Yay or Nay

In November Mark and I visited the Abingdon Winery in Abingdon Virginia.  It was a great visit and a wonderful winery, sighhhhhhhhhh.  We can't remember which on of us picked this one out to buy but either way it was a good purchase.  The makers of the wine describe it as "A very sweet blush blend of Traminette, White Chambourcin, and White Cabernet Franc"   The very sweet part is dead on!  This wine needs a warm piece of pie or fresh fruit to pair with.  Since I don't lean towards the really sweet my guess is Mark picked this out :)  I enjoyed it enough tho to ask for a second glass.  Sipping it by the fire last weekend was a nice touch.  So of course we have another Yay on our hands! 

I might be hitting a winery or two this weekend...can't wait to get started :)

Yay or Nay

Seems like it has been a while since we did a yay or nay....but I can promise we have been keeping up with sampling some of Virginia's wines ;)  Over Christmas we opened our bottle of Courtney's Christmas from Lost Creek Winery.  It really is "Christmas in a Bottle" with clove and other spices that remind you of that special time of year.  Then we had a bottle of Raspberry Merlot from Fabbioli Cellars.  Finally we had the Tavern Red from Saude Creek.  I am happy to say that all of them were Yay....I think that most of the wine we have at home is already going to be a Yay simply because we have already been to the winery and tasted them and them liked them enough to purchase them.  The real Yay or Nay decisions will come when we get back out on the wine trails :)

All of the wines were sweet wines and except for the Tavern Red were just a little something to sip on while sitting by our Christmas Tree (or January Tree as it is now) or while having family/friends over.  The Tavern Red is a bit less sweet in flavor and I had it with some crackers and cheese.  We also served the Tavern Red at our open house...both chilled and mulled.



The warm Tavern Red.

While at Saude Creek Winery they served this wine warmed in a crock pot with fruit sliced in it.  I tried the same just to see how it would go over.  I didn't try it at the winery (I like chilled wine) and thought it would be a nice option for our guests.  When I took the lid off the crock pot to serve it I was taken back at how much more fragrant the wine was.  It took my breath away literally!  Warming it also changed the taste of the wine.  I can't put my finger on what changed but I described it as 'mellow'.  It was a good change none the less.




The Tavern Red

 




Tavern Red



The Raspberry Merlot from Fabbioli Cellars

I was in such a rush the night we had the Courtney's Christmas that I forgot to take a picture of it.  Ho hum.  We are making some plans to make it to a few wineries here in the next month.  So I'll work on finding a Nay...ha ha.  Have a great weekend folks.  The Busy Bryants will be visiting a local plantation if our plans work out so I'll have some fun pictures to share soon.

Yay or Nay

New Kent's Patriot

Remember our trip to the New Kent Winery?  If not you can check out some of the details here.  On my second visit to the winery Mark picked up this little bottle of wine and we opened it this week to give it a full scale taste.  To me the taste of wine in a winery is different than the taste of wine at home.  I know the amount of time the bottle is open and what the wine is eaten with or what you drink ahead of time change the flavor so how it tastes at the winery does not mean it will taste the same later.  But since it still tasted great I was not let down :) 

If you visit New Kent Winery's web site they no longer have it listed as a selection.  I know that this was a special creation and that part of the money from the sales of the wine were going to help the families of soldiers.  Their wine menu describes the wine as "Refreshingly sweet, blended white wine."  I would say that's pretty accurate.  With 3% residual sugar it was a sweet wine but not so sweet to the taste that I couldn't stand it.  I really don't usually care for dessert wines so it was just sweet enough to have with some fresh fruits or crackers but not sweet enough to serve as syrup!  We enjoyed this wine so another "Yay" for the records. 

The weekend is upon us and holiday shopping and a few errands to run for the weekend are in store.  Have a great one folks! 

Yay or Nay

Horton's Eclipse



Well folks we finally made it to Friday!  Another busy week under our belts and another busy weekend to come.  Night before last Mark and I celebrated Wednesday night with half a bottle of Eclipse from Horton Vineyard.  Horton describes it as "a semi-sweet wine loaded with cherry and tropical aromas." 

Both Mark and I agreed this one was a keeper...enough red wine to not make it super sweet and yet not dry on the pallet.  We had already had dinner so we did not try pairing it with anything but I can see it going with crackers, cheese and fruit....but not something tangy or spicy.  I did have it with some roast beef the next night and after being open over night the flavor did change but for the good.  Defiantly a keeper.  So two YAYS from the Busy Bryants. 

Hope you guys have a great weekend and that your enjoying the Holiday Season. 

Yay or Nay



Saude Creek Blush.

A little while ago Mark and I decided the blog would be a good place to keep track of what wines we liked as well as sharing with others some Virginias Wines.  Since we recently visited this particular winery we thought one of their wines would be a good pick for the week. 

The Saude Creek Website describes the wine "A soft, rosy semi-dry blend deriving much of it’s distinctive character from the Chambourcin grape, our Saudé Creek Blush introduces itself with a round, fruity nose and follows with notes of blackberry and apple, and a subtle hint of peach. A superb accompaniment to fish, chicken, sushi and good conversation." 

Well I don't know if it goes with fish, chicken or sushi....but it sure does go crackers and cheese!  Mark and I both give it a "YAY"!  It's not overly sweet and it's not overy dry.  We both really enjoyed the fact we could sip on it while dinner was cooking and then have the rest after dinner while on the couch.  Others must enjoy it too since the winery is now sold out of it!  But they do promise more is on the way. 

I think this is the perfect wine chilled and enjoyed while sitting out on the deck.  But I guess now I will have to wait until they make some more! 

Happy Friday everyone!

Yay or Nay

We're busy this week on a few projects around the house and just trying to get back into the swing of our normal busy selves.  Last night over dinner Mark and I shared a bottle of wine and Mark suggested we start keeping tabs of what we like and what we don't.  In my head I have a list but there are just too many things floating up there already.  So a simple post today to start our "yay or nay" on some of Virginia's finest wine....

First up....Sweet Mountain Laural from Chateau Morrisette Winery. 

Both Mark and I give it two thumbs up....It's a sweet wine so not something I would serve with dinner.  And trust me because we tried.  It didn't go so great with lasagna but was great with some dark chocolate infused with coffee!  I have looked around their site to see what grapes they used to make this wine but can't seem to get my answer.  I think next time I get a bottle I might save it for a cobbler or ice cream.  :)