Kluge Estate Winery & Vineyard – Charlottesville, Virginia

Part of the fun about wine in the 21st century is that it is being made in many different parts of the globe. There really has never been a better time to be a wine consumer. There is so much wine, so many improvements in vineyard maintenence, working in accord to Mother Nature’s ebbs and flows,  and sterile bottling that the overall quality of wine is far better than it was a few decades ago. There are some areas in America that are naturally synonymous with great wine making; Napa, Sonoma, Santa Maria Valley, Paso Robles, Willamette Vally Oregon, Walla Walla, the Finger Lakes, Niagara-on-the-Lake, and Long Island. One of the regions for quality wine in a beautiful setting may surprise you: Virginia.

I grew up in Detroit, Michigan and moved with my family to Virginia when I was eight. I went to James Madison University in 1984. Harrisonburg, Charlottesville and other small towns in Virginia offer a unique opportunity to enjoy conveniences of stores, restaurants and non-stressed out people. That this piece of the American landscape is growing as a wine region makes sense. Going back to Thomas Jefferson, people have grown grapes in Virginia, to varying degrees of success. Fortuneately for America, and, perhaps, the world, Jefferson was a much better statesman and writer than wine maker.

Kluge Estate Vineyard and Winery was founded in 1999.The 2,000 acres they source from are on the edge of the Blue Ridge Mountains and near Jefferson’s Monticello. I have had their Estate Red, a Meritage blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc. I found it good, balanced, medium-bodied and Old World in style. It reminded me more of St. Julien than Virginia. Kluge  and Horton Vineyards in Orange County, Virginia get my vote for two of the best wineries on the east coast. Wolffer Estate and Bedell Cellars in Long Island, New York are up there as well. But that’s another article.

Some of the new releases for Kluge are a Sauvignon Blanc 2008, a Blanc de Blancs 2005 Sparkling Wine, and a Rose’ 2005. Their white wines I found refreshing, medium-bodied and crisp. There is complexity and soil influence going on and there is a hand-crafted edge that I found refreshing.

Here are some notes on the wines:

“ALBEMARLE” SAUVIGNON BLANC 2008

Varietals:100% Sauvignon Blanc

Source: Kluge Estate Winery and Vineyard Charlottesville, Albemarle County, Virginia

Production: 284 cases

Suggested Retail Price $13

Winemaking Notes This is the first vintage of Albemarle Sauvignon Blanc. The grapes come from one our best terroirs, on hilltops flooded with sun.  The wine sees a  slow and cold fermentation in two thirds stainless steel and one third French Oak.

Tasting Notes: This classic Sauvignon Blanc is a fruit-forward wine with a nose of citrus, pear, melon and apricot.  Fermentation in stainless steel and French Oak bring out flavors of gooseberry, passion fruit, vanilla and licorice.

KLUGE SP BLANC DE BLANC 2005

A brut blanc de blanc sparkling wine made in the méthode Champenoise

Cuvée: 2005 Vintage Brut

Varietal: 100% Chardonnay

Appellation: 100% Monticello Appellation, Charlottesville, Albemarle County, Virginia

Terroir: Chardonnay vineyards were planted on select sites for their exposure to the sun and their cooler temperatures on Carter’s Mountain. This helps to preserve the crisp acidity and minerality of the wine.

• Between 600 and 850 feet in elevation
• 15 foot deep rich clay strata on high volcanic subsoil, blended with schist, basalt, and slate

Production: 1,581 cases of 750ml

Suggested Retail Price: $27

Winemaking Notes: Wine consultant Laurent Champs (owner and Champagne Master at Vilmart et Cie in Champagne, France) made this méthode Champenoise sparkling wine from Kluge Estate’s best Chardonnay grapes.  The grapes were hand-picked in small baskets and pressed gently using a Champagne press.  Only the cuvée (first press) was fermented in stainless steel tanks.  After bottling, the wine was aged on its lees for over 22 months to gain more complexity.  A very low dosage (of sugar) was added at disgorging to complement the wine’s freshness.

Tasting Notes: Rich and creamy, Kluge SP Blanc de Blanc has a fruit-forward nose that suggests candied apples and lemon custard.  The finish delivers subtle hints of almond and toast.

KLUGE SP ROSÉ 2005

A Brut sparkling wine made in the traditional méthode Champenoise

Varietals: 89% Chardonnay, 11% Pinot Noir

Appellation: 100% Monticello Appellation, Charlottesville, Albemarle County, Virginia

Terroir: Chardonnay and Pinot Noir vineyards were planted on specific Kluge Estate sites on Carter’s Mountain. These locations help to preserve the crisp acidity and minerality of this sparkling wine.

• Between 600 and 850 feet in elevation
• 15 foot deep rich clay strata on high volcanic subsoil, blended with schist, basalt and slate

Production: 537 cases

Suggested Retail Price: $28

Winemaking Notes: Sparkling wine consultant Laurent Champs (owner and Champagne Master at Vilmart et Cie in Champagne, France) made this méthode Champenoise sparkling rosé from Kluge Estate’s finest grapes, hand-picked in small baskets and pressed gently using a Champagne press.  The wine gained complexity from aging on the lees for 21 months.  To complement the wine’s freshness, a very low dosage was added at disgorging.

Tasting notes: Kluge SP Rosé has a beautiful, vibrant salmon hue and it bursts with flavor.  There are notes of candied fruit, rose petal and strawberry.  The finish delivers a delicate creaminess that can only be described as mouthwatering.

There are some amazing places to see in America. Virginia has a good amount of them. If you are in the area, Kluge Estate is worth exploring.

Here is a link to their website.

Have a great weekend!

- James

http://www.klugeestateonline.com/

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