This past weekend, we visited three wineries in the Yadkin Valley. We were fortunate enough to sample a few new releases on this trip as well. The weather was cool enough that we were able to bring our dog Amy. She always enjoys our wine adventures and is mostly happy to just be along for the ride.
Our first stop was McRitchie Winery & Ciderworks. Their latest release was a stainless Chardonnay. It had hints of apricot and a nice full body mouthfeel. It didn’t have the usual acidity of a stainless Chardonnay. Instead it was more developed and well rounded. While we were there, we decided to also grab a bit of lunch. They were offering chicken or pork tacos. We opted for the pork and settled on a glass of their Muscat Blanc. The bright acidity and floral notes paired nicely with the spicy tacos.
The highlight of the stop may have been Fiona. She is the wine dog at McRitchie. Unfortunately she didn’t receive a warm welcome from our dog Amy. Knowing that she would be there, we decided to leave Amy in the car with the windows down. The cool breeze and light misty rain would keep Amy cool while we had lunch. Amy wasn’t too keen on Fiona being there and wouldn’t stop barking at her whenever when was near the car.
The next stop on the list was Dobbins Creek Vineyards where we sampled their latest dry rosé. This delicate wine was a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot. It was light and delicate with hints of strawberry and spice. We didn’t stay too long as they were incredibly busy, but we did pick up one bottle of the rosé and one of the dry Riesling.
Our last stop was at Raffaldini Vineyards. They were featuring three new Reserva wines. The first up was the Vermentino. This luscious white was nutty and succulent with tropical notes of coconut and a nice finish. The Sangiovese was next. This is actually a blend of Sangiovese, Malbec, and Petit Verdot (as Joe pointed out, it’s a Super Tuscan). It’s a robust red, quite flavorful with hints of dark plums and ash. The final wine was the Montepulciano. I must admit that this is my favorite wine and the new release didn’t disappoint. It was the most full bodied having spent two years in oak. Being 100% Montepulciano, it exhibited a nose full of deep, dark fruits and a subtle woodsy aroma. The flavors are supple and full and provide a pleasurable experience.
I would say that our weekend was quite enjoyable. I hope the new wines are well received and enjoyed by all.
