OTTO – Marked Tree Vineyard

Our wine tonight is the OTTO white blend from Marked Tree Vineyard.

OTTO = Old Two Tops Oak. Impressive old oak on the property which continues to rise above the farm’s old homestead.

Vintage 2018

Predominantly Vidal Blanc, listed as a blend…so we suspect blended with estate grown Chardonel and Grüner Veltliner.

Light yellow in color, similar to corn silk.

Crest of the Blue Ridge (Henderson County)

Nose of honeysuckle, peach, clematis, jasmine, and eucalyptus.

Semi-sweet with crisp balanced acidity.

Flavor notes of wildflower honey, pineapple, honeysuckle, honeydew melon, and pink grapefruit, and lemon-lime.

12.5% ABV

$20 a bottle.

Winery Escapades scores 89 points.

August 28, 2020 0

Rosé – Stone Ash Vineyard

Our wine tonight is the Rosé from Stone Ash Vineyard.

Vintage 2019

Provence style.

Rosé of Cabernet Franc

Harvested fruit cold soaked for 12 hours and processed with a cool fermentation.

Crest of the Blue Ridge AVA (Hendersonville, N.C.)

Light salmon in color.

Nose of ripe melon, gooseberry, citrus, and flint.

Dry with tropical fruit notes on the front palate, pink grapefruit, red currant, with floral notes of daffodils and jasmine. Finishing notes of cold brew, almonds, and cocoa.

14.4% ABV

$24 a bottle.

Winery Escapades scores at 85 points.

August 27, 2020 0

Sweet Ellie Mae Rosé – Marked Tree Vineyard

Our wine tonight is the Sweet Ellie Mae Rosé from Marked Tree Vineyard in Flat Rock, North Carolina.

Vintage 2018.

Crest of the Blue Ridge- Henderson County AVA

Blend of estate grown Cabernet Franc and Vidal Blanc.

Light salmon in color.

The nose delicately shows evocations of red currants, citrus, rosé petals, and hibiscus.

Semi-sweet on the tongue. 2.5% residual sugar.

Flavor notes of sweet melon, blood orange, pink grapefruit, strawberry tarts, macintosh apples and light minerality on the finish. Elegantly balanced and refreshing.

12.5% ABV

$20 per bottle.

Winery Escapades scoring 90 points. Gold metal worthy.

The tasting room at Marked Tree Vineyard offers spectacular mountain views.

Check our recent blog for further details.

July 3, 2020 0

Chloe Rosé – Marked Tree Vineyards

Our wine tonight is the Chloe Rosé from Marked Tree Vineyards in Flat Rock, North Carolina.

Vintage 2018

Estate grown blend of 90% Cab Franc and 10% Lemburger.

Crest of the Blue Ridge Henderson County AVA.

Produced in the Saignee style.

Light salmon in color.

Off dry and light. Strikingly refreshing.

Nose of stone fruits with subtle tones of red currant, strawberry, basil, and soft minerals, showing a bright acidity with flavor notes of blood orange, ripe apple, red plum, watermelon, and honeydew melons.

Fruit grown in their Upper Pisgah block planted in 2015. So for young fruit this produced a nice rosè.

12.5% ABV.

$23 a bottle.

Winemaker: Justin Taylor

We visited Marked Tree Vineyards On their opening weekend, which was Memorial Day weekend 2020.

We enjoyed a bottle of this Rosé on our visit and of course brought a bottle home. Blow are a few pictures from our visit.

June 11, 2020 0

Sunset Sippin’ – Burntshirt Vineyards

Our wine tonight is the Sunset Sippin’ from Burntshirt Vineyards.

Semi-sweet white wine blend of Petit Manseng and Traminette.

Crest of the Blue Ridge Henderson County AVA.

Beautiful light golden color.

Floral aromas of fresh rose petals, gardenia, honeysuckle, and crisp morning dew, and nicely balanced acidity with bright tropical fruit notes vibrant on the tongue,

13.2% ABV! Wow seriously high alcohol content for a porch pounder!!

