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!

December 13, 2019 0

White Merlot – Brandon Hills Vineyard

Our wine tonight is the White Merlot from Brandon Hills Vineyard in North Carolina’s Yadkin Valley.

Vintage 2012.

Pale orange in color.

Processed of 100% Yadkin Valley AVA grown Merlot grapes.

Nose of grapefruit, orange, cranberry, and strawberry.

Mild tannins.

Semi-sweet. 3.5% residual sugar.

Flavor notes of cherry pie, strawberries, raspberries, kiwi, guava, and bananas foster.

12.5% ABV.

We recently picked up this one and a second bottle at the winery and saw even more recently they had opened the very last case of this vintage.

White Merlot is looked down on in the wine “snob” industry, Placed in the same category as White Zinfandel, and perhaps in the past rightfully so.

However, this Yadkin Valley AVA vintage is undoubtably a cut above. We’ve enjoyed bottles of this vintage for a few years now and it’s still drinking well. We’re saddened to realize that we are down to most likely the very last bottle we’ll ever enjoy of this vintage.

Thanks for the memories 2012 White Merlot!

Cheers!

December 11, 2019 0

Rosé – Barefoot

Our wine tonight is the Rosé from Barefoot Wine and Bubbly. Light Salmon in color.

Fruit forward nose of raspberries, strawberries, ted plums, and fresh sliced watermelon.

Light, delicate, and sweet yet not syrupy.

Slightly effervescent.

Bursting of summer fruit on the tongue, with notes of watermelon, bing cherries, tangerines, lime, pink grapefruit, and honeysuckle.

The finish lingers with a crisp tartness.

10% ABV.

$5 a bottle in your local grocery store.

Barefoot strives to offer wines which are fun, flavorful, and approachable. This Rosé hits the mark on all three points.

Barefoot is the most awarded wine brand in the world, so they are obviously doing something right.

Winemaker Jennifer Wall has been awarded over 2,000 medals for her wines.

This blog is sponsored, doesn’t change that this wine is good, and certainly an exceptional value.

Visit our other blog at WineryEscapades.Com

Merry Christmas and Cheers!

Dennis & Jenni

December 6, 2019 0

Cabernet Franc – Parker-Binns Vineyard

Tonight we celebrate Cabernet Franc day with one of our favorites. Our wine tonight is the Cabernet Franc from Parker-Binns Vineyard in the Tryon Foothills of North Carolina.

Vintage 2016

Blend of 77% Cabernet Franc and 23% Chambourcin.

Dark ruby color with a gorgeous garnet rim.

Aromatic nose of cocoa, coffee, lavender, cranberry, and graphite.

Dry, medium bodied, with mild tannins.

On the palate exhibits notes of cherry cola, dark chocolate, fresh baked cinnamon buns, vanilla bean, sweet tea, and leather.

13% ABV.

$23.00 a bottle.

We may somewhat better enjoy the 2015 vintage however this 2016 certainly drinks very nice.

Decant for about 30 to 60 minutes to open.

Contact Parker-Binns Vineyard direct for ordering/shipping info.

December 5, 2019 0

Riesling – Schmitt Söhne

Our wine tonight is the Riesling from Schmitt Söhne.

Riesling imported from Germany.

Light straw in color.

Nose of green apple, peach, and grapefruit.

Mid sweet-sweet to sweet.

Light and crisp.

Nicely balanced with mild acidity.

Flavor notes of apricot, lemon-lime, tangerine, nectarine, pineapple, pear, and honey, finishing of mineral, limestone, and ginger.

9.5% ABV.

$7.98 a bottle at your local grocery store.

Excellent drinking wine for the price.

Good as an aperitif or pair with chicken, Thai, or a charcuterie plate.

While we sincerely enjoyed this wine, this post is sponsored.

Earn money back when you buy wine by using Ibotta

Check out other blog at WineryEscapades.Com

December 4, 2019 0

Stella Peach – Stella Rosa

Our wine tonight is the Stella Peach from Stella Rosa.

White blend infused of natural peach flavor.

Pale with a very light yellowish tint and a soft white rim. A beautiful wine.

Nose very expressive of peach and cotton candy.

Light and delicate.

Sparkling, more so effervescent.

Semi-Sweet on the palate with flavor notes of fresh baked peach cobbler, wildflower honey, kiwi, green apples, lemon custard, cream soda, almonds, strawberries, apricots, and a light finish reminiscent of cremè brûlée.

5% ABV

$12 a bottle.

Imported from Italy.

Gold medal winner in the Beverage Testing Institute’s World Wine Championship scoring 91 points.

This wine is light and refreshing. The perfect before dinner wine for those family get togethers.

This blog is sponsored.

Please visit our other blog @ WineryEscapades.Com

November 29, 2019 0

Cork and Pork – Rock of Ages Winery

Our wine tonight is the Cork & Pork wine from Rock of Ages Winery.

Red blend of dry vanifera and sweet muscadine grapes.

Dark plum in color with a bright purple rim.

Muscadine on the nose, hints of cheap cigar, red currants, and cherry cola.

This red blend is sweet!

Served chilled.

Bold on the palate, chewy, notes of red and black currants, blackberry jam, fresh baked cherry pie, plums, cranberries, and raisins. Oaky on the back end with a lingering vanilla finish.

Absolutely one of the most unusual wines we have tasted. Not bad just unusual.

13.1% ABV

$14 a bottle.

Blended to pair with pork BBQ.

November 22, 2019 0

Naughty and Nice – Duplin Winery

Our wine tonight is the Naughty and Nice from Duplin Winery.

Holiday white wine blend of Scuppernong, Muscadine, and what I think to be Niagara.

The scuppernong is distinct.

Nose of ripe bananas, lemonade, green apples, honeydew melons, and a stuffy mildewed room.

Sweet, syrupy.

On the palate notes of overripe bananas, honeysuckle, rubber cement, lemonade, almonds, and pixy stix, with lingering back of the mouth sticky notes of honey and lemon cough syrup.

10.5% ABV

$10 a bottle.

This wine is certainly complex.

Duplin Winery In North Carolina is the largest muscadine wine producer in the world.