THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, September 24, 1995 TAG: 9509210064
SECTION: FLAVOR PAGE: F1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JIM RAPER, WINE COLUMNIST
LENGTH: Medium: 95 lines
AT LEAST 25 of Virginia's 45 wineries will be represented at the eighth annual Town Point Virginia Wine Festival Oct. 21, on the downtown Norfolk waterfront.
This is one of the more pleasant and better organized of the festivals featuring our state's wines. Most folks who attend will be there for casual enjoyment of the wines and the setting, as well as the gourmet foods that will be available. They will not be there to sip, spit, sip all afternoon and keep a scorecard, which is something I'm likely to do.
I might be accused of working while others are relaxing, but I decided long ago that if wine were going to be a passion I should learn as much as possible from wine festivals. For me, this means making an effort to taste as many wines as possible, assess each one and write down the results. My memory, sadly, is not dependable.
Passion loves company, of course, so I'm forever encouraging others to keep wine assessment records of their own. If any readers are inclined to ``work'' a little with me at this year's Town Point festival, I thought I might add an incentive. I'll give you some of my ratings - from a recent blind tasting of 150 Virginia wines - and ask you to compare them to ratings you give the festival's wines. Some of the wines I include here probably will not be poured at the festival, but many of them should be.
So, dear readers, how about rating a few or a lot of the festival's wines on a 100-point scale and mailing me your results? (Try a scale of 69 and less as below average; 70-79 as average; 80-89 as good to very good; 90-100 as outstanding to perfect.) I'll write a column reporting the tally.
Even if you don't join in the ``work,'' you might search out some of the wines listed below, whether at the festival or at a retail outlet. Most cost $7 to $15.
Each winery on the list is a dependable producer and has committed to participate in this year's festival.
Prince Michel - 1993 Chardonnay Barrel Select (88), 1993 Chardonnay (83), 1993 Merlot (84), 1992 Merlot/Cabernet Reserve (85).
Rapidan River - 1994 Riesling Semi-Dry (86), 1993 Riesling Dry (83), 1993 Chardonnay (87).
Horton, including Montdomaine label - 1993 Chardonnay Reserve (87), 1993 Stonecastle Red (81), 1992 Heritage Red (82), 1993 Mourvedre (85), 1993 Syrah (87).
Ingleside Plantation - 1993 Chardonnay (86), 1994 Chardonnay (83), 1993 Merlot (80), 1994 Merlot (82), 1993 Cabernet Franc (81), 1994 Cabernet Franc (81), 1992 Cabernet Sauvignon (83), 1993 Cabernet Sauvignon (85).
Williamsburg - 1991 Chardonnay Vintage Reserve (85), 1993 Merlot (82).
Wintergreen - 1994 Three Ridges White (81), 1994 Thomas Nelson White (82), 1994 Chardonnay (84), 1994 Chardonnay Black Rock (83), 1994 Riesling (84), 1992 Cabernet Sauvignon (86), 1993 Cabernet Franc (86), Mill Hill Apple Wine (84).
Rockbridge - 1994 Chardonnay (86), 1994 St. Mary's Blanc (81), 1994 Tuscarora White (85), 1993 Pinot Noir (82), 1994 Tuscarora Red (80).
Afton Mountain - 1994 Gewurztraminer (86), 1994 Riesling Cardinal Point (82), 1994 Chardonnay Barrel Select (84), 1993 Pinot Noir (81), 1993 Merlot (82), 1993 Cabernet Sauvignon (83).
Oasis - 1993 Cabernet Sauvignon (87), 1993 Cabernet Franc (85), 1993 Merlot (82).
Barboursville - 1994 Semillon/Sauvignon Blanc (81), 1994 Chardonnay (82), Brut sparkling wine (85), 1994 Cabernet Franc (83).
Chateau Morrisette - 1993 Chardonnay (86), 1993 White Riesling (83), Black Dog Red (81), Sweet Mountain Laurel (82).
Burnley - 1994 Chardonnay (83), 1994 Chardonnay Barrel Fermented (83), 1994 Riesling (86), Rivanna White (82), 1991 Cabernet Sauvignon (80), 1992 Cabernet Sauvignon (83), 1993 Cabernet Sauvignon (82), Rivanna Red (81), Rivanna Sunset (81).
Loudoun Valley - 1994 Riesling (83), 1993 Gewurztraminer Late Harvest (91).
Oakencroft - Countryside White (82), 1994 Chardonnay (83), 1993 Merlot (86).
Rose Bower - 1994 Riesling (85), 1994 Chardonnay (80).
A ticket to the Town Point festival entitles the bearer to a souvenir glass and unlimited tasting. The price is $12 in advance and $15 at the gate. A no-tasting admission ticket will cost $5.
Savvy festival-goers will group together and reserve a table for eight for $150. With the table will come eight tasting tickets and a basket of fruit and cheese. In addition, picnic baskets catered by Grand Affairs in Virginia Beach will be available to people sitting at reserved tables.
Tickets may be purchased and table reservations made at the Norfolk Festevents office, 120 W. Main St. Some retailers are also selling tickets. Call Festevents at 441-2345 for more information.
The festival will be from noon to 5 p.m. and will include wine seminars presented by the Virginia Department of Agriculture's Wine Marketing Office.
ILLUSTRATION: Staff file color photo
The Town Point Virginia Wine Festival will be Oct. 21 on the
downtown Norfolk waterfront.
by CNB