Inside Fruit of the Vine

Buying, storing and enjoying wines from around the world.
There are 13 articles written on this subject. The most recent 10 are listed here:

The Vintner's Pick | May 27, 2006 The Vintner's Pick | May 20, 2006 The Vintner's Pick | May 13, 2006 Very cool idea! 1994 Chateau Latour

Champagne on the house! The Vintners Pick | August 31, 2006 The Vintner's Pick | August 12, 2006 The Vintner's Pick | June 30, 2006 The Vintner's Pick | June 10, 2006

You will find a complete Index of Articles by Category and by Month in the Archives.

December 30, 2006

Welcome to the Guide. Have a virtual glass of bubbly on us! It is only the very finest Dom Perignon from the cellars of Moet & Chandon, the 1996 vintage scoring a perfect 100 points. Enjoy

Pam and I had the good fortune to spend time in France this year and took the train from Paris to Epernay, a small french town in the Champagne region and home to Moet & Chandon. The Chateau was impressive, the tour of the famous caves fantastic and the champagne is fabulous! If you get to Paris, it is worth the day trip to Epernay to experience the Champagne.



Be fabulous!

Here's wishing all my friends, family and clients a Happy and prosperous New Year! (hold the virtual glass up for this toast... ... ... thank you)

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August 31, 2006

BIG BOTTLES FROM SILVER OAK! As you probably know, Silver Oak happens to be one of my favorites and these should not be missed.

Silver Oak in the 1.5 and 6.0 litre Bottles

We just received a limited supply of older vintages of Silver Oak, Alexander Valley Cabernet. Supplies are limited so act quickly if you are interested.

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Silver Oak Cabernet Sauvignon Alexander Valley

1995 Silver Oak Alexander Valley 1.5 litre @ $160/bottle | RP 95 pts
1996 Silver Oak Alexander Valley 1.5 litre @ $160/bottle | RP 92 pts
1997 Silver Oak Alexander Valley 1.5 litre @ $270/bottle | RP 89 pts
2000 Silver Oak Alexander Valley 6.0 litre @ $550/bottle | RP 88 pts

Silver Oak has resolved to create a wine with a style all its own-not another hard, tannic red wine requiring years of aging to enjoy, but a wine of fully developed flavors and a velvety soft texture on the day it is released for sale. At every opportunity Silver Oak reaffirms their commitment to excellence. The elegance and finesse of Silver Oak has attracted as zealous a circle of customers as any winery can boast, however, they believe that they have yet to make their best bottle of wine.


Have a great weekend. Mike, Peter, Claire

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August 12, 2006

I haven't published one of these for a few weeks but, this one caught my eye. Silver Oak happens to be one of my favorites and this one looks like a great buy.

WINE OF THE WEEK

We have just received a limited amount of Silver Oak 2002 Alexander Valley Cabernet. We are offering this great wine to our email customers only for 49.99/Bottle. No further discounts are available. We believe this is one of the lowest prices you will find for this wine on the East coast.

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2002 Silver Oak Cabernet Sauvignon Alexander Valley
Silver Oak has resolved to create a wine with a style all its own-not another hard, tannic red wine requiring years of aging to enjoy, but a wine of fully developed flavors and a velvety soft texture on the day it is released for sale. At every opportunity Silver Oak reaffirms their commitment to excellence. The elegance and finesse of Silver Oak has attracted as zealous a circle of customers as any winery can boast, however, they believe that they have yet to make their best bottle of wine. The pursuit continues with 2002 Alexander Valley. . . "The 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon Alexander Valley, recalls some of the winery's top efforts from the mid-nineties. A deep ruby/purple color is accompanied by a sweet nose of chocolate, toasty oak, dried herbs, and a sweet, textured, medium to full-bodied palate. This nicely layered, rich, plump Cabernet will be at its finest between 2004-2012."
Supplies are limited. Call or send us an email asap and we will put some aside. This offer is only good through 8/19/2006.
Have a great weekend. Mike, Peter, Claire

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June 30, 2006

The weekly wine pick from the Leesburg Vintner.

WINE OF THE WEEK

Here are a pair of Cabernet's from one of Napa's most famous wineries! And...

SATURDAY'S SAMPLING

Please join us Saturday, July 1st from 12-4 for a tasting of wines from the Republic of Moldova. These wines are new in the market place and we are one of the first retailers in the area to carry these wines. You can read more about these wines by clicking here.

