The huge surprise here from owner Rebecca Cooper of the COOPER VINEYARD not far from Richmond, Virginia was the chocolate-infused native American Norton red grape half bottle of wine. We already knew it was good and had already made plans to buy it along with possibly the Chardonnay, too as our rep Chris Bartha had tasted us on it perhaps three or so weeks before this Big Theme Wine-Tasting was beginning to take form and shape and soul. Somehow it came to Chris' attention and he was calling the people down at the COOPER VINEYARD to see if they would be interested in coming up to pour their wines in our store Cleveland Park Wines & Spirits ( 3423 Connecticut Avenue N.W. Washington D.C. 20008 Tel:202-363-4265 sales@clevelandparkwine.com www.clevelandparkwine.com also now on both Facebook at : cleveland park wine and also on Twitter at : cpwinespirits )? They were and Rebecca the daughter was available from a family of three which included her father and mother.
Doug Fabbioli is now a " regular " here at Cleveland Park Wines & Spirits where this was Rebecca's first visit. They were both front-and-center at our tasting table in the middle of our store and the first people that our customers would see as they entered for this Big-Theme Holiday Wine theme tasting of 2010 with Thanksgiving in mind of course.
Doug has tasted with our customers now three times and we love having both him and his excellent wines of Chambercin hybrid dry red that is lighter and brighter and better-suited to things like fish and chicken, veal and pork and other lighter fare meals. It's my favorite and I am thrilled to see someone keeping it alive and going as I am tired of simply always seeing another Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc or other really recognizable red grape variety.
I love stopping to take pictures of our customers with our owners and wine-makers : it's great to jog the memory and have the moment come flooding back. It's also great for those that did not attend to get some sense of the moment and event and often the pleasure and the joy of it as well - good cheer to one and to all - bring everyone together - share with ever one - that's a great event - pulling thing together and connecting those that happen to be there at the right moment and place.
Pictured above are Rebecca od COOPER Vineyards, Doug of FABBIOLI CELLARS, and Mark of NORTH GATE Winery . Mark poured some Viognier and Chardonnay I believe, his Merlot and perhaps even his Meritage dry reds : balanced, tasty, very pleasing and also fruit-forward in many instances : wines that people can enjoy with or without a meal, but that also complement many foods. Thanks Mark for joining us and pouring. This was your first time to pour for our customers at the store, and since then you have been back again pouring with Doug. Thank you for both times. TONY 6/15/2015 I like to update things once in awhile, sometimes complete them as I feel I have here. Cheers all!
Deborah also had an excellent 2008 Petite Verdot that you saw a picture above here of her pouring. This is ultimately what I believe Virginia will become know for in red wine with a bit more time. I like the Cabernet Franc wines of Virginia - don't get me wrong. However, with the Cabernet Francs of Virginia you can always have the Loire Valley Cabernet Francs to compare them to : and hands down for me the Loire Valley ones are always the more interesting and stimulating with more range with a real soaring high, a real dipping low and the middle and everything else.
With a Petite Verdot you simply cannot compare it to anything. Virginia : you are smart - run with it! Make it your own and make everyone that follows have to compare it to yours as a reference and a starting-point! I'm thrilled to see this recent development and I was thrilled to have you pouring your Petite Verdot that also sold well on this Saturday along with you chocolate-infused Norton red wine that is quite intoxicating and alluring - it calls and beckons to us, really it does. The Petite Verdot does some of the same but with a bit more edge and earth , pith and spice and dryness that makes us clamor for food as well as another sip of it.
So together here on this day Doug and Rebecca represented some real stars for Virginia. I also liked Doug's Pear wine as well as his Merlot-Raspberry wines and his Cabernet Franc Reserve and his Tres Sorelle blend of red grapes. They all sold well along with Rebecca's dry Chardonnay. Doug also poured his more silky and velvety with more fruit-forward dry rose with no edges. Everything sold well and we had to reorder pretty much immediately after the wine-tasting as Thanksgiving was coming around soon and everyone needed more wines for the holidays of 2010.
It's always nice when we find a new customer like the one above that heard about our wine-tasting and was able to join us on this particular Saturday in November. I love taking pictures of our customers holding some of the wines that they are about to purchase : it shows the full cycle of the event and that's important. On top of that she's wearing-sporting a great smile that draws one closer.
I know that I have not said enough and that this is only a glimpse into the events of this wonderful tasting.
There were other people pouring, too and so check them out here on : chatwine.blogspot.com in November to find out more. We had another Virginia wine-maker and owner pouring as well that was standing right next to these two and so you will not want to miss that. We also had an owner from Virginia's Lynchburg pouring her Kiwi New Zealand wines as well. You want to catch it all. You can also search for Doug Fabbioli's name in the search engine above on this home page and see the other wine-tastings that he did here.
I may include more as I have time. In the meantime enjoy these pictures and what I have written so far. Sorry for the delay in posting this as it is now Tuesday, January 25th, 2011 here at home in northern Virginia at 9:22AM and I have to exercise and get ready for work now. Cheers, TONY
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