, though is a bit short for me. As for food, I know this goes great with burgers and grilled chicken. Though this wine would go pretty well with any light red meat as well as game birds. If you like Cabernet Franc, Chambourcin or Merlot I think you will enjoy this wine and with the price point why not give it try.
If you would like to purchase this wine you can get it direct from the vineyard here. Remember to make sure they can ship to your state.
Chambourcin – Chaddsford Winery – Chaddsford, Pennsylvania
$16.00
Ah Chambourcin, honestly I never know what to make of this varietal. Every time I have one it seems like a whole new experience and this one certainly doesn’t stray from that trend. When you open up a bottle of this wine you are hit with some pretty wonderful aromas. The first I noticed off the bat was a lovely red berry smell, possibly cherry. After that I got an earthy sort of quality with a bit of assorted herbs, always nice to get in my opinion. And then, once you’re done with the smell, you are hit with an absolutely wonderful experience when you take your first sip. Straight away you get those fruits again but this time they seem to be more of a black fruit quality, blackberry perhaps. You also get a bit of a spicy hint to the lovely jammy flavour of this wine. And to top all this off you get a really smooth quality to this wine where everything blends together well and it all just seems to linger in your mouth after each sip. As for food pairing with this, I had a nice steak with a side of mushrooms that went pretty well with this wine. Besides that I think this would go quite nicely with a hearty stew or even with a chocolate cake. So, final opinion is that I loved this wine and think you might too if you are a fan of Chambourcin, any Cabs or even spicier merlots. So go on and give this a try, what do you have to lose at $16.
If you would like to purchase this wine you can get it from Snooth here. Remember to make sure they can ship to your state.
Castillo Red – San Sebastian Winery – St. Augustine, FL
$10.95
This was one of the wines that I enjoyed quite a bit from my tour at the San Sebastian Winery. Once the Castillo Red was poured into the glass you could really tell the beautiful deep purplish red colour of this wine. After getting a good look at it you just couldn't help but put your nose right in the tasting glass to get good smell. And thankfully you are not disappointed with some really nice smell of spice as well as a light smell of oak. As for the taste, those great smells carried over quiet nicely and quite subtly, much to my pleasure as I prefer more subtle wines. Now unfortunately I didn't have this wine with any food as it was a tasting, but I do believe that this wine would go absolutely wonderfully with a nice steak. This was a very enjoyable wine and I am fairly confident that if you like a nice Cabernet Sauvignon then you should definitely give this wine a try.
If you would like to purchase this wine you can get it direct from the vineyard here. Remember to make sure they can ship to your state.
Merlot – Blackstock Vineyards and Winery - Dahlonega , GA
$15.99
An interesting Merlot and one that I did enjoy quite a bit, and am sad that my trip to this area is so short lived. When you open a bottle of this merlot you get a really nice aroma of what I can only describe as Jam (which being a big fan of jam here was very nice). As for the taste you start to understand that really nice jam smell since you get these subtle hints of berries and also a bit of herbs. Personally I had this as a sipping wine with some friends and without any food, but if you wanted to have something with it I might suggest a nice light tomatoes pasta or maybe some pesto (dubious on that one). So if you are a fan of merlot or light fruity wines then I would say you should give this a try, and even if not why not give it a try anyways (how will you know you don't like till you try if after all).
If you would like to purchase this wine you can get it from Snooth here. Remember to make sure they can ship to your state.
Spicy Rivanna – Burnley Vineyard – Monticello, VA
$12.00
This is a personal favourite of mine from this vineyard. Basically its is their Rivanna Red wine but with various spices added to is. Immediately after you open this wine you notice the wonderful aroma with some great hints of nutmeg and orange peel. As for its taste it has a nice complexity to it with flavours like cinnamon. This is a great wine to share with friends and is great chilled but is best served heated like a nice hot tea, and in my opinion hot is the best way to serve it as all the smells and tastes come out so much more. And if you're looking for something to eat with it I would suggest pumpkin pie and the spices go very well. If you like lightly mulled wines and spices you'll love this wine.
If you would like to purchase this wine you can get it direct from the vineyard here. Remember to make sure they can ship to your state.
Vintners Red – San Sebastian Winery – St. Augustine, FL
$8.95
Another great wine from the San Sebastian winery tour that was not only enjoyable but with some cooking potential we shall discuss in a bit. This was truly an interesting wine for me as it is made from Muscadine grapes (one of the native varietals), of which I have had very few made from this grape. Once it was poured into the glass I was hit by the almost intense fruit aroma, generally that much of a fruit smell makes me a bit weary but this was actually quite a nice smell. Thankfully that fruit smell carried over into the taste in a way that wasn't too overpowering, it was fruity and sweet but in the right balance. This was another wine from the tasting so was had without food, but I believe it would go great with some nice spicy food. Though honestly this would be a nice wine to have somewhat chilled sitting outside on a nice night. And as for the cooking comment from before, I was told by those at the winery that this was a great wine to use to make brownies with by simply replacing the water in the recipe with this wine (a must try at some point I believe). So, in closing I think this would be a nice wine for any one to try especially if you enjoy fruitier wines like pinot grigio.
If you would like to purchase this wine you can get it direct from the vineyard here. Remember to make sure they can ship to your state.
Here you will find the various ECoast White Wine reviews.
2004 Vidal Blanc – Three Sisters Vineyard – Dahlonega, Georgia
$14.00
This is a well priced white, and the first wine I've ever had from Georgia and I must say I wasn't disappointed. Now granted I wasn't blown away either, but still it's a nice wine. When you pour yourself a glass you get a nice fruity aroma with what I believe is a little bit of pineapple. As for its taste it was a bit fruity for my taste but the slight hint of apple was kinda refreshing. If you like fruity whites or a chardonnay you should probably like this wine. And if you'd like an idea of something nice to go with it I'd say some turkey, or take the vineyards suggestion of having it with some fried chicken (which was really quite nice).
If you would like to purchase this wine you can get it from Snooth here. Remember to make sure they can ship to your state.