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Chateau Monteleña Cabernet Sauvignon
The 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon exhibits a dense ruby/purple color in addition to copious quantities of herbaceous-tinged cassis fruit, full body, ripe tannin, and a soft, plump personality. It will be accessible young, yet age for 10-15 years.

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Chateau Montelena Cabernet Sauvignon Estate
The 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate, one of the most powerful Cabernets the Barretts have made, is reminiscent of the profound 1987. A blend of 99% Cabernet Sauvignon and 1% Cabernet Franc, it tips the scales at 14.3% alcohol. The wine has a sensational nose of sweet creme de cassis liqueur intermixed with notes of beef blood, licorice, and underbrush. Full-bodied and more flamboyant than the more structured, muscular 2001, the 2002 is fleshier with more glycerin and higher alcohol. This chewy effort should be ready for prime-time drinking a few years ahead of the more rigid 2001. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2025.
Have a great weekend. Mike, Peter, Claire

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June 9, 2006

The weekly wine pick from the Leesburg Vintner.

WINE OF THE WEEK

Our wine of the week is one not to miss. This has always been one of our favorite Italian reds and for 9.99 it is an incredible value. At 9.00 it is a steal! And...

SATURDAY'S SAMPLING

Please join us Saturday, June 10, from 12-4 for an exciting wine tasting featuring the wines of Fess Parker from Santa Barbara, California. We will be pouring Chardonnay, Viognier and Syrah.

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Falesco Vitiano Rosso 2004
A blend of equal parts Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Sangiovese grapes grown in the region of Umbria. Vitiano is vinified in stainless steel tanks and aged in Nevers barrels for 3 months before being bottled. This is a young red wine with explosive, luscious aromas. The wine has a wonderful deep, ruby red color with a wide range of organoleptic qualities. It is rich in polyphenols and balanced acidity. This versatile red is at it's best in its youth when the fresh fruit character is most evident. Vitiano is a perennial value.

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Have a great weekend. Mike, Peter, Claire

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May 26, 2006

The weekly wine pick from the Leesburg Vintner.

WINES OF THE WEEK

A Great value from Australia and a killer Chateauneuf du Pape. When was the last time you had a good bottle of 10 year old French wine under 30.00 a bottle? Act fast as supplies are very limited. And...

Looking for something different to do next weekend?

About the wines:

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2004 Ironberry Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, Merlot
Ironberry originates from the renowned Margaret River region of Western Australia. This wine shows bright berry fruit on the nose with suggestions of plum and spice. The fruit and spice follows through to the palate and fills the mouth, finishing soft and velvety. Region: Margaret River, Australia

Suggested food pairing: Pair this wine with grilled meats.

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Bosquet des Papes 1996 Cuvee Tradition
Bosquet des Pape is a classic Chateauneuf du Pape. However, there is one drawback with their wines and that is that they need time before they're ready to drink. Here's a solution.

Wine Spectator: "A polished and refined Châteauneuf, with wet earth, game, leather, plum and roasted nut character. Full-bodied, with refined tannins and a ripe, rich texture. Delicious now, but the massive tannins could use time. Drink now through 2008. 4,165 cases made. (PM)" When was the last time you had a good bottle of 10 year old French wine under 30.00 a bottle? Act fast as supplies are very limited.

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Vintage Virginia Wine Festival!

June 3 and 4 at Bull Run Special Events Center in Centerville, VA. A great weekend featuring Virginia wines, fabulous food, fine arts and crafts and tons of family fun. There will be performers, activities like face painting, food and of course - many different Virginia wineries will be present. Tickets on sale now at The Leesburg Vintner. Visit us or call 703-777-3322.


Have a great weekend. Mike, Peter, Claire

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May 20, 2006

Hello everyone,
The 2004 Lytton Springs Zinfandel is exceptional! This is one of the few Zinfandels that will age beautifully over the next 10 years. But who can resist the pure drinking pleasure of this spicy, rich blackberry flavored wine right now? Well deserving of the 95 rating, it won't be around for long. If you've never tried a bottle of Ridge wine, this one will not disappoint you. And if you have, then we're preaching to the choir.


  About the wine:

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Ridge 2004 Lytton Springs Zinfandel This is a classic, uniquely American bottle of red wine. Ridge Vineyards and its winemaker Paul Draper are legendary among wine connoisseurs for creating complex, flavorful Zinfandel and Cabernet from old vine vineyards. This particular wine is made using 100+ year-old Zinfandel vines from the famous Lytton Springs vineyard, one of the oldest in California.

