Boxwood Winery
Topiary Virginia Cabernet Franc Blend
Virginia, USA
67% Merlot, 18% cf 14%pv. Some more structure of grape tannin with well integrated oak.
67% Merlot, 18% cf 14%pv. Some more structure of grape tannin with well integrated oak.
Jul 19th, 2022
Owner/Wine Director Spuyten Duyvil, Fette Sau, St. Anselm & Gotham Artisanal Provisions
Solid
Solid
Apr 17th, 2014Easily approachable Franc-Merlot blend from Middleburg VA.
Easily approachable Franc-Merlot blend from Middleburg VA.
Nov 8th, 2013
65% cab franc, 35% merlot. The fruit is clean and supple, well picked/sorted, but smothered in over toasted oak.
65% cab franc, 35% merlot. The fruit is clean and supple, well picked/sorted, but smothered in over toasted oak.
Oct 15th, 2013
Really tasty, exceeded my expectations. I’ll buy again.
Really tasty, exceeded my expectations. I’ll buy again.
May 24th, 202216.5/20 (90/100) Аромат чёрной смородины, бузины, имбирных пряников и шоколада. Относительно легкое со свежей кислотностью. Приятное, но комплексности не хватает.
16.5/20 (90/100) Аромат чёрной смородины, бузины, имбирных пряников и шоколада. Относительно легкое со свежей кислотностью. Приятное, но комплексности не хватает.
Oct 14th, 2019
Well, well, well, here we are Virginia wine. While on a work trip, decided to see what the other coast was in to and found this little gem in the local bodega (pro-tip, do not buy wine in DC after 9pm). The Boxwood Estate is a national historic landmark that utilizes Bordeaux big-wig Stéphane Derenoncourt as a wine making consultant. It follows then that the winery specializes in Bordeaux reds - and the Topiary is a right bank imitateur that won silver in San Diego in 2013 and bronze in San Francisco. (2014). The Middleburg AVA was established in 2002, after lobbying by Boxwood, and now includes up to 24 wineries. Boxwood itself is only 50 miles west of DC and is dominated by granite based clay soils and challenging mid-Atlantic humidity. The AVA highest volume grapes are Merlot and Chardonnay. This vintage is a Merlot based Cab Franc blend (specifics not available). The region likely needs a thorough review as these mid-Atlantic vineyards, likely the birthplace of American wine, are grossly overshadowed by the opulent west coast vintages of similar years. ~$28 | #boxwoodestate #virginiawine #bordeauxblend
On the eyes: Deep violet, rusty edged and opaque. Med+ stain, med tears, floc and gas present.
On the nose: Vinous, with violet floral notes competing with an earthy, smoky blackberry, cassis berry aroma rounded by mushroom. Med+ alcohol.
On the tongue: High tannin, med+ acid, med+ alcohol, med body, flat on the tongue. Thin on fruit, forest floor rounded out by blueberry and cassis finishing with a medicinal/herbaceous quality. Not unlike mid tier right bank Bordeaux - but a few years past its prime.
Well, well, well, here we are Virginia wine. While on a work trip, decided to see what the other coast was in to and found this little gem in the local bodega (pro-tip, do not buy wine in DC after 9pm). The Boxwood Estate is a national historic landmark that utilizes Bordeaux big-wig Stéphane Derenoncourt as a wine making consultant. It follows then that the winery specializes in Bordeaux reds - and the Topiary is a right bank imitateur that won silver in San Diego in 2013 and bronze in San Francisco. (2014). The Middleburg AVA was established in 2002, after lobbying by Boxwood, and now includes up to 24 wineries. Boxwood itself is only 50 miles west of DC and is dominated by granite based clay soils and challenging mid-Atlantic humidity. The AVA highest volume grapes are Merlot and Chardonnay. This vintage is a Merlot based Cab Franc blend (specifics not available). The region likely needs a thorough review as these mid-Atlantic vineyards, likely the birthplace of American wine, are grossly overshadowed by the opulent west coast vintages of similar years. ~$28 | #boxwoodestate #virginiawine #bordeauxblend
On the eyes: Deep violet, rusty edged and opaque. Med+ stain, med tears, floc and gas present.
On the nose: Vinous, with violet floral notes competing with an earthy, smoky blackberry, cassis berry aroma rounded by mushroom. Med+ alcohol.
On the tongue: High tannin, med+ acid, med+ alcohol, med body, flat on the tongue. Thin on fruit, forest floor rounded out by blueberry and cassis finishing with a medicinal/herbaceous quality. Not unlike mid tier right bank Bordeaux - but a few years past its prime.
Interesting but kind of syrupy and overfull, like experimental theatre gone wrong.
Interesting but kind of syrupy and overfull, like experimental theatre gone wrong.
May 1st, 2016
Arguably one of finest Northern Virginian wines. Put a blindfold on and you'll think you're sipping a cru bourgeois from Bordeaux.
Arguably one of finest Northern Virginian wines. Put a blindfold on and you'll think you're sipping a cru bourgeois from Bordeaux.
Apr 1st, 2016