Over the past half-dozen years – and spurred on by Covid – direct-to-consumer or DTC wine shipments has altered the way we buy wine and has also opened up a wider array of purchase possibilities. Yes, most of us still buy wine at our friendly neighborhood wine shop, but now we can also buy wine directly from wineries that don’t have national distribution (and many who do), except in a few states were DTC is verboten.
That means I can now write about wines from smaller wineries often in lesser-known regions. And any reader who is interested can simply check the winery’s website and set up a shipping account.
With this The Dozen, we have a few such wines from Virginia and will have more in the next go-around. And if you haven’t tried Virginia wines, you are missing some great drinking. (Above is the tasting room at Paradise Springs.)
Also in this edition, there are some lovely sparkling wines at all price levels for those of you anticipating Valentine’s Day.
2022 Paradise Springs “Sommet Blanc” Virginia Whie Wine ($27). A blend of Vidal Blanc and Seyval Blanc grapes, it tastes a lot like a Chenin Blanc – fruity but not juicy, with flavors of cream, pear and a little grapefruit.
NV Cruse France Blanc de Blanc ($11). A serviceable, inexpensive blubby with fresh green apple flavors and a lot of refreshing bubbles.
NV Martini & Rossi Italian Extra Dry Sparkling Rosé ($17). Concentrated flavors of fresh strawberries with a soft fizziness – not long on the palate – and a savory hint of straw.
NV Capstone “C2” Virginia Sparkling Wine ($40). Quite lovely, with floral notes of Chenin Blanc and sapple flavors of Chardonnay – rich, creamy and a little gamey.
NV Laurent Perrier “La Cuvée” Brut Champagne ($56). Creamy, with excellent candied fruit and brioche flavors and a hint of minerality.
2018 Michael David “Earthquake” Lodi Zinfandel ($24). Pure Zin – bold berry flavors, but very rounded on the palate with no rough edges.
2022 Glen Manor Virginia Cabernet Sauvignon ($28). Soft and mellow with almost creamy black fruits, a hint of red fruits and dusty tannins.
2023 Domaine St. Laurent Rogue Valley Pinot Noir ($35). A very light wine in color and impact but with smooth, enjoyable cherry flavors and a little tartness in the finish.
2021 Black Ankle Vineyards “Rolling Hills” Frederick County (MD) Red Wine ($49). An excellent Bordeaux blend with great granular texture and flavors of red berries, baking spices and piquant tannins – pleasantly lean.
2022 RdV “Friends and Family” Virginia Red Wine ($64). A lovely Bordeaux blend from this cult wine estate, with mellow but complex berry flavors and with gentle oak and chocolate tannins in the finish.
2021 Baker & Hamilton Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon ($129). This is a very pleasant but mild and mellow wine with flavors of dried blackberry, some savory notes and mild tannins.
NV Feudo Montoni Terre Sicilian Passito Rosso ($77). Fragrant crushed blackberry and elderberry tastes – sweet and juicy, but very clean, a little like a lighter ruby Port.
Prices listed are generally SRP or from wine-searcher.com. As more wineries are now shipping direct-to-consumer, check the winery website if you can’t find a bottle in your retail store.
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