Notes: In 1972, Ridge made its first Lytton Springs from vines planted here at the turn of the century, and purchased both the eastern and western portions of the vineyard in the early 1990s. (In the 1870s, under "Captain" William Litton's ownership, the two were part of one property; spelling evolved into "Lytton" by 1903.) The vineyard is planted to zinfandel and its principal complementary varietals: petite sirah, carignane, grenache, and a small amount of mataro (mourvèdre).

Rated 95 points by Connoisseur's Guide
Do not miss this one! Supplies are limited. Mike, Peter, Claire

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May 11, 2006

Note: This is the first of weekly announcements from the Leesburg Vintner covering "what's in" the shop that represent good buys on great wine.

Hello everyone,
Remember Sunday is Mother's Day. Treat Mom to two great wines this weekend. The Pinot Noir to go with lamb or ham and the Sauvignon Blanc to complement your fish dishes. Both of these wines and others will be open for tasting on Saturday from 12-4.



  About the wines:

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Ferrari Carano 2005 Fume Blanc is 100% Sauvignon Blanc, from Dry Creek Valley, Alexander Valley and Russian River Valley. Lots were aged separately, 45% in stainless steel and 55% in older French oak barrels.

Tasting Notes: Color: Pale straw. Aromas: Apricot, citrus, grass, cold blossoms, plus a whiff of smoke. On the tongue, this wine is light-bodied with tart acidity and a smooth round texture. Apricot, citrus, green apple and mineral flavors lead to a refreshing finish.

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Oreana 2004 Santa Barbara Pinot Noir Wine Spectator: Dark in hue, rich and fleshy, with deep, concentrated plum, pomegranate and wild berry fruit, with a long, intense persistent finish that repeats the red fruit themes. Drink now through 2009. Only 298 cases produced.

Have a great weekend. Mike, Peter, Claire

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October 11, 2005

Jim Duncan over at Central VA Real Estate in Charlottesville, VA teamed up with a couple of local wine experts and produced a wine podcast (I like to call it a WineCast) focused on the growth and quality of the Virginia wine industry. Nice touch Jim! Yet another way to market ourselves in a fun and interesting way. Go to CPN to listen. Fun.

Jim's WineCast blog entry can be found at marketing.

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June 26, 2005

Pam and I had the privilege of attending "Rockin' in the Barn" at Bud Green's farm last night. It was a fund raising event for the Loudoun Habitat for Humanity. We combined good food, entertainment, a silent auction and live auction.


Many exquisite items were auctioned including a case of the 1994 Grand Vin of Chateau Latour. Several bottles were purchased in the $170 range, a bargain for this highly rated Bordeaux from the highly acclaimed Pauillac region of France. Latour is a consistent winner in this class of fine wines and probably deserves its price point.

I happened to have a couple of bottles and with grilled New York steaks tonight decided to try one. Without a doubt, it is superb! It is like drinking silk; smooth, balanced, just enough fruit without being over bearing and the typical French terrior! Can you imagine combining the great wine taste pallets and add rocky soil? Well, you can. This is what makes Grand Vin French wines so intriguing.

Parker rated this wine 94 on a scale of 100 and predicts it will cellar for at least 30-40 years. I'll try my other bottle in about five years. I can't wait!

Viniously Yours,
The Wine Snob

You can learn more about Latour here.

1994 Latour

The weather conditions

A rainy and very mild winter was followed by a very warm and dry month of March which induced an early budding (15 March for the Merlot). On 16 April, a severe frost damaged neighbouring vineyards. A very hot end of April, a mild and damp month of May brought about an early flowering (10 days earlier than normal). June and July were very warm with some stormy showers, ideal conditions for the evolution of the grapes. The traditional summer pruning took place in the second half of July. At the end of August the state of the grapes was fantastic and an exceptional vintage was expected. Unfortunately, from 7 September, a rainy and cold weather settled in, delaying ripening.

Harvest began on 13 September and lasted until the 29th, frequently interrupted by storm showers. But quite amazingly the dilution effect on the grapes was very limited, and thanks to a perfect summer, the vintage was 'saved'.

Vintage quality and tasting comments

The wines are showing a strong personnality : dark ruby colours, aromas of liquorice, orange peel and plum. They improved remarkably in barrels taking body and fatness. In the mouth they are very rich, and despite the very savoury and spicy tannins, they remain rich and very well-balanced. The Grand Vin, in particular, shows an impressive concentration and length. (tasting : May 2000)

Quality: Very good year

The moment for optimal drinking and best way of serving

Grand Vin: A bottle to lay down at least till 2007. Optimum around 2010-2015.

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