Va La Vineyard

Va La La Prima Donna 2007
Avondale, Pennsylvania - $35
Initial pear aromas. Flavors shift from floral to light woodsy, mineral to white fruits; always changing. Lavender & honey finish. Medium body. Very complex. Similar in style to Caymus Conundrum. Blend of 5 grapes: Malvasia Bianco, Petit Manseng, Pinot Grigio, Tocai Friuliani & Viognier. Pairs well with seafood, shellfish, chicken and cream sauces. This will be the last vintage that the viognier grape will be part of the blend as the winemaker has yanked out all of the viognier vines. 4/5


Va La Cristallo 2005
Avondale, Pennsylvania - $25
Very berry aroma followed by cherry, strawberry, smoke, hint of cured sweet meat (ham). Jammy fruit like preserves and a honeyed sweetness. Flavors start with spicy tingle on the tip of the tongue. Strawberry, light minerality, and more smokiness comes through on the palate. Light body, but complex and smooth with solid backbone. Light, almost imperceptable tannins and smoky, long finish. Light red in color. Paired well with rustic pizza of goat cheese, basil, carmelized onion, and bacon. Great wine and very different, spicier than Silk with smoke notes. Bought 2005 when reserve was released; better vintage than 2006. No longer in production. Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon & Cabernet Franc grapes. 4.5/5

Va La Silk 2007
Avondale, Pennsylvania - $28
Red blend of Barbera, Carmine, Corvina Veronese, Merlot, Nebbiolo, & Petit Verdot. Light body with aromas of cooking spice. A non-traditional red blend meant to be a transitional wine for white wine drinkers. Fermentation in stainless steel tanks gives it a lighter color and body. Pairs well with chicken, red sauces, proscuitto, salmon & pork. Initially, felt it was too light but versatility has converted me. 3.5/5

Va La Siranetta 2006
Avondale, Pennsylvania - $40
Blend of 4 grapes (3 French and 1 American) Carmine 68%, Syrah, Merlot and Petit Verdot. (Carmine is a cross of three French grapes created by UC Davis.) Lighter body than expected, light tannins and good backbone. Pork aroma. Smoky fruit. Pairs with steak, grilled meats & aged cheeses. "Little Siren"

Va La Castana 2006
Avondale, Pennsylvania - $35
Medium body red blend of Barbera, Nebbiolo & Corvina Veronese grapes. Flavors of dark chocolate and berry. Pairs well with meats (bbq, hot sausage) spicy food, Mexican food and even dark chocolate. Just released. Aged 14 months in oak.

Va La Barbera
Avondale, Pennsylvania - $35
Spicy tongue tingle, surprisingly light. Dark chocolate flavors with plum and brambly fruit. Some earthiness. This single varietal wine is no longer produced as the winemaker has chosen to use the Barbera grape in other wines. 4/5

Va La Cedar
Avondale, Pennsylvania - $45
Nebbiolo & corvina veronese (grape used in Italian Amarone) grapes. Brownish-red color from few years of bottle aging; can take 2-3 more years in cellar. Complex, rich wine that unfolds slowly. Changes from tight, tip of tongue spice, cooking spices, & tannic; white pepper appearing on back of tongue; lower tannins, dried fruit - specifically raisin, red berry, cinnamon but still tight. Pork aroma with impressive back of throat spice, softer red berry. Fruit emerges as wine breathes. Decant. Pairs well with wild game, lamb, fowl and truffles.

Va La Mahongany 2005
Avondale, Pennsylvania - $55
First release of this blend of Barbera, Petit Verdot & Carