2nd Annual East Coast Food & Wine Festival
Part 2 of 5 in the review of 2nd Annual East Coast Food & Wine Festival.
We started off with one of our favorites, Alba Vineyard located in Milford NJ.
I've always liked their Chambourcin and their Red Table Wine called "Old Mill Red" has been constantly yummy over the years. Unlike other festivals we've seen them at, this time they seemed to have a large selection of dessert wines with them. One thing I can say about the NJ wine industry is while we may never produce a top rated Merlot or Meritage we pretty much can't be touched when it comes to our fruit/dessert wines. Alba does not disappoint on this front at all. Alba has been winning awards for their wines since 1984 and with the ones I've tasted this weekend that not going to change anytime soon.
We tasted 4 reds and 4 of the 5 dessert wines. Later on in the day we had 4 of their 6 whites.
REDS:
Old Mill Red - NV (red table wine) - 8.99
Composed mostly of Marechal Foch and Chambourcin, with small amounts of Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Cabernet Sauvignon, which were fermented and aged separately until blending. Matured in small American oak barrels for 8 to 10 months.
I liked it. Medium bodied. It's a good all around, everyday red blend. The only thing I would say is that this batch seemed weaker then previous years. Good but not a standout like I've had. I gave it a 7 of 10.
Chambourcin - 2005 - 15.99
I have always enjoyed Alba's Chambourcin. I think this is one grape they both know how to grow and what to do with once it's harvested. Medium to Full bodied. Strawberry and bing cherries come through with a big vanilla and mocha oak nose. I gave it a 8 out of 10. Goes well with hardy grilled meals. (3 purchased)
Merlot - 2003? - 18.99
This was from Alba's secondary label called Chelsea Cellars. I doubt that they grew these Merlot grapes here in NJ. In fact I think that this was the tent were I overheard someone working there say "You can't grow Merlot grapes in NJ" of course that is untrue, as the winery down the road has about 7 or 8 rows of them. I should know, I've picked and tasted some those grapes with my own hands. That said, I have yet to find a NJ Merlot that is anywhere near in quality as a Californian one. This one followed in that vein, it was good but not great. 7 out of 10.
Cabernet Sauvignon - 2003? 23.99
Another one from their secondary label. Wasn't too bad, good all around Cab Sav but didn't stand out. About the same as a $10 Calli Cab. 7 out of 10.
WHITES:
Mainsail - 2007 - 7.99
This white is a blend of 3 grapes. Vidal Blanc, Cayuga White and Riesling. Similar to a Pinot Grigio. I can see what they are doing with it. Trying to create an "all purpose white" Yeah, not my thing at all. 5 of 10.
Barrel Reserve Chardonnay - 2004 - 19.99
Crisp, yet creamy. The extra barrel time certainly came through in the finish but overall it was lacking something. This was "ok". 6 out 10.
Riesling (Dry) - 2005 - 13.99
Oddly, we didn't taste this one at the Alba stand. During the one lecture we attended, which was an infomercial hidden behind a "Wine with BBQ" lecture, they passed a couple wines around. This one was a winner to me. It's a Riesling without the sweetness you find in many others. Crisp, clean, apple, medium acidy. It is perfect for a multitude of foods. From cheeses to capers, fish to olives. 8.5 out of 10 (3 purchased)
Alba Rosa (Blush) - 2008 - 7.99
Coming from the winery that produced the very first "Blush" wine from NJ. This wine made from Marechal Foch and Cayuga White grapes was very good. A great summer time sipper. With hints of peach with a slight sweetness you wouldn't expect it to end as dry as it does. Very refreshing. 8 of 10.
DESSERT WINES:
Alba Apple Wine - 2008 - 7.99
"WOW" That was said by us almost in unison as we tasted this awesome display of a NJ fruit wine. Aroma of a freshly picked Granny Smith. Fresh, crisp green apple flavor with a semi-sweet body. Serve chilled after a summer dinner and you can't go wrong. Alternatively this would be used in a mulled wine with great ease. First of only a few perfect scores of the day. 10 of 10. (1 case purchased)
Dolcina (Ice wine) - 2008 - 16.75
Again, an awesome example of dessert wine here. Late harvested grapes that are flash frozen. These produce a lush wine with hints of honey, pear and apricot. Sweet but not over the top. This is a super after dinner treat. 9 out of 10. Good price to quality ratio. (3 purchased)
Forbidden - 2008 - 15.49
This is an interesting and fun wine. Made from late harvest apples. From the website: "Sinfully lush and exceptionally fragrant, this seductive wine oozes sweet apples" Yep, what they said. I can see why it has won multiple medals. I gave it a 8 of 10.
Vintage Port - 2004 - 19.99
Alba's Vintage Port was awesome. Perfectly balanced and showed rich, ripe, black cherry character, with hints of vanilla and mocha. Sweeter and less "brandyish" then any other port at the festival. I'm glad I grabbed more then one of these as I hope to at least cellar one for many more years and see what becomes of it. 10 out of 10. (3 purchased)
One thing to note was that we only tasted 4 of their 5 dessert wines. The lone one we did not taste was their Blueberry wine. I really can't think of a reason why I didn't try this. It may have been that I was so blown away by the others I felt that was good enough. Plus, I have never come across a Blueberry that came close to Valenzano winery's offering. I am kicking myself now since I see some sites rating it a 94 and calling it PLATINUM, SUPERLATIVE and BEST BUY. Oh well, might have to take a trip to the winery and check it out now. Oh Darn!
