A Trio of Virginia Wineries
I'm planning to add some reviews of the wineries I like, but that will take a bit more time than I have today. So, for now, I'm just going to offer a list of three wineries in the Monticello AVA that I am particularly fond of. And there is a theme here: these are the three wineries who came together to make a wine they named (appropriately enough) "3."
Each of the three contributed one of the varietals to the blend. Pollak Vineyards provided the Petit Verdot, Veritas Vineyard and Winery supplied the Cab Franc, and King Family Vineyards contributed the Merlot grapes. In theory, they planned to blend one third each of the grapes, but in practice, I think they realized that a blend required some judgment, and would likely end up being something other than one-third each. When blending wines, as I learned from King Family winemaker Matthieu Finot, you spend a lot of time experimenting and tasting. In this particular blend, I'm guessing that the Petit Verdot was very powerful, and they may have decided to use less of it and more of either of the other two grapes.
No matter. The wine was fabulous, and since they only made 150 cases, it sold out quickly. Each customer at Veritas was limited to three bottles at $33.33 each — yes, they carried the 3 theme pretty far — and I personally think this one will age quite well. So my three bottles are stored in my EuroCave wine celler, waiting for that perfect moment in the near future when they will achieve perfection.
Category: All Posts, Monticello, Virginia Wineries, Wine, Winemaking