Westbend’s Winning Ways
In reviewing Westbend Vineyards’ 2008 Barrel Fermented Chardonnay for my July Uncorked column, I tasted quite a few of Westbend’s latest wines, even a couple that aren’t for sale yet.
If you don’t like oaky chardonnay, I also recommend Westbend’s regular 2008 chardonnay. It actually has 15 percent barrel-fermented chard in it, but the oak is in the background. Overall, it’s quite fruity with apple aromas and flavors. It’s not rich like the fully barrel-fermented rich, but it’s smooth and mouth-filling just the same.
Westbend also is getting ready to put out a sauvignon blanc varietal for the first time. Previously, it had used some sauv. blanc in its Yadkin Fume white blend, which it has discontinued. Winemaker Mark Terry was still experimenting with the blend the other week, but the sauvignon blanc I tasted had 25 percent viognier, which made for an interesting mix. You get the viognier traits, with peach and apricot, in the nose. The sauv. blanc characteristics of citrus come out on the palate. It doesn’t have much of the grassiness that is typical of sauv. blanc. It seems to have touch of mineral, and it finishes very nicely. Good acidity—better than most Calif. sauv. blancs—but not super zippy like New Zealand’s. Westbend expects to release this wine by early August.
Also worth mentioning is the new First In Flight white blend that’s mostly sevyal blanc, mixed with chard and a tiny bit of riesling. This is a great summer picnic wine. And get this: Though it’s about $11 at the winery, Westbend is trying to price it around $7 in supermarkets. If you see it at this price, grab it.
Driving into Westbend, I noticed a lot of new vines in plots that used to hold older vines. It turns out that a fair number of them are young merlot vines that are replacing cabernet sauvignon. When I tasted the new 2007 merlot, I knew why. I’ve said many times before that N.C. struggles with reds. But this merlot is nice. It has a spicy aroma, good body, soft, fleshy texture and nice plum and spice flavors. This hadn’t been officially released when I was out at Westbend, but the staff said they’d be happy to sell it to anyone who comes in and asks for it.
