It seems like yesterday that my wife and I got a pre-opening tour of Cedar Rose Vineyards and wrote about them “Coming Soon” in my book. Fast forward four years and they are making an array of award winning wines. The grounds are gorgeously landscaped, with strategically spaced tables and colorful umbrellas adorning each. Speaking of umbrellas, little did we know that we’d be thankful for our seating on the stoned (and covered) patio. It turned out the covered patio was the place to be during the brief downpour just after we arrived.
I was looking forward to tasting some wine (via flights and perhaps a bottle or two to share and bring home). We were also looking forward to hearing some live music and soaking in mother nature all around us. The music was provided by Matt Adams. I did some research online and found some of his music on Youtube and even Spotify. He is a skilled guitarist with a very good voice.
On Friday evening, Matt played cover songs of many popular artists, giving each song a bit of his own spin. Accompanied only by his guitar, Matt played tunes by Tom Petty, Hall and Oates, Chris Martin, John Mayer, Van Morrison, and the Eagles (among many others). Matt demonstrated a wide vocal range, including a falsetto that was effortless and clear. His guitar work did more than accompany his voice. Enhanced by electronics that allowed him to lay down bass tracks and rhythm guitar, which allowed him to add lead guitar licks at will. The result was a fuller sound, that retained the intimacy of solo performing. We really enjoyed him and even listened to his songs on the way home via Spotify.
As for the wine, I ordered a mixed flight of five wines, while my wife sampled three white wines. As is our custom, we shared each of the tastes, stretching our tasting experience to eight wines. While I generally sample the reds and my wife samples the white wines, I was curious about the two Traminettes on the menu (different vintages).
My five wines were as follows:
- 2015 Traminette -Hint of sweetness, with plenty of acidity.
- 2017 Traminette -Served a little warmer than the 2015; it had a noticeably fuller body than the 2015, with perhaps a little less acidity. Pleasing mouthfeel.
- 2016 Chambourcin Reserve-Full-bodied with notes of cherries and vanilla. Very smooth. Gold Medal winner at 2019 NJ Wine Competition.
- 2017 Cabernet Franc-Cherries and cranberry notes with smooth tannins.
- Cabernet Sauvignon-Very good, full-bodied with soft tannins.
My wife’s picks were as follows:
- 2017 Chardonnay-Stainless steel with sur lie aging; creamy finish. Silver Medal winner at 2019 NJ Wine Competition.
- 2017 Vidal Blanc Barrel-Aged in Acacia-Unique version; reminded me of their Traminette, with floral and citrus notes, but with added structure and mouthfeel. We decided to order a bottle.
- Quartz-An interesting dry white blend of Cayuga, Traminette, Vidal Blanc, and Albarino. Not quite as smooth as the Chard or Vidal Blanc.
In addition to the bottle of Vidal Blanc, I decided to order a bottle of their Norton (or Cynthiana, as it is also called). I think this grape is really under-rated. Most folks have never heard of it, yet it has an interesting history (documented in a book entitled, The Wild Vine). It discusses how, at one time vines of Norton grew wild in this country, with its birthplace in Richmond, Virginia. Norton is also the official grape of Missouri. It is still popular on wine tasting menus in Virginia. It is truly a native grape. I love its dark, inky appearance, taste of black berries and cherries, and full-bodied earthiness.
This was a fun and delicious time. We even got to witness a beautiful sunset (see below). For those of you who may still be wary about going to a winery due to crowds and COVID19, every winery we have visited is doing it right-social distancing and masks (when up and moving around). Cedar Rose Vineyards is case-in-point. We never felt too close to others and staff all wore masks and everything was meticulously cleaned. Time to get out and enjoy some wine!
Cheers!
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