Wines

OUR 2007 VINTAGE IS FABULOUS!

As we all know, this was a very dry late Summer and Fall. Unfortunately bad for many area farmers but, in contrast, great grape growing weather. The 2007 Vintage (in Italian, la Vendemia) is our best so far. We dropped fruit in the Sangiovese block so as to up flavor and color intensity. We changed pruning and training in the Viognier and Nebbiolo blocks to up yields and quality. We got dry ripening weather with cool nights. Our harvests are all in and the whites have been released and the reds are still aging and developing elegantly. Our cellar tastings have shown us that this vintage is exceptional! We may not release some of the reds from this vintage until 2009 so we are offering futures on this vintage. See below under the Red Wines section for information on how futures work and remember that we do offer them for whites as well as reds.

WHITES

2007 Appassionata Vidal Blanc - Available Now - Vidal is a variety native to France. It’s a “hybrid” which means it is a cross between a classic European “vinfera” wine grape (Ugni blanc in this case) and a non-vinifera species (Seibel in this case). The grapes for the 2007 Appassionata were grown in Rappahanock County west of Warrenton. Appassionata is a true to type Vidal with good acidity with mixed citrus fruit tones. We do this in an “off-dry” style and our 2006 Appassionata has 3.0% sugar for a pleasing hint of sweetness which plays of the acidity. Overall, it is very reminiscent of an Alsatian-style Riesling. It’s great for sipping and goes very well with sharp cheeses, spicy foods, sea food, and specially wonderfully with Thai food!

2007 Calabrese Pinot Grigio - Available Now - Pinot Grigio is the same grape as the French call “pinot gris”. In Italy it is much produced in the north, in the Alto Adige, Trentino, and Friuli regions. Our estate grown Pinot Grigio done in the true Italian style. At crush we allowed just a bit of skin contact which gives loads of lush flavors. Light and refreshing with hints of apricot, citrus, raspberry, honey and melon. A great summer sipper but enjoyable year round. “Calabrese” (cah-lah-breh-see) means “someone from Calabria” which we thought would be a fun name and a tribute to all of our Calabrian friends. Enjoy Calabrese by itself, with a nice white pizza, a chicken or seafood Caesar, or roast poultry or pork.

2007 Leggero Chardonnay - Available Now -Orange County, Virginia grown and then steel fermented and aged off-site so no oak gets in the way of the classic nose and tastes of Chardonnay. Pineapple and vanilla notes on the nose with added citrus tones on the palate and good, forward fruit. A crisp, refreshing sipper! Great with mild cheeses or sea food. “Leggero” (leh-jer-oh) means light, as in “not heavy”.

2007 La Giacosa Chardonnay - Available Now - Beautiful grapes from Fauquier County, Virginia crushed and steel fermented and aged at Three Fox Vineyards. This – like all of our whites – is not oaked and the result is a crisp, clean chardonnay with pineapple, citrus, and melon notes with bright acidity very reminiscent of a New Zealand Chardonnay.. This is a refreshing all occasion wine to enjoy by itself or with a great al fresco lunch salad. Think of arugula with grilled chicken, shaved parmigiano, and a simple lemon and olive oil dressing! “La Giacosa” (lah-gee-a-cosa) is a play on the Italian words for playful and joyful, which is what this wine is.

La Boheme Viognier 2007 - Available Now -This is the principal white wine grape of the Rhone Valley (also home to Syrah for red wines). Estate grown and steel fermented and aged, the 2007 La Boheme blew our taste panel away with its lush forward notes of pear, mango, and tropical fruit and its lingering finish. This is a great wine to enjoy with pates, smoked trout, goat cheese, poultry, or by itself. We’ve named this after the title character in Puccini’s opera “La Boheme”.

ROSÉ

Cano Pazzo Rosé (non-vintage) – Coming June 2008 - Our first ever Rosé, based on a traditional Sangiovese bleed wine with Cabernet Franc and Vidal. This is a dry Rosé with subtle hints of citrus, spice, and berry. Great and refreshing on a warm summer day! Will go very well with salmon, mild cheeses, or a tasty summer salad drizzled with olive oil and fresh parmigiano.

REDS

2006 Il Volpe Sangiovese – Available Now – Sangiovese is the king of red wine grapes in Tuscany, used for everything from Chianti to Brunello di Montalcino. Volpe (vohl-pay [“fox”]) is a “Super Tuscan” style blend (which means Sangiovese plus a Bordeaux varietal). We use our estate grown Sangiovese and estate Cabernet Franc, individually aged in American and Hungarion oak. The 2005 is 89% Sangiovese / 11% Cab Franc and the 2006 is 85% Sangiovese and 15% Cab Franc. Volpe Sangiovese has a typical Sangiovese nose (yeasty, leathery) and palate (lots of cherry, toast, coffee and spice notes) with a bit of chocolate from the Cab Franc. Volpe is a match made in heaven with pasta, risotto, pizza, poultry, seafood, pork or a nice steak but its soft and lush for just sipping.
** Silver Medal Winner, 2006 Vinifera Wine Growers Competition **

2006 Il Signor Sangiovese Reserve - Available Now - Our estate grown, 100%, Sangiovese is aged in Hungarian oak puncheons. Signor has yeast, leather, berry and coffee nose, with a round supple mouth feel with cherry, red fruits, coffee and toast notes on the palate, and a smooth lingering finish. In short, Signor Sangiovese is a trip to Tuscany in a bottle. "Signor" (see-nee-or, "the lord") is meant for enjoyment on its own as well as for complimenting a great meal. Try it with lamb chops, a good Bolognese, or a steak Florentine.

2004 Il Cigno Merlot - Available Now, Almost Sold Out - A big wine with a black cherry, blackberry, toast, currant, and licorice notes. Loudon County grapes, processed off-site, stainless fermented and ten barrel aged for over 18 months in French and American oak. Cigno (chee-nee-oh, the “swan”) is perfect for sipping, with red meats, or with a cigar.

2006 Alouette Cabernet Franc – Available Now - Our 100% estate Cabernet Franc. Alouette has a big chocolate nose and then explodes with blackberry, black cherry, chocolate, and subtle spice hints. This is a fantastic steak wine but also works superbly with chocolate goodies.

** Silver Medal Winner, 2007 Vinifera Wine Growehrs Competition, Silver Medal Winner, Hilton Head Island International Wine Competition 2007 (Vintage 2005). **

OUR PORT ALTERNATIVE IS BACK!

2007 Rosso Dolce Chambourcin – Available Now - Rosso Dolce (sweet red) is our “port alternative”. Chambourcin is a hybrid originally from the Loire Valley of France (still grown there) and now much grown in Virginia. Rosso Dolce, at 6% sugar, has strong red fruits notes with a subtle chocolate, port-like undercurrent and finish. You can enjoy a port-like experience without the high alcohol level of a true port. Try it with your favorite chocolate dessert for a real treat! Packaged in "Bellisimo" 375 mL bottles just right for a bit of after-dinner fun.

2007 FUTURES!!

The 2007 Vintage is shaping up as one of our best ever. Already the nascent wines are showing great character, extraction and development. We are taking Futures on 2007 Sangiovese (Volpe and Signor Reserve), Cabernet Franc (Alouette), and Nebbiolo (Piemontese). Pay for 50% of the wine now and 50% when its ready in late summer 2008 and at 2007 prices! One case minimum required.

2007 Piemontese Nebbiolo – Coming September 2008: The princely grape of the Italian Piemonte, used for Barolo and Barbaresco, and estate grown at Three Fox Vineyards on the Virginia Piedmont. This is a beautiful, elegant wine with structure, black cherry and spice notes, good forward fruit and a symphony of flavors in the finish.

2007 Il Volpe Sangiovese – Coming 2009: All we can say is “hold onto your hat” for this one! A blend of Sangiovese, Cabernet Franc and with a bit of Chambourcin for this vintage this one, in our blending trials, is already drinking much like a Brunello. There are deep red cherry notes, blackberry, spice, toast. Chocolate, and coffee hints with a smooth, lingering finish. We won’t likely release this one until 2009 but, if you buy futures you can take home your cases, before we release to the general public, and age them in your own cellar.

2007 Il Signor Sangiovese Reserve – Coming Late Summer 2008: Another incredible wine from an incredible vintage. 100% estate Sangiovese aged only in hungarian oak, barrel selected by the winemaker, and with 2006 reserved sangiovese blended in as well. This will be a great expression of the Sangiovese grape. There are bright red cherry notes, spice, toast and coffee hints with a smooth, lingering finish.

2007 Alouette Cabernet Franc – Coming Late Summer 2008: This will surpass even our amazing 2005 Alouette! There are notes of blackberry, chocolate, toast and coffee hints with a hint of caramel on the finish.