Part 3: Laurita Winery review tomorrow.
We started off with one of our favorites, Alba Vineyard located in Milford NJ.
I've always liked their Chambourcin and their Red Table Wine called "Old Mill Red" has been constantly yummy over the years. Unlike other festivals we've seen them at, this time they seemed to have a large selection of dessert wines with them. One thing I can say about the NJ wine industry is while we may never produce a top rated Merlot or Meritage we pretty much can't be touched when it comes to our fruit/dessert wines. Alba does not disappoint on this front at all. Alba has been winning awards for their wines since 1984 and with the ones I've tasted this weekend that not going to change anytime soon.
We tasted 4 reds and 4 of the 5 dessert wines. Later on in the day we had 4 of their 6 whites.
REDS:
Old Mill Red - NV (red table wine) - 8.99
Composed mostly of Marechal Foch and Chambourcin, with small amounts of Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Cabernet Sauvignon, which were fermented and aged separately until blending. Matured in small American oak barrels for 8 to 10 months.
I liked it. Medium bodied. It's a good all around, everyday red blend. The only thing I would say is that this batch seemed weaker then previous years. Good but not a standout like I've had. I gave it a 7 of 10.
Chambourcin - 2005 - 15.99
I have always enjoyed Alba's Chambourcin. I think this is one grape they both know how to grow and what to do with once it's harvested. Medium to Full bodied. Strawberry and bing cherries come through with a big vanilla and mocha oak nose. I gave it a 8 out of 10. Goes well with hardy grilled meals. (3 purchased)
Merlot - 2003? - 18.99
This was from Alba's secondary label called Chelsea Cellars. I doubt that they grew these Merlot grapes here in NJ. In fact I think that this was the tent were I overheard someone working there say "You can't grow Merlot grapes in NJ" of course that is untrue, as the winery down the road has about 7 or 8 rows of them. I should know, I've picked and tasted some those grapes with my own hands. That said, I have yet to find a NJ Merlot that is anywhere near in quality as a Californian one. This one followed in that vein, it was good but not great. 7 out of 10.
Cabernet Sauvignon - 2003? 23.99
Another one from their secondary label. Wasn't too bad, good all around Cab Sav but didn't stand out. About the same as a $10 Calli Cab. 7 out of 10.
WHITES:
Mainsail - 2007 - 7.99
This white is a blend of 3 grapes. Vidal Blanc, Cayuga White and Riesling. Similar to a Pinot Grigio. I can see what they are doing with it. Trying to create an "all purpose white" Yeah, not my thing at all. 5 of 10.
Barrel Reserve Chardonnay - 2004 - 19.99
Crisp, yet creamy. The extra barrel time certainly came through in the finish but overall it was lacking something. This was "ok". 6 out 10.
Riesling (Dry) - 2005 - 13.99
Oddly, we didn't taste this one at the Alba stand. During the one lecture we attended, which was an infomercial hidden behind a "Wine with BBQ" lecture, they passed a couple wines around. This one was a winner to me. It's a Riesling without the sweetness you find in many others. Crisp, clean, apple, medium acidy. It is perfect for a multitude of foods. From cheeses to capers, fish to olives. 8.5 out of 10 (3 purchased)
Alba Rosa (Blush) - 2008 - 7.99
Coming from the winery that produced the very first "Blush" wine from NJ. This wine made from Marechal Foch and Cayuga White grapes was very good. A great summer time sipper. With hints of peach with a slight sweetness you wouldn't expect it to end as dry as it does. Very refreshing. 8 of 10.
DESSERT WINES:
Alba Apple Wine - 2008 - 7.99
"WOW" That was said by us almost in unison as we tasted this awesome display of a NJ fruit wine. Aroma of a freshly picked Granny Smith. Fresh, crisp green apple flavor with a semi-sweet body. Serve chilled after a summer dinner and you can't go wrong. Alternatively this would be used in a mulled wine with great ease. First of only a few perfect scores of the day. 10 of 10. (1 case purchased)
Dolcina (Ice wine) - 2008 - 16.75
Again, an awesome example of dessert wine here. Late harvested grapes that are flash frozen. These produce a lush wine with hints of honey, pear and apricot. Sweet but not over the top. This is a super after dinner treat. 9 out of 10. Good price to quality ratio. (3 purchased)
Forbidden - 2008 - 15.49
This is an interesting and fun wine. Made from late harvest apples. From the website: "Sinfully lush and exceptionally fragrant, this seductive wine oozes sweet apples" Yep, what they said. I can see why it has won multiple medals. I gave it a 8 of 10.
Vintage Port - 2004 - 19.99
Alba's Vintage Port was awesome. Perfectly balanced and showed rich, ripe, black cherry character, with hints of vanilla and mocha. Sweeter and less "brandyish" then any other port at the festival. I'm glad I grabbed more then one of these as I hope to at least cellar one for many more years and see what becomes of it. 10 out of 10. (3 purchased)
One thing to note was that we only tasted 4 of their 5 dessert wines. The lone one we did not taste was their Blueberry wine. I really can't think of a reason why I didn't try this. It may have been that I was so blown away by the others I felt that was good enough. Plus, I have never come across a Blueberry that came close to Valenzano winery's offering. I am kicking myself now since I see some sites rating it a 94 and calling it PLATINUM, SUPERLATIVE and BEST BUY. Oh well, might have to take a trip to the winery and check it out now. Oh Darn!
Part 3: Laurita Winery review tomorrow.