Sunday Sip, June 16, 2008 at the Manassas WIne and Jazz Festival

Hello Sippers! Happy Father's Day! Saturday I didn't sip but glad it was saved for today.

The weather was beautiful. Warm with a breeze and not too much traffic on the road leading towards an intimate festival with only 12 wineries. Since I have sipped some of the wineries in the past, my target was the new wineries, as well as those I hadn't tasted before, and see what they have to offer our palate.

So, First Colony, Pearmund, and newbies Delfosse, Stafford, and Vino Curioso were my sips of the day. I could have sipped more, but these were worth the time spent. The time was so well-spent, I bought two wines that caught my tongue and I couldn't leave them there.

• First Colony Winery, 1607 Red Dessert Wine 2005 Vintage...an aromatic and yummy nose with a warm on the palate. This dessert wine has complex flavors of brandied cherries and candied figs made in the traditional port style and finishes any evening with elegance and grace. $20
• Delfosse Rose Under the Tree...this Merlot and Cabernet Franc has a wonderful, heavy, smoky, earthy nose that is great with or without food and is great from simply sipping to entertaining and apertifs through a nice summer grilled meal to an evening sip. Chill the red and it will be perfect! $18

Other must-buys of the day were:

• First Colony, Meritage 2005...nice wine for September and October Fall grilling with its bright red fruit and plum flavors and a hint of mint on the finish. Elegant and rich. $18
• Delfosse Deer Rock Farm White 2006...this very nice multilayered, light crisp summer wine with sweet tropical aromas convey through the light floral notes and fresh fruit on the nose. The pear and pineapple that integrate nicely with the acidity. The finish is long and rich in an off-dry style. This Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc blend is great as a cold apertif or with lighter fare. $14
• Delfosse Deer Rock Farm Red 2006...now I normally don't like or try wines just called "Red" but this approachable, Tuesday, AP wine has very nice aromatics and is very conducive to the palate. Blended with Cabernet Sauvignon and Touriga (a Portugal red grape), this soft Bordeaux style carries scents of orange peel and cherry. This rich concentrated red wine has soft tannins with a slight oak with a rich structure that is a versatile, food friendly wine that can be paired with light fare, cheeses, pasta, and light meats. $14

The Honorable Mentions include:

• Pearmund Viognier 2006...smooth, floral, and apricot are in this smooth balance.
• Pearmund Reserve Red...red and purple fruit nose and beefy, grapey taste.
• Stafford La Belle Vie White...totally, wonderful beach, deck, porch, picnic wine.

Yes, I tried others but I wrote about the best. Enjoy your next glass.

Salut!