Copied direct from BurntshirtVineyards.Com“This wine has won multiple international Gold, Double Gold and Best of Class from competitions such as Pacific Rim International Wine Competition, East Meets West Wine Competition, Finger Lakes International Wine Competition”

$19 a bottle. Ships most states via VinoShipper.

This particular bottle doesn’t have the vintage listed, though in the past I know we have enjoyed a 2014 vintage of this wine. Perhaps a dual vintage?

WineryEscapades.Com easily scores this wine as Gold Medal worthy! Color: 2 Nose: 5.5 Taste: 6 Finish: 2.5 Impression: 3 = 19 points on AWS scale

Thank you viewing our other blog at WineryEscapades

#NCWine #CrestoftheBlueRidge

May 14, 2020 0

O Cellars Meritage from Burntshirt Vineyards.

Our wine tonight in celebration of #OTBN #NCWine is the Meritage from Burntshirt Vineyards.

Vintage 2016.

Bordeaux blend of estate grown Cabernet Sauvignon 48%, Petit Verdot 19%, Cabernet Franc 16%, Merlot 9%, Malbec 8%.

Crest of the Blue Ridge Henderson County AVA

Keep in mind, Meritage rhymes with heritage, not garage. Click link above to learn more about Meritage.

Meritage is an American term, not French, originating out of California, which signifies a wineries best blend of Bordeaux noble varietals. A winery must license the right to label a blend “Meritage.”

Aged in French oak.

We aerated for 60 minutes.

Dark burgundy in color showing long sleek legs.

Nose of blackberries, think hot blackberry cobbler just out of the oven, black currants, rum (black) cherries, vanilla, tobacco, and cocoa.

Dry on the palate with expressive notes of bramble berry jam, dark chocolate, blackberries, vanilla, sage, and pipe tobacco, finishing with cedar, spice, and dried herbs.

14% ABV

$30 a bottle.

This vintage of Meritage accumulated an impressive collection of medals.

Double Gold. – International East Meets West Double Gold – China Wine and Spirits. Gold – Asheville Food and Wine. Gold – New York International. Gold – North Carolina State Fair. Silver – Finger Lakes International Competition. Silver – Grand Harvest Competition

#NCWineNight #Meritage #Burntshirt

Please visit our other blog at WineryEscapades.Com

This wine is very special to us as this vintage was the toast wine at our wedding! So from us to all of you, Cheers to local wine 🍷 🍷

May 3, 2020 0

Laurel Hill – Saint Paul Mountain Vineyards

Our wine tonight is the Laurel Hill from Saint Paul Mountain Vineyards.

Vidal Blanc.

Crest of Blue Ridge Henderson County AVA.

Aged in stainless steel.

Served chilled.

Pale Mellow Yellow in color, very light.

Tropical nose, off dry and crisp with a medium mouth feel. Flavor notes of grapefruit, key lime pie, lemon, peach, and Bosc Pears.

12.2% ABV

$20 a bottle. Ships most states via VinoShipper. Order at SaintPaulFarms.Com

This is a really nice drinking white wine. This AVA was just designated about a year ago, and the wines are continuing to progress and evolve.

WineryEscapades scores 87 points.

April 16, 2020 0

Holiday Red – Burntshirt Vineyards

Our wine tonight is the Holiday Red from Burntshirt Vineyards in Hendersonville, North Carolina.

Blend of Chambourcin and Cabernet Franc.

Crest of the Blue Ridge Henderson County AVA.

Non-Vintage.

Though we did buy this bottle during the 2018 Christmas season.

Beautiful dark ruby color with a bright garnet rim.

Nose of chocolate covered cherries, fresh brewed Colombian coffee, pomegranate, and clove.

Off dry, medium bodied, with subtle tannins.

Nutty on the palate, with depths of red plum, strawberry, bell pepper, cinnamon, vanilla, all spice, oak, mint, and gingerbread cookies.

13% ABV

Enjoyed in this beautiful snowman wine glass hand painted by our talented friend Sonnette.

Stay frosty!

Please check out Sonnette’s work. We love supporting small businesses and ask that you consider shopping with your local small businesses this Christmas season.

Merry Christmas from the Turner’s!