These pictures were taken in their (very full) wine barn! They're bottling on Tuesday so they had all of their empty bottles in their fermentation barn. Gang was all there. They use a combination of plastic tanks, french oak and american oak barrels. They bring in a bottling truck to the parking lot occasionally for their bottling (classy) work with what ya got!
They grow most of their grapes on the 11 acres they have. They have some land in Charlottesville and Roanoke as well. The only grapes they get specially from other vineyards are their Cabernet Sauvignon and their portuguese grapes in their port.
We sat at the Party Moment table. The sign was too great not to capture. I did appreciate that Attimo does seated tastings! They encourage you to take your time and really enjoy the wine and the experience.
My partner in crime!
All gone!
Here's what we tasted (I threw in my own scores for fun):
Yesterday's Song
Chardonnay
$19/bottle
They say: Dry white, crisp, lightly oaked, pear notes.
Smell: Pear, lots of salt.
Taste: It was light and slightly acidic. It would be great with cheese.
Score: 83 points
Sonnet 98
Vidal blanc
$17/bottle
They say: Dry white, crisp, floral, hints of fresh greens.
Smell: Apples and flowers
Taste: Really sweet, like potpourri and old candy that sits in your parlor and nobody eats. It was pretty heinous for my taste.
Score: 62
Off-the-Cuff
Riesling/Chardonnay
$16/bottle
They say: Semi-sweet white, fruity.
Smell: Apples and raspberries.
Taste: I fully expected to hate this because I'm not a fan of Riesling but it is actually a really gorgeous blend. Its soft on the palate and nice and dry.
Score: 87
Just Kissed Blush
Vidal/Raspberry
$16/bottle
They say: Off-dry blush, fruity; distinct berry flavors
Smell: Nothing. Light pink color. They said it would be good in sangria. All I smelled was sugar.
Taste: NO NO NOOOOOOO Sweet like a bad juicebox! Not my wine, for sure.
Score: 50
After Midnight (how great are these names?)
Merlot/Zinfandel/Blackberry
$16/bottle
They say: Semi-sweet red, fruity flavors; velvety texture.
Smell: Blackberries. Smells hot on the alcohol.
Taste: Tannic. Blackberries. Light color very similar to Pinot Noir. It's okay, I wouldn't want a whole bottle but its just dry enough to balance out the sweetness of the berries.
Score: 80
Bull Frog Symphony
Blend
$17/bottle
They say: Dry red blend, peppery. Bourdeaux style.
Smell: Hot and tannic. Plum notes.
Taste: Peppery with lots of tannins. Super dry.
Score: 83
Deep Silence
Cabernet Franc
$18/bottle
They say: Dry red, intense berry flavors and light smoky pepper finish.
Smell: Pretty generic red smell. Reminded me of something you would have with lamb or a hearty meal. Pretty rust color.
Taste: Very dry and peppery. Gave us "cat tongue" as Drew put it because of the tannins.
Score: 87
AD 325
Chambourcin
$16/bottle
They say: Dry red with bold flavors and cherry undertones.
Smell: Syrupy, earthy.
Taste: Very well balanced. Light and versatile. Easy on it's own and also with food. One sip isn't enough to experience the complexity of this wine. Definitely my favorite.
Score: 92
Sweet Berry Sunset
Raspberry/red blend
$15/bottle
They say: Sweet red, intense berry and fruity flavors.
Smell: Chocolate covered cherries.
Taste: Like cough syrup. Nice dryness though which cuts through the sweetness somewhat but it's still pretty overpowering. I'm sure this is great if you like sweet, syrupy wines, but they're not for me.
Score: 80
Vertex
Cabernet sauvignon
$20/bottle
They say: Dry red, rich with black currant flavors and French oak notes.
Smell: Beautiful bread and buttery smell. Great, rich nose. Classic Cab Sauv.
Taste: Not much body, not a whole lot going on in general. It's a shame, because the nose and color are gorgeous, but the wine itself was pretty forgettable. I wouldn't spend $20 on it that's for sure.
Overall, we had a wonderful time at Attimo. They were very hospitable and I'm always cheering for a Hokie making good wine!
No comments:
Post a Comment