Afton Mountain T'19

Name: Afton Mountain T'19

Variety: 42% Merlot,29% Petit Verdot, 29% Cabernet Sauvignon

Region: Virginia (Afton)

Country: USA

Year: 2019

Price: $55

Winery review: Red fruit aromatics, with a rich tannin structure and lingering finish.

Wine Folly: Based on page 88 of Wine Folly, cabernet sauvignon is rich in flavor and is a perfect partner with meats and peppery sauces. Something that I found interesting was that specifically in Napa Valley, the wine typically tends to offer more black cherry, but overall cabernet sauvignon does have hints of baking spices and graphite as well. Merlot (131) pairs well with cherry, plum, chocolate, dried fruit, and vanilla. It even has a smoky finish to it and tastes great with fruit notes. Petit Verdot on page 146 is a minor blending grade in Bordeaux. It has shown promise as a single-varietal wine in warmer climates where it makes smooth full-bodied reds. It can be more of black cherry, plum, violet, lilac, or sage.

My review: To continue the mountain weekend journey at my favorite mountain winery, Afton, my tasting ended with their T'19 which is in their 2024 Governor's Case Selection! Out of the 4 wines I tried, this one was by far my favorite, but of course hurt with the price attached to it. It had a hardy bold smell to it but was very bold and smooth. I very much enjoyed this bottle and even made the purchase to bring one home with me as a special treat! I could really taste the dark fruit with a more violet/floral smell.

Afton Mountain Cabernet Franc

 Name: Afton Mountain Cabernet Franc

Variety: 100% Cabernet Franc

Region: Virginia (Afton)

Country: USA

Year: 2022

Price: $35

Winery review: Full berry fermentation and aging in concrete amphora. Light and fruity, with round and smooth tannins.

Wine Folly: Based on page 86 of Wine Folly, cabernet franc is a parent grape to Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. It has a higher acidity making it possible to pair with tomato-based dishes, vinegar-based sauces, or rich black beluga lentils.

My review: This past weekend, some friends and I visited my home in Wintergreen which is close to the Nelson 151 Craft Beverage Trail. With this, we had to make our mountain weekend a wine weekend and since none of my friends have visited the wineries in this part of Virginia, I took them to my favorite which is Afton Mountain Vineyards. While Afton has stunning views on their property, in my opinion, the have the best red wines in the area. I did a red tasting and on the top of my list to try was the cabernet franc. At first, I was not a huge fan due to its strong taste, but after a couple sips, I really enjoyed this wine. It had a sweet fruit smell and an at first tart taste to a then smooth a flavorful wine. I would definitely have this wine again!

Tasting - Robert Mondavi

Name: Robert Mondavi, Private Selection

Variety: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon

Region: California

Country: USA

Year: 2023

Price: $7.99

Winery review: California- Velvety layers of blackberry, plum and cassis highlight our Cabernet Sauvignon. The wine has the sweet black cherry and dark berry fruit character that distinguishes California’s finest Cabernet Sauvignons, and its ripe fruit is supported by velvety tannins. (The Barrel Tap)

Wine Folly: Based on page 88 of Wine Folly, cabernet sauvignon is rich in flavor and is a perfect partner with meats and peppery sauces. Something that I found interesting was that specifically in Napa Valley, the wine typically tends to offer more black cherry, but overall cabernet sauvignon does have hints of baking spices and graphite as well.

My review: Through this journey, I have discovered, and not to my surprise, that I am a cabernet sauvignon fan and that they do not disappoint. This wine had a bold smell to it of graphite but was not as strong as most other cabernets I have had. It still had the graphite taste, but with a dark fruit taste and while reviews say dark cherry, I tasted more of a bold dark plum flavor to it which I really enjoyed. Alone this wine was great and budget friendly which I enjoyed!