2005 Seyval – Jewell Towne Vineyard – South Hampton, New Hampshire
$8.00
This is an interesting Seyval, not the greatest but also not the worst, its just kind of a nice refreshing everyday sorta wine. The smell is quite nice with a some what orangey aroma which is quite enjoyable. As for its taste you get some nice fruity flavours that certainly don't stray far the realm of the citrus smell. It goes quite well with some spicy food, I had mine with a nice spicy chicken curry if you would like to give it a try. If your a fan of Chardonnays or pinot grigio I think you should enjoy this wine, so go ahead and give it a try.
If you would like to purchase this wine you can get it from Snooth here. Remember to make sure they can ship to your state.
2006 Chardonnay – Westbend Vineyard - lewsiville, NC (Yadkin Valley)
$18.00
This was one of the great wines I had during my visit to the Yadkin Valley wine bar in Charlotte international Airport. Since it was a tasting I wasn't able to get that freshly opened bottle smell that I do ever so love when opening wine, but I did still get a great smell none the less from my glass (you know the place you're supposed to get that aroma from, thoroughly at least). The aroma I did get from this was pretty pleasant with a light oaky smell with a little spice to it. As for its taste, you kinda get a nice little hint of spice that carried over a bit from the smell of this nice Chardonnay. You also get a very nice smooth buttery taste to it that is of course that classics taste that look for in a nice Chardonnay. Now, I had this at a tasting so wasn't eating anything with it but I do believe that it would go quite nicely with maybe some chicken or a nice pesto pasta dish. So, if you are a fan of Chardonnays then you should really give this wine a try as it worth far more then the price you pay for this wine. It is a great wine that is from a great region in North Carolina , so please give this a try - you wont regret it.
If you would like to purchase this wine you can get it direct from the vineyard here. Remember to make sure they can ship to your state.
2006 Estate Seyval Blanc – Snow Farm Vineyards – South Hero, VT
$13.00
I was quite excited when I got this wine as I have never had any wines from Vermont before, so this was a real treat. And thankfully my first experience with wines from Vermont wasn’t spoiled by this wine, quite the opposite, as it actually had me craving for more from this region. This Estate Seyval Blanc opens up with an absolutely beautiful aroma of what I believe to be grapefruit. You also get a quite lovely subtle hint of oak as well as maybe a bit of lemon (not entirely sure on that last one really). Once you have sufficiently taken in the smell and take your first sip you immediately notice that grapefruit smell coming in full force right off the bat. You also get a few less identifiable fruit flavours, a bit of oak and maybe even a hint of herbs in this wine. All this culminates in a very well rounded, crisp wine with great balance that makes it extremely versatile. As for food pairings, I had this with some spicy Thai food and it worked quite wonderfully. I also think that it would go well some sort of pork dish, though I have yet to test this out myself. In the end if you are a fan Chenin Blanc or of Chardonnay’s then I am fairly certain that you will enjoy this wine, and it’s got a great price so how can you pass it up?
If you would like to purchase this wine you can get it from Snooth.com here. Remember to make sure they can ship to your state.
2006 Shelter Harbor Chardonnay – Langworthy Farm Winery – Westerly, RI
$14.95
Ah Rhode Island, such a small state with an equally small wine industry but one that produces some really tastey wines. This Chardonnay from Langworthy is definitely no exception to this as it is really quite a lovely white wine. Once you open up a bottle of this Chardonnay and get a good whiff of the aroma you, are instantly hit by some great smells. The first and most prominent that I noticed, was this intriguing aroma of oak. Normally I’m weary with this much oak in the smell but this one was quite pleasing. After that, you also get some interesting hints of fruit that I believe might be pear and a bit of apple. Then, after you take your first sip, you get hit by those fruit smells from above popping up in the flavour. You also get a hint of melon and this wonderfully smooth, light, buttery after taste that really just seems to bring it all together. As for food pairings, I had this with a nice grilled chicken and assorted vegetable dinner and it was quite nice. I also believe that this would go well with some nice crab cakes or even some Caribbean cuisine. So, if you are a fan of Chardonnays of any kind or even wines like Pinot Grigio and Viognier I think you will like this wine. And, come on its only $15. You’d be crazy to pass up a deal of a wine like this.
If you would like to purchase this wine you can get it from Americanwinery.com here. Remember to make sure they can ship to your state.
2006 Traminette – Grove Winery & Vineyards – Gibonsville, NC
$14.99
North Carolina is always a good state for wine, though I’ll admit I tend to prefer their reds. So, when I picked up this wine I wasn’t expecting a whole lot really and was quite surprised at what I found. This Traminette wine had one of the best aromas I’ve had from a white in a while. Right from the start you get these beautiful herbal aromas with a hint of spice to it. You also get this lovely citrus smell to it all as well, though quite subtle to me. After you take a sip those subtle citrus aromas come through with this lovely spiciness to them. You also get a bit of some other fruit as well; I think it might possibly be apricot. That herbal quality comes through too, but this time a bit more subdued by the light sweetness of this wine. The finish was nice and long and was a bit drier then I had expected (and I do love dry wines). With this lovely white I had some tasty jambalaya, and I have to say it went quite nicely. I also think this wine would go great with spicy foods as well as some good thai or Indian food. So will you like it? Short answer, yes you will; especially if you are a fan of Rieslings or Gewurztraminer. Plus the price is great for a bottle of this stuff, so why not get yourself one.
If you would like to purchase this wine you can get it direct from the vineyard here or from Americanwinery.com here. Remember to make sure they can ship to your state.
2006 Viognier – Westbend Vineyard – Lewisville, NC (Yadkin Valley)
$16.00
Another one of the great wines that I had at the Charlotte Airport, which had a lot of the nice points that I tend look for in a viognier. This was another wine that I didn't get a chance to open the bottle myself to get that freshly opened smell which I love but still got a great aroma from the glass of course. The most noticeable smell to me was of flowers, which I believe was most likely honeysuckle (I could be wrong but I do try). Beyond the honeysuckle you also get a slight aroma of what I think is either pear or apple (who would have it be tough to tell the difference). As for the taste of this wine I was first struck by how sweet this wine is; it wasn't bad but it was a bit sweeter than you would expect from a viognier. After I accepted that fact I noticed the great flavours behind the sweetness, the most noticeable being a light citrus taste. This was surpassed though by the really great long finish that tasted vaguely of apples (making me think that smell was more on the apple side). With food I would have to suggest something along the lines of a mildly seasoned grilled fish or shrimp, though I didn't have any food when I tasted this one so this is just speculation. This is a great wine that you should all try especially if you are a fan of viogniers or whites in general. This was a bit sweeter than I like personally in a viognier but I still loved this one and definitely plan on getting another bottle, so give it try (you know you want to).
If you would like to purchase this wine you can get it direct from the vineyard here. Remember to make sure they can ship to your state.
2006 Wineworks White – Virginia Wineworks – Charlottesville, VA
$15.00
Virginia Wineworks is one of my favourite vineyards in the Charlottesville area. They make some absolutely wonderful, well balanced wines and this Wineworks White is no exception. Being made from mostly Viognier, with a bit of Vidal Blanc thrown in, you get a wine that really shows off some of the greatest qualities of Virginia white wines. It all starts with the amazing aroma where you get some very intense, though not overpowering, floral notes of various white flowers. After you move past this flowery smell you start to get some nice citrus fruit notes that are quite subtle. This citrus aroma carries into the taste quite well with a noticeable flavour of what I believe is tangerine. Along with this citrus quality you get an interesting, though short lived, after taste of what I think is cream. The acidity of this wine is well balanced which makes it good for pairing with food. Now I didn't have anything when I tried this wine, since it was a tasting, but I think it would go well with spicier foods and maybe even some grilled fish or chicken. This is a very nice, and well priced wine, and is one you should give a try if you are a fan or Viognier, Vidal Blanc or even Gewürztraminer. It's a great crisp white wine that goes great with foods or even on its own sharing with friends on your porch, so if you get a chance I recommend getting a bottle of this wine so you don't miss out.
If you would like to purchase this wine you can get it from Snooth here. Remember to make sure they can ship to your state.
2007 Chanteloup – Wolf Mountain Vineyards & Winery - Dahlonega, GA
$19.95
Yet another interesting wine from the great state of Georgia from a vineyard just north of the Atlanta area (well actually it’s closer to the Carolina’s but eh minor details). This dry white serves up a very pleasing aroma when you open the bottle being hit with some really lovely floral smells along with a slight hint of oak (I think). As for its taste that oak smell seems to give the wine a bit of a smokey flavor to it, though very subtle, and it also seems to have a bit of a taste of pineapple as well. This was a very enjoyable wine with a nice finish, though I do wish it was a bit longer of one, that I believe anyone who is a fan of Chardonnay or Viognier will enjoy quite a bit. And if you do get a chance to try this wine, might I suggest having it with some nice smoked fish (it went well with the salmon I had).
If you would like to purchase this wine you can get it from Snooth here. Remember to make sure they can ship to your state.
2007 Dry Riesling – Paumanok Vineyard – North Fork of Long Island, NY
$22.00
This is a very good wine from New York that I enjoyed quite a bit, and one that has worked its way to being one of my favourites. The aroma of this wine is amazing, you just want to shove your nose right in the glass and enjoy every bit of its wonderful floral smell of lilies. And as for the taste you are hit with this lovely dry apricot and apple flavour which has that great lasting finish that I love. This is a great wine to have with some Gorgonzola cheese or a nice piece of fish, or in my case the chicken Caesar salad I had with this one. If your a fan of Riesling you can't pass this wine up, even if your not a fan of dry Rieslings at least give this a try once, I'm fairly sure you shouldn't be disappointed.
If you would like to purchase this wine you can get it direct from the vineyard here. Remember to make sure they can ship to your state.
2007 Gewurztraminer – Elk Run Vineyards – Mt. Airy, MD
$21.99
Maryland has quite a reputation for wine these days and it is very well deserved, especially when they produce wonderful Gewurztraminers like this one. Now generally my favourite Gewurztraminers are of the German variety, but I must say Elk Run Vineyards really does well with this one. When you open up a bottle of this wine you get an idea of what you are in for pretty quickly with these wonderful aromas of spicy citrus fruits. You also get a light floral character to the smell of this wine with maybe a little hint of toast (I’ll be honest that one kinda surprised me). After you are done with the beautiful aroma and more onto that taste you are once again hit by that wonderful spicy citrus aroma, though this time you can more easily pick it out as grapefruit. Besides this you also get the always interesting nutty flavour to this wine that is indicative of a good Gewurztraminer. This wine goes great with so many foods, and with my tasting I had some great Orange Chicken take out, though this goes just as well with baked ham, curry or even a chicken pot pie. I think that if you are a fan of Traminer or Rieslings you will probably enjoy this wine quite a bit, the price point is a bit high for some but this is definitely worth a try.
If you would like to purchase this wine you can get it from Snooth.com here. Remember to make sure they can ship to your state.
2007 Riesling – Standing Stone Vineyards – Hector, NY
$15.99
New York is quite well known for their Rieslings so I had fairly high hopes for this wine and I was thankfully not disappointed by it one bit; which was a good thing considering I got this wine for me and my dad on a recommendation from a friend. This was truly enjoyable throughout, but of course you all know by now that the smell of the wine is my favourite part so let us begin there as always. Immediately upon opening this wine you are hit with these lovely subtle floral aromas (what kind I'm not sure but oh well). What comes through much more powerfully is an intense fruit smell, which I thought at the time was possibly some sort of citrus fruit. And this citrus fruit aroma brings us to the taste of the wine, which incidentally had a pleasing citrus fruit taste to it as well. Besides that, you also get a little bit of pineapple flavour to it and maybe even some honeysuckle (going with the floral aroma of course). Now as for food, the meal I had with this wine was a little unconventional for a white. Typically a dinner of steak and rosemary potatoes would call for a nice red, but this Riesling worked surprisingly well for it (and I think would go great with some spicy food or even pork). This is an absolutely amazing wine and one which you should all give a try, especially if you are a fan of Rieslings or any sort of semi-dry whites. Though honestly even if you aren't a fan of those wines, I say give it a try as it is great and well priced.
If you would like to purchase this wine you can get it direct from the vineyard here. Remember to make sure they can ship to your state.
2007 Seyval – Hosmer Winery – Ovid, NY
$10.00
Now a fairly prominent East Coast white wine, Seyval has always been a thing of interest for me. Because of this intrigue on my part I was really looking forward to trying one from the New York area, and I am pleased to report that I was not disappointed with it. When you first open the bottle and get a good whiff of the aroma you immediately are struck by these great scents of citrus, which is pretty standard for Seyval. But on top of that you also get some interesting aroma honeysuckle which is kinda subtle as well as an interesting earthy quality that I really can’t describe to well. Once you take a sip you quickly recognize the first major flavor as the citrus that you first noticed in the aroma. This time though it’s a bit more distinguishable as what I believe might be lemon (maybe). You also get a slight mineral quality to the wine coming in from that Earthiness earlier, and if I’m not mistaken I think there might even be a hint of peach. Best of all though is that you get a pretty decently long finish to this wine so your experience with it can last a little longer. Now, as for food pairings, I personally had this with some grilled chicken and assorted vegetables and would probably also go well with any spicy dishes. I will have to say that if you are a fan of wines like Chardonnay, Viognier or Pinot Grigio you will probably enjoy this wine. But hey even if you’re not, if you want a well priced and refreshing white wine I say give it a go.
If you would like to purchase this wine you can get it from Americanwinery.com here. Remember to make sure they can ship to your state.
2007 – Viognier – Black Ankle Vineyard – Mt. Airy, MD
$22.00
This was a very pleasant first for me as I have never had Maryland Viognier before, and I must say I loved it. You get an absolutely wonderful aroma from this bottle of wine with hints of fruit and honey. These great smells carry over quite nicely into the taste of the wine as you definitely get a subtle hint of honey and the fruit flavours comes through as apple and apricot (though I'll be honest I may be wrong on this as I always have trouble pinning fruit tastes). The whole thing comes together quite well as a very well balanced wine. This wine goes well with everything from a good cheese to spicy Asian foods, I personally love it with a nice spicy Thai chicken dish. This is a great wine that any white whine fan should enjoy, especially for those of you who are fans of Muscat or Rieslings.
If you would like to purchase this wine you can get it from Snooth here. Remember to make sure they can ship to your state.
2008 Declaration Reserve – Democracy Vineyards – Lovingston, VA
$15.00
Now I’ll be honest I wasn’t originally expecting much from this wine as this was one of the first wines from the extremely new Democracy Vineyards (only officially opening their doors a few months back now). But I gotta say that I was very pleasantly surprised by this Rhone style blended white. When you open the bottle and get a good whiff you end up with an interesting fruit, which may or may not be apricot. You also get some lovely subtle floral smells (which I couldn’t seem to pin down). Once you move into the taste you discover a fruit forward taste coming in from the equally fruit forward aroma. It’s hard to try and pin down exactly what sort of fruit (or variety for that matter), but you definitely get a fruit sweetness that is quite delicious. Balancing out this fruit is a very light spice, which almost went unnoticed by myself as it was so subtle. Best of all though it had a really crisp and long finish, which I always adore. Now, as for food, I had this with a wonderful pesto pizza that seemed to work quite well with it. According to the vineyard things such as Poultry, white sauce pasta and grilled seafood go great with this wine and I can definitely see why. This is a great and affordable wine to give a try especially if you are a fan of Seyval Blanc, Chardonnay or even Gewürztraminer. So go on and give it a go.
Unfortunately I couldn't find some place online to buy this wine, you may be able to contact Democracy Vineyards here to see about ordering, or info on where it can be bought.
2008 Rkatsiteli – Horton Vineyard – Monticello, VA
$15.00
This Is a very interesting white wine, and one which was completely new to me. The aroma on this wine is quite enjoyable as it has a sort of orange or floral aroma to it. And the taste is even more enjoyable than the smell with some really nice citrus flavours to it. As an extra bonus this wine also has a very well appreciated long, crisp finish to it so that nice taste stays with you for a bit. This is a very nice wine and one that I enjoyed quite a bit with some various cheeses. If you like Reisling wines you will probably like this wine, though honestly this is one everyone should try as its quite a rare wine in this country and one that is currently exclusive to the East Coast(At least to my knowledge).
If you would like to purchase this wine you can get it from Snooth here. Remember to make sure they can ship to your state.
2008 Vignoles – Nashoba Winery – Bolton, MA
$16.50
This was an intriguing white wine that is quite nice and was also my first wine from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and apparently was this winery’s first estate wine. Vignoles as a varietal wine can generally be hit or miss for me as it can be everything from overly sweet to massively dry. This one though was at that nice middle point that I enjoy. When you open up a bottle of this wine you are immediately hit by an interesting aroma of citrus and tropical flowers. You soon begin to get a bit of a hint of pineapple thrown into the mix after another good whiff of smell. These carry over into the taste quite nicely, especially the pineapple, but you also get some other fruit I can’t quite make out. Best of all though, you get a really crisp long finish to this wine - that I always enjoy - that tastes a bit of apple that just doesn’t want to leave your taste buds. Overall this is a really nice and crisp fruity wine, though not overwhelmingly fruity. It has a good acid balance so it goes great with foods, or on its own, and for me I think spicy foods are the way to go here (I had this with some nice curry and homemade flatbread). This is a wine worth a good try and one which I think a lot of you may enjoy if you are fans of wines like Pinot Grigio, Riesling or even Vidal Blanc. So give it a try, what do you have to lose?
If you would like to purchase this wine you can get it direct from the vineyard here. Remember to make sure they can ship to your state.
Cuvee Blanc – Lakeridge Winery & Vineyards – Clermont, FL
$7.99
This was definitely an interesting wine to review as it is one of the few Florida wines I've ever had and of course being a new one for me is always nice as I do love new things. And of course being new I was very happy that I was not disappointed by this wine at all. The aroma on this wine was quite pleasant with some nice floral notes and a subtle but pleasingly noticeable hint of fruit (generic fruit smell to me but still nice). The taste was equally as nice, and amusingly appropriate for being a Florida wine, with some great flavours including peach and citrus. This wine was great with the nice dinner I had of grilled chicken with goat cheese and sun dried tomatoes (sounds decadent but was actually quite inexpensive with 3 people fed for under $10), and this would go great I think with any other good chicken meal. I believe that anyone who enjoys Chardonnays, and also those who like Pinot Grigio, should really like this wine and with the price you really have nothing to loss so go ahead and give it a try.
If you would like to purchase this wine you can get it direct from the vineyard here. Remember to make sure they can ship to your state.
Golden Delight – Haight-Brown Vineyards – Litchfield, CT
$13.98
Honestly, I’m still not entirely sure what to make of this Seyval Blanc wine. Don’t get me wrong here it definitely isn’t a bad wine it just seems to have something to it that I just can’t get past, though this doesn’t mean I won’t buy it again. When you open up the bottle you really get a nice smell of citrus to this wine that is quite refreshing. Besides the citrus you definitely get a strong aroma of honey, which apparently is added to the wine for flavouring. Once you take a sip, the first thing you really get is that citrus smell carrying into the taste as lemon with maybe a little grapefruit. You then get that honey again but with a slight earthiness to it. I think it’s this honey taste that gets me with this wine, it just seems a bit out of place for me personally (this coming from the man who loves his mead). Again though, don’t take this as a bad thing as it does seem to work for this wine. As for pairings, I had this as an aperitif (before eating) but I think this wine would go quite nicely with some form of fruit plate. So, if you are a fan of Seyval Blanc, Sauternes, Pinot Grigio, Muscat or even Riesling you may enjoy this wine and I would say to give it a try. And hey at that price why not give it a go?
Haight-Brown Vineyards has informed me that this wine is no longer available. I'm sorry for any of you who were unable to give it a try before it became so.
Salem Fork Snow Hill White – Shelton Vineyard – Yadkin Valley, North Carolina
$9.00
I wasn't too impressed with this wine honestly, it was way to sweet for me even for a dessert wine. The aroma of this wine was quite nice and enjoyable as the grape smell carries through well with this wine. And the taste was okay, it was fruity and with a slight hint of chocolate. The problem for me was that it was too sweet and sugary, but it did go alright with some fruit (I had some apple slices with mine). If you like sweeter dessert wines you may like this but if not I'd keep your money to yourself personally.
If you would like to purchase this wine you can get it direct from the vineyard here. Remember to make sure they can ship to your state.
Here you will find our various ECoast Rosé Wine reviews.
Besides these, we also have a 2004 Sparkling Rose from Kluge which is in the Sparkling wine area here.
2006 Rosé of Pinot Noir – Catharine Valley Winery – Burdett, NY
$14.00
Whenever I get a New York wine in I always have higher expectations then I might have from some other states, such as Ohio. This I due to the reputation the state has for such wonderful wine, and thankfully I have yet to be really disappointed. This Pinot Noir Rosé is no exception; the second you get a good whiff of this wine you immediately notice the fruitiness of the wine from its overall wonderful aroma. The strongest of these smells, for me at least, was definitely that of strawberry. After that you did you also get a bit of generic berry and maybe even a little bit of citrus. Then once you take a sip you are reintroduced once more to that wonderful strawberry; and this time it’s accompanied by a bit of what I think is cherry. The wine also had a pretty decent finish and overall was a quite nice, light wine. Being drier and with a bit of acidity to it you could really pair this with nearly anything, for me though this went with some nice spicy chicken wings. Though I’m pretty sure this would go just as well with some prosciutto or maybe even some clam chowder. In the end this was a very enjoyable wine, and one that I plan to get again. And I think you may like it if you are a fan of Rosé, Pinot Noir or any light and slightly fruity wines. Plus the price point is very nice, so why not get yourself a bottle.
If you would like to purchase this wine you can get it direct from the vineyard here or from Americanwinery.com here. Remember to make sure they can ship to your state.
2007 Rose – First Colony Winery – Monticello, VA
$14.00
Generally I am not to much of a fan of Rose (and especially Blush) wines, but every now and then one comes along that I actually don't mind, and even enjoy. One of these few exceptions is the Rose wine from First Colony Winery which is just a nice and refreshing wine through and through. And of course we start off with the great, and some-what subtle, overall aromas of this wine. You start off by getting some sort of a berry smell, possibly cherry, that quickly moves to lovely floral aroma which I believe to be something along the lines of an orange blossom. After you move past these nice subtle aromas you get to the far less subtle taste of this wine that starts off quite nicely with that berry taste carrying over with hint of strawberry and cherry. After that berry, you start to get some sort of a light spice to this wine as well as some sort of melon (which I can't quite pick). Overall this is a nice, light, dry wine that would be quite nice on a summers day. This is another wine that I had at a tasting, thus no food besides crackers, but I think this would go nice with a light salmon meal or even a ham sandwich (how often do you hear of a wine that goes with that). If you generally aren't a fan of Rose wines, like myself, then this might be a good choice for you if you want to give it a try. And if you already like Rose, then I'm sure you'll love this wine especially considering its awesome price.
If you would like to purchase this wine you can get it direct from the vineyard here. Remember to make sure they can ship to your state.
2007 Rosé of Pinot Noir – Westport Rivers Vineyard & Winery – Westport, MA
$12.99
I’ll admit when I think of Massachusetts I don’t really think of Pinot Noir grapes, but apparently they seem to know what they are doing up there. This Pinot Noir Rosé hooks you in from the get go with some absolutely beautiful aromas when you open up the bottle. The first really noticeable smell you get is this lovely berry smell that may have a little cherry in there (I’m not completely sure on that one). You also get these wonderful hints of fruit as well as a floral quality to it all, and this sweet almost candy like smell I can’t quite place. Once you take a sip of this Rosé you get greeted once again by those berry and fruit aromas from above. That floral quality from before also comes through, and is a bit clearer this time as I believe it to be a rose flavour (how befitting that you have a rose flavour in a Rosé wine). This wine is pretty versatile as it works great as a nice sipping wine on a summer’s day (chilled of course), as well as working great with a variety of foods. Personally I had this with a tastey spicy Thai noodle dish, but it would go equally well with smoked beef, curry or even a light chili. I’m pretty confident that you will enjoy this wine, especially if you are a fan of Rosé wines or Pinot Noir and even if you aren’t its only $13, what do you have to lose?
If you would like to purchase this wine you can get it from the Winery here. Remember to make sure they can ship to your state.
2009 Estate Rosé – Shinn Estate Vineyards – Mattituck, NY
$12.99
With the heat outside it is indeed summer and what better wine to enjoy it with then a nicely chilled Rose (which I have been drinking more of recently for that reason). And when it comes to Rose this particular one is now one of my favourites, and one that’s all the way from New York. When you open up a bottle of this you are pretty quickly hit with the fabulous aromas that really bring you into this wine. The first smell I got with this was that of lovely fragrant flowers, what kind I’m unsure but I can assure you that they are quite pleasant. After that you get this nice hint of fruit, mostly berry and melon I believe. Then once you take your first sip of this you are reintroduced to the fruits from above and this time, for me, it seems to be raspberry. You also get this interesting earthiness to the wine, which I don’t normally get from Rose. The finish is also quite nice and smooth, though I must say I wish it would have stayed with me a bit longer (I do love those lingering wines). As for food, I had this wine nicely chilled with a BLT and it went wonderfully. And I would guess that this Rose would go well with things like Chicken Cacciatore or even a Calzone. Overall this really does make for a great summer wine that I think would be perfect for barbecues and picnics. And its price point is pretty low so it really is something I don’t think you should pass up, especially if you are a fan of Rose wines or even lighter merlots.
If you would like to purchase this wine you can get it direct from the vineyard here or from Snooth.com here. Remember to make sure they can ship to your state.
Florida Muscadine Blush – Rosa Fiorelli Winery and Vineyard – Bradenton, FL
$15.76
I’ll admit I thought that this might be a flop of a wine when I first saw it. Even though I love Muscadine wines I am not a big fan of blush style wines. I will have to say though that this one surprised me a bit and though I may not have loved this wine, I certainly didn’t hate it. When you open it up you’re pretty quickly hit by a variety of aromas to sift through. Probably the most prominent of these was a sweet berry aroma that I couldn’t quite make out but did find somewhat appealing. You also get a hint of fruit in the aroma along with some subtle floral notes along with that stronger berry smell. Once you take the first sip you’re struck by that berry yet again, though this time it’s a bit more noticeable and may even be cherry. You also get a slight honey taste to the wine, or at least what I think may be honey. Generally I don’t like blush wines because they’re just so intensely sweet, this one though I am happy to report is not (it’s more of a semi-sweet). Besides being semi-sweet it is also quite a smooth and easy drinking wine that I think stands well on its own, as I had it. Though if you want food with it I think it would go great with spicier foods or even a chocolaty dessert. If you are a fan of Blush or Rose wines I think you should enjoy this as well as if you like sweeter whites. So, don’t be afraid, give it a go like I did.
If you would like to purchase this wine you can get it direct from Americanwinery.com. Remember to make sure they can ship to your state.
Pink Magnolia Rosé – Duplin Winery – Rose Hill, NC
$7.49
Ah Duplin Winery, I am always intrigued by the wines they produce as they are the largest producer of Muscadine wines around as well as one of the big wine producers here on the East Coast. This Pink Magnolia Rosé is made from an interesting combination of Magnolia and Noble Muscadine grapes which should put it at the sweeter end of the Rosé scale. Once you open the bottle you don’t really notice a whole lot at first, but after you swirl the glass a bit more you start to get some light fruit aromas. You also get a faint herb character to the smell as well as a very slight hint of musk (though not bad musk). After you are down with the aroma and move to the taste you start to get some slightly more prominent fruit flavours to this wine. The most obvious of which is definitely apple, a bit tangy but nice, as well as an interesting after taste of wild grapes. As for food, I had this with some nice spicy trout I cooked up and it went quite well. I believe it would also go well with a quesadillas or even a ham sandwich. This is a fairly sweet Rosé so if you are a fan of those, or of Blush wines and White Zinfandel, then you’d probably enjoy this Magnolia. So go on and order yourself some, and for under $10 what have you got to lose?
If you would like to purchase this wine you can get it from Snooth.com here. Remember to make sure they can ship to your state.
Here you will find our various ECoast Champagne & Sparkling wine reviews
2000 Blanc de Noir – Westport Rivers Vineyard & Winery – Westport, Massachusetts
$29.99
To celebrate my return from my overly long hiatus from the site I ordered myself a nice sparkling wine from Massachusetts. Now this is the first time I’ve ever had a sparkling wine from that region so I was unsure of what to expect, but I must say I was pretty happy with the purchase. To begin, like with all sparkling wines, the bottle opens to a quite satisfying pop. This is soon followed by what were some truly wonderful aromas of fruit, quite possibly cherry and maybe even a hint of lemon. I also got a little bit of vanilla in the nose, though honestly I could have been imagining that one (There was a nearby candle). As for the taste, the cherry follows through quite well with somewhat of a creamy quality to it. I was also surprised to find that the wine wasn’t as sweet as I originally anticipated from the start with all the fruit aromas. The finish on this wine was really something, lingering for a bit but not too long and ending on a rather nice and light tart note. Now I had this wine on its own with some friends, though I agree with the Vineyards notes that this would go pretty well with asian foods. Personally I wouldn’t mind trying it with some nice spicy thai food. This is definitely a wine to recommend to you all, especially if you like Blanc de Blanc sparkling wines. The price point may put you off a little bit, but if you can spare the $30 why not get yourself a bottle and share it with some good friends or family.
If you would like to purchase this wine you can get it from the Vineyard here or from Americanwinery.com here. Remember to make sure they can ship to your state.
