Boxwood Winery
Topiary Virginia Cabernet Franc Blend
Virginia, USA
Easily approachable Franc-Merlot blend from Middleburg VA.
Easily approachable Franc-Merlot blend from Middleburg VA.
Nov 8th, 2013
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.
Just drank a Maryland wine and followed it up with this. Nice effort, not as hot as the MD wine. This is very smooth, must be the Cab Franc.
Just drank a Maryland wine and followed it up with this. Nice effort, not as hot as the MD wine. This is very smooth, must be the Cab Franc.
Jul 26th, 2015