Tasting - Red Blend Portugal

Name: Red Blend Portugal by Casa Santos Lima

Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Touriga Nacional

Region: Vinho Regional Lisboa

Country: Portugal

Year: 2022

Price: $10.99

Winery review: A blend of several varieties—a Portuguese skill—this wine is fruity and attractively fresh. It has red berries and spice, acidity and ripeness at the same time. Drink now. — Roger Voss (Wine Enthusiast)

Wine Folly: Based on page 88 of Wine Folly, cabernet sauvignon is rich in flavor and is a perfect partner with meats and peppery sauces. Something that I found interesting was that specifically in Napa Valley, the wine typically tends to offer more black cherry, but overall cabernet sauvignon does have hints of baking spices and graphite as well. Based on page 172 of Wine Folly, Syrah is a rich and powerful, sometimes meaty red wine that originated in the Rhone Valley of France. It is also the most planted grape in Australia where it is called Shiraz. Dark meats and exotic spices help bring out the fruit notes. On page 178 of Wine Folly, touriga nacional is originally used in port wines and is an important Portuguese grape. It has elegant floral aromas and massive tannins that go great with thick cut steak.

My review: This is another wine that I had with Maddie and her family! It had a very fruity and sweet smell to it reminding me of a port wine, however it was a much better experience than the other port wines I have tried. It had a ripe and sweet fruit taste to it resembling a tangerine or strawberry. We had it as a standalone, but I would love to taste this win with sorbet as I feel it would pair very nicely together.

Tasting - Frank Family Vineyards

Name: Frank Family Vineyards

Variety: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon

Region: Napa Valley

Country: USA

Year: 2018

Price: $49.99

Winery review: This medium purple colored Cabernet Sauvignon FROM Frank Family is Excellent! It opens with a blackberry and black cherry bouquet. On the palate, this wine is medium bodied with integrated gentle acidity. The mouthfeel is well balanced, smooth, gentle, and elegant. The flavor profile is black currant and blackberry blend with notes oak and stony minerality. We also detected some hints of blueberry and black cherry in the mix. The finish is dry, and its fine tannins are extended and linger for quite some time. The Tasting Panel would drink this Cab in the near term with a filet mignon. Enjoy - KWGTP (Ken's Wine Guide)

Wine Folly: Based on page 88 of Wine Folly, cabernet sauvignon is rich in flavor and is a perfect partner with meats and peppery sauces. Something that I found interesting was that specifically in Napa Valley, the wine typically tends to offer more black cherry, but overall cabernet sauvignon does have hints of baking spices and graphite as well.

My review: Shocker, another cabernet sauvignon! I really liked this wine and enjoyed it with Maddie over family dinner at her house in Charolette on our way down to Florida for spring break. We initially had the wine as a standalone, but as dinner approached, we paired it with homemade spaghetti and meatballs with a side of garlic bread and vinaigrette salad. Alone, this wine had a bold and a tad of a bitter taste, but I really like the dark fruit and graphite taste. It also had a bold graphite smell to it. While it was the perfect standalone wine, it also paired very well with the homemade meatballs!

Tasting - Woodbridge

Name: Woodbridge

Variety: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon

Region: California

Country: USA

Year: 2014

Price: $12.99

Winery review: This is definitely a very tasty bottle of wine to share with a friend or just have a glass after a long day of work to relax and unwind (Fine Wine & Good Spirits).

Wine Folly: Based on page 88 of Wine Folly, cabernet sauvignon is rich in flavor and is a perfect partner with meats and peppery sauces. Something that I found interesting was that specifically in Napa Valley, the wine typically tends to offer more black cherry, but overall cabernet sauvignon does have hints of baking spices and graphite as well.

My review: Another red wine for the books! I really liked this wine as it was not only friendly to a college wallet, but it was a perfect standalone wine! It had a bold taste with what seemed to be to be a sweeter undertone start that turned to a bolder deep fruit taste. It is smooth and great alone without a pairing but could see this tasting well with a red meat dish.