2004 Sparkling Rose – Kluge Estate – Monticello, VA
$28.00
Rose wines are one of those wines I'm not too big on, but for some reason add some bubbles to it and I seem to like it quite a bit. The colour of this wine is quite a beautiful salmon colour (I'll admit I would have said pink but salmon sounded better). When you breath in this wine you're hit with some nice floral smells, I honestly can't identify exactly what floral smells but they are quite nice none the less. The taste of this wine is equally as nice with some cherry and raspberry hints to it. Like most sparkling wines and Champagnes this goes quite well with things like Duck or seafood. So, if you like champagnes or rose wines then this is a great wine for you.
If you would like to purchase this wine you can get it direct from the vineyard here. Remember to make sure they can ship to your state.
2007 Blanc de Blanc Brut – Schulze Vineyards & Winery – Niagara County, NY
$15.96
Ah New York wines, I do love them so very much. Not because they are from the Empire State but rather because it is just so rare that I get a bad wine from there and this Sparkling wine is no exception. When you open up this bottle (or, rather, pop the cork as is always so satisfying with sparkling wines) you are pretty quickly hit with some great fruity aromas. The most notable of these fruity smells is definitely peach, and less noticeable is a slight hint of what I can only describe as a nutty quality. Once you take a sip of this wonderfully smooth, bubbly wine, the first thing you notice is that peach aroma coming through right into the flavour of it all. After that you also get a nice taste of mango to it, as well as a very slight hint of honey which is quite pleasing. Now as for this wines food pairings, I had this with a lovely grilled chicken past which worked very well. But if you want to be more adventurous you may want to try this with a pesto pizza and even some potato chips (upon the suggestion of a friend and it works surprisingly well). I’m pretty sure if you are a fan of other sparkling wines you will enjoy this, especially if you are a fan of still viognier and chardonnay wines. And as a bonus this is a great sparkling wine at a great price, so you really have no excuse not to give this a try.
If you would like to purchase this wine you can get it from Americanwinery.com here. Remember to make sure they can ship to your state.
Blanc de Blancs Champagne – Brotherhood Vineyards – Washingtonville, NY
$10.99
The expectations I had for this wine were quite high considering its award winning status as well as being from America's oldest winery, and thankfully this amazing sparkling wine did not let me down. To begin with, upon opening this wine you get that joyously wonderful pop of the cork that comes with all Champagnes (and come on who doesn't like that). And after that little bit of fun you get hit by the impressive, yet subtle, aromas that are carried very well by this wine. The main smells you get out of this are primarily of fruit, possibly apple, as well as a nice aroma of flowers; I'm not too sure but maybe lilies. As for the flavour, that nice fruit smell stays with the wine quite well giving you a nice crisp apple taste. You also get a hint of spice to it as well as a very nice long and dry finish, which I always enjoy. Now when I had this wine it went well as a part of a nice light chicken dinner with some assorted vegetables, though I do believe this would go quite well with some nice shellfish (or even a plate of cheese). This is a must have for any fan of sparkling wines or nice dry whites, and remember to have it with some food as champagnes aren't just for celebration after all. So go on and give it a go if you can, it's a great wine from an amazing and historic winery, and, my friends, trust me - you won't be disappointed.
If you would like to purchase this wine you can get it direct from the vineyard here. Remember to make sure they can ship to your state.
Here you will find our various ECoast Dessert Wine reviews
1999 Vintage Port – Horton Vineyard – Monticello, VA
$20.00
I'm a big fan of Ports normally, but I honestly wasn't to impressed with this Port. Now don't get me wrong it isn't horrible and I would probably buy it again, but it's certainly nothing spectacular. On pouring yourself a glass you are hit with a nice floralish smell(again I can't identify exactly what but still its nice). After taking a sip you will be happy to know that its is quite smooth, as good port should be, but you don't get as much of the spice as you'd expect. It does make for a good after dinner drink, and for the price its quite nice for a 10 year old port. So, if you like ports I'd say give it a try but I wouldn't go out of my way.
If you would like to purchase this wine you can get it from Snooth here. Remember to make sure they can ship to your state.
2006 Porto Elena – Villa Bellangelo – Dundee, NY
$23.99
I am a huge fan of all Port style wines, so I had some pretty high expectations for this wine before I even opened the bottle. This expectation was compounded by its price, which is on the upper end of the scale of what I tend to review. Thankfully , this Ruby Port style wine didn’t disappoint, though to be honest it didn’t blow me out of the water either. When you open up a bottle of this wine you are met with some pretty pleasant fruity aromas, of which the only one I can really make out clearly is what I believe to be plum. Besides the fruit you also get a hint of the spirits that fortified this wine, though thankfully this wasn’t overbearing at all. After you take your first sip you are once again brought face to face with that plum aroma you got early on, which does make for a lovely flavour. You also are hit with a nice hint of what I think may be cherry, which would make sense as this is a blend of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Now port is a wonderful wine to have on its own, though as this is a lighter Ruby Port this does mean it can go quite nicely with some food. Personally, I had this by itself as a digestif (after dinner drink) but I strongly believe that this would go great with some chocolate cake (and who doesn’t love chocolate cake). In the end, this is a wonderful Ruby Port style wine that I believe you may enjoy if you are a port fan or a fan of sweeter reds. Its price may be a bit off putting for some, but I believe in the end it is worth the price as it is pretty well balanced with some great qualities, so go on and give it a go.
If you would like to purchase this wine you can get it from the Vineyard here or from Americanwinery.com here. Remember to make sure they can ship to your state.
