After an extensive discussion of King Family Vineyards, James and I turned to tasting the wines. Like many producers in emerging regions, King Family Vineyards has a broad portfolio of wines on offer, categorized as follows: Sparkling, White, Red, Rosé, Mountain Plains, Meritage, and Small Batch Series. We tasted wines from each of these categories.
Matthieu is the Winemaker and has held that position for the last 18 years. According to James, Matthieu has complete autonomy over wine direction and production.
Sparkling
We tasted a 2021 Bland de Blanc, a traditional-method sparkling wine the base of which was fermented in stainless steel tanks. Extended sur lie aging. Yeastiness and mint on the nose. Round on the palate with good fruit and acid levels. Sapid. Long, metallic finish.
White
We next turned to the 2022 Sauvignon Blanc. The fruit for this wine is sourced from Childs Family. Aromatic. A sense of weight on the nose but actually light on the palate. Perfumed on the palate. White fruit. Metallic, drying finish.
The 2023 Viognier was not consistent in the vineyard as regards yield. This variety can be very finicky. The wine was fermented in three separate vessel types and aged in stainless steel, neutral French oak, acacia, and concrete prior to blending and bottling. The varietal mix on the wine is 80% Viognier and 20% Chardonnay. The wine is aromatic, but not in a traditional Viognier way. Heavyweight. Thick and rich with some spiciness.
The 2022 Chardonnay underwent full malolactic fermentation then aging on the lees for 9 months with weekly batonnage. Aging was hosted in French oak barrels (25% new; 25% 1 year; 25% 2 year; and 25% 3 year). Unyielding on the nose initially then pear and baking spice aromas emerged. Barrel influence apparent on the palate.
Mountain Plains is a premium label in the King Family Vineyards stable. The 2022 version is a blend of the top selections from the best barrels of Chardonnay, Viognier, and Petit Manseng. Beeswax and slightly honeyed nose. Weighty on the palate with ripe fruit and spice, the latter increasing in intensity with residence in the glass. Full-bodied. Juicy. Cupric.
Petit Manseng is the latest variety to wear the mantle of Great Virginia Hope and King Family Vineyards has an offering in this space. The 2023 Petit Manseng shows sweet white fruit on the nose and palate. Rich and creamy initially, giving way to a dry, mineral palate.
Rosés
Crosé is a dry, Merlot-based Rosé whose moniker is a play on the name -- Crozet -- of the small town in which the estate is located. The color of this wine is the result of limited skin contact. The 2024 exhibited sweet strawberry on the nose and palate. Discordant palate.
The 2023 Mountain Plains Rosé is made from early-picked Petit Verdot. Skin contact evident. Underripe fruit. Varietal weightiness.
Reds
The Cabernet Franc 2023 was aged for 9 months in a combination of concrete and French oak. Violets and hints of bell pepper on the nose. Firm on the attack but mid-palate issues. Rose petals and spice on the palate along with a slight sweetness. Medium weight with a medium-length finish.
The Les Petits 2022 is a blend of Petit Verdot and Petit Manseng (the Petits; get it?) and was one of the estate's Small Batch offerings. Mint and red and blue fruit on the nose, along with a waxy pungency. This wine fully engages the palate. Spicy red fruit and bell pepper flavors. Pleasant.
The 2022 Merlot was aged for 16 months in neutral and new French oak barrels. Elegant on the nose with aromas of baking spices, chocolate, tobacco, and coal. Unfocused ripe dark fruit on the palate. Rich chocolate and spice. Persistent.
The Meritage is the estate's "flagship Bordeaux-style red blend," constructed, as it is, with an eye towards extended bottle aging. The components are Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Malbec. I tasted the 2022 and 2021 vintages.
The 2022 exhibited thick, rich, ripe dark fruit along with chocolate and spice. Persistent and mineral. The 2021 showed violets, spice, chocolate, and a green note on the nose. Red fruit on the palate and a little thin on the finish. More elegance exhibited here than in the 2022.
Grapes for the 2022 Mountain Plains Red were hand selected and destemmed before a 4- to 8-week maceration in open-top concrete fermentation tanks. After pressing, the wines were aged for 22 months in new French oak barrels. Red and black fruits and violets on the nose. Ripe fruit on the palate. Structured.
The 2022 Petit Verdot was aged for 21 months in French oak barrels. Intense violet notes on the nose. Lands beautifully on the palate. Rich, with a lengthy finish.
Matthieu was out of the country when I visited the estate so i did not have an opportunity to gain his insights into his winemaking philosophy, practices, and plans for the future. I hope to address this shortcoming in the not-too-distant future.
No comments:
Post a Comment