West Bend Vineyards Lucky Lucci

Two words sum it up: Fun, Dangerous. The gentleman who poured our tasting referred to this as a porch wine. I can't remember what grape it is founded on, perhaps chambourcin, but raspberry wine is added. It is somewhat sweet, but not cloying. We bought a bottle ($10.95). It has a sangria-like quality without the citrus peel and spices.

West Bend Vineyards Cabernet Franc

I smelled blueberries and raspberries in the bouquet of this wine. The palate was blueberries with a bit of mouthwatering acidity. This is a soft wine, much softer and much less tannic than the Hanover Park Cab Franc. I bought a bottle ($16.95), and it's pretty good stuff. It doesn't stand up to food like the HP, but it's awfully easy to drink.

West Bend Vineyards Barrel Chardonnay 2006

This chardonnay had a bigger bouquet, better integration and a longer finish than the stainless steel chard. I got figs, vanilla and a twang of acidity. It was mouthfilling and satisfying, and I got a bottle for $19.95(the wife was particularly fond of it).

RayLen Shiraz 2006 Update

On the way to Lake Norman, we stopped in at Snook's Barbeque. Naturally, we had to grab some wine to go with our 'cue, so I got a bottle of Shiraz and one of Cab Franc.

This wine, somewhat spicy and smoky, is indeed a great partner to a pulled pork sandwich. That elusive menthol note helps the wine go with food. It also helps that the sun is shining, and I'm sitting next to a lake.

Grilled Pork and Mourvedre

The Hanover Park Mourvedre 2003 went so delightfully with grilled pork chops and zucchini. I can't wait to taste HP's subsequent vintages; their vines are still young and will produce better and better fruit. A hallmark of a good wine (in my humble opinion) is a quality of changing on the palate with different bites of food and with time over the course of an evening. This wine really stays interesting through a meal. Fruit, oak, velvety tannins, and the fact that it's a unique, regional product all make me very happy that I sought it out.

Hanover Park Vin D'Orange

This is another fortified wine, but it is an amber/honey color. The aroma is of orange marmalade, with a bit of vanilla and a very Christmas-like aspect to it. This is the first time I used the word "wow" in my notebook. It's rich and nectar-like, as a cordial would be. It's almost oily in texture. It made me instantly imagine myself sipping it after a sumptuous holiday meal; it has a candied citrus peel overtone that is very pleasing. We got a bottle to put away for Thanksgiving or Christmas ($25.00/375ml).

Hanover Park Port Hanover

As a port lover, I was curious to try this one. It has a rich bouquet that is redolent with prunes, ripe cherries, plum preserves and toasted nuts. The palate mirrors this, with a rich texture. There is a bit of an edge from the alcohol, but I really enjoyed this. This port is made from Chambourcin, but my tasting guide did not know precisely what type of brandy was used to fortify it. I've had smoother ports, but they were made by companies that have been doing it quite a few decades longer. We bought a bottle ($16.99/375ml).

Hanover Park Cabernet Franc 2004

I spent a number of years working for Starbucks in Southern California. When I worked the opening shift, putting the pastries in the display case was a major task. The reason I mention this is the fact that this Cabernet Franc greeted my nose like the cherry almond scones. The palate is smooth, velvety and tart. I liked this wine a lot, and we bought a bottle ($15.99). Foodwise, I might wait until it gets cold and have this with pot roast.

Hanover Park Mourvedre 2003

I was told that the owners of the winery really enjoyed this grape as a result of their travels in France. They decided to plant it here, and I'm glad they did. The aroma is peppery, and I smelled something that really reminded me of Christmas baking spices. It has a lean, dry palate and a lengthy, tart finish. We bought a bottle (my wife particularly liked this one, too), and I look forward to drinking it at home. It seems to me to be a good food wine. Kebabs of lamb or goat, marinated with cumin, cinnamon and oregano will probably be the dish. $15.99

This tasty grape also goes by the names Mataro and Monastrell (I've had a good Spanish wine made from it).

Raylen Category 5 2006

Dark purple color. It has a classic Cabernet Sauvignon nose (dried blackcurrants). It's smooth on the palate, with a richness that reminded me of butter or even bacon. The finish is lengthy. The word "noble" came to mind. I bought a bottle of this one ($18.00).

Raylen Cabernet Franc 2005

To the nose, this wine has cherries, vanilla and flowers. It's a dry, bracing wine with a dimension of oak to it. There is a tartness to it that reminds me of chianti, and it has a dry, clean finish. We bought a bottle and drank it later that day with grilled teriyaki chicken breasts, baked beans, garlic bread and corn on the cob. It worked quite well, and it definitely improved with some time to breathe. $15.00

RayLen SMV Chardonnay 2006

This one was one of the highlights of my visit to this winery. The grapes come from the South Mountain Vineyard in Burke County.
The nose was bigger than the regular barrel chardonnay, with a more perfumy character. I smelled figs, butter, apricots and some subtle suggestion of meat (in a good, appetizing way). The palate is clean, with plenty of everything in the bouquet. Nice, long finish. I bought a bottle of this one($15).