2007 Estate Reserve Late Harvest Riesling – Stony Lonesome Wine Cellars – Seneca Lake, NY
$16.00
From the start I was expecting a fair amount from this wine seeing as how it is a New York Riesling, though it being a late harvest (or ice wine), I tempered that expectation a bit (you know me and sweet wines). But in the end I was quite pleased with this dessert wine and I’ll share with you why. Once you open up this bottle of wine you pretty quickly get the sense you’ll be drinking something sweet as you get a good whiff of assorted sweet fruits. I’m fairly certain you get a bit of apple in the aroma as well as a little apricot (maybe). Besides this you also get a strange smell of powdered sugar (I’ve never smelled that before in a wine, huh). Once you take your first sip those fruit aromas really come through in the flavour, especially the apple. You also get a decent citrus flavour that I quite enjoyed. Now I had this wine as an after dinner wine (or digestif if you want to be a wine geek like me) and thus no food, though I do believe this would go great with some shellfish or strong cheeses. Over all this is a great dessert wine that is thankfully not too sweet and is quite well balanced. So if you are a fan of any sort of ice wines or regular Rieslings I would say to give this a try, It’s definitely worth it.
If you would like to purchase this wine you can get it from Americanwinery.com here. Remember to make sure they can ship to your state.
2007 Neubia Nectar – Sugarleaf Vineyards – Monticello, VA
$17.00
Sugarleaf Vineyards is quite the new comer to the Virginia wine scene only being in operation for a few years now. They have made a lot of headway in this time and this Neubia Nectar is probably one of their most interesting wines. As a slight change of pace to the normal reviews, the first really noticeable thing about this wine is its highly viscous nature as it really clings to the sides of the glass. This is the first big indicator that you are indeed about to drink a dessert wine. After this you can really put your nose into it and get some very distinct aromas out of this wine. The first noticeable smell is a nice floral honeysuckle aroma followed by a really crisp apple sort of smell. Once you get past these lovely aromas you move onto the interesting combination of flavours that this wine seems to have. You start by picking up a little bit of that apple from the smell of the wine, but this is quickly taken over by intense mango and citrus flavours (I'm thinking orange on the citrus note). Now this is a very highly acidic wine that really makes your mouth water, but is also extremely sweet which makes food pairings interesting. Now, I had this at a tasting with no food, but if this wine was to go with anything I would think it would be a semi-sweet dessert like sugar cookies (a bit strange but I think it would work). But really this is a wine that is best drank on its own after a nice dinner as a dessert all on its own. So, it you are a fan of sweet Vidal Blanc wines or any form of sweet dessert or ice wine I think this would be a good buy for you. And even if you're not I say give it a try, I mean come on I'm not a huge fan of sweet wines but I even liked this one.
If you would like to purchase this wine you can get it direct from the vineyard here. Remember to make sure they can ship to your state.
Black Jewel Port – Forks of Cheat Winery – Morgantown, WV
$17.75
Ah Port, by far my favourite standalone wine varietal (as I prefer to drink it by itself without food). This particular port was given to me by a friend who was passing through West Virginia and thought I might enjoy it. Thankfully, this friend was right on the money as this proved to be a very tasty Ruby style Port. When you pop the cork on this wine you are instantly greeted by the familiar, and always welcome, aromas of fruit and berries. And since this is a fortified wine (as all ports are) you of course get the ever present smell of alcohol, which though detectable was not overpowering. After taking your first sip you are once again introduced to the fruit and berries from above. This time I’m pretty sure that the fruit was plum, and that the berry aroma was coming through as cherries. You also get a slight hint of caramel to the whole thing which really surprised me, in a good way of course. And to top this all off you get a wonderfully long, smooth finish that gives you this lovely warming feeling (thanks to it being fortified). Like I said at the start I tend to drink ports on their own, though I think this one would go well with some hard cheese or maybe even some brownies. So my opinion is that if you are in West Virginia, or don’t mind calling in an order to the vineyard, get yourself a bottle of this. I am pretty sure you’d enjoy it, especially if you like ports or other types of dessert reds.
If you would like to purchase this wine you can get it from the Vineyard here. Remember to make sure they can ship to your state.
Jersey Devil Port – Valenzano Winery – Shamong, NJ
$14.99
Oh man I gotta tell you, I certainly have some mixed feelings about this particular wine. On the one hand this is a really nice and delicious port style wine, on the other hand it’s dangerous being that delicious and having 19.5% alcohol by volume. You really have to watch yourself with this one as before you know it you’ve been dragged down into the land of overindulgence. So how delicious is this wine? Well, when you open it up you get this wonderful aroma of caramel (and of course alcohol, thanks to being fortified with brandy). After that you move into these fantastic fruit smells of dark cherry and maybe even a bit of raspberry, all with a nice hint of spice and oak to it. When you move onto the taste you get those fruits once again, especially the dark cherry for me. This time though they are accompanied by this interesting hint of chocolate, which doesn’t surprise me as it is made from their Cynthiana which I reviewed a while back. Unlike most ports, especially those with this high of alcohol in them, the burn from the alcohol is quite subtle and goes with the long smooth finish quite nicely. For me I had this lovely port on its own after dinner, though I think it would go very well with chocolate cake (which I now crave). I’m pretty sure if you like ports, sweeter Cynthiana’s or really any sweet red you will enjoy this wine. And to top it all off you get a full 750ml for the price (most ports are half bottles instead of full) so what do you have to lose.
If you would like to purchase this wine you can get it direct from the vineyard here (Online or by phone) or from Snooth.com here. Remember to make sure they can ship to your state.
Port – San Sebastian Winery – St. Augustine, FL
$19.95
One more wonderful wine from my tour at the San Sebastian Winery and one which is in my opinion one of the best ports I have ever had (granted it's technically not a port seeing as how it's not from Portugal). The colour of this wine is just this beautiful dark purple, with an amazing aroma of raisin with a slight spice to it. And to top it all off you get an interesting smell of brandy that really gives this wine something special. As for the flavours, that spice and brandy smell carries over amazingly into the taste. There are also some fruit flavours to it as well, cherry maybe ... it's a possibility, as well as something else I can't quite pin down. This is a wine that in my opinion should be drank by itself being sipped and enjoyed thoroughly. Forget about food pairing, this is a sit by a nice fire with some good friends drink (though if you must a simple risotto tends to go well with ports as well as milk chocolate things). So if you are a fan of any form of port then this is a must try for you, and honestly to the rest of you please give it a try as it is an amazing wine and well worth your time.
If you would like to purchase this wine you can get it direct from the vineyard here. Remember to make sure they can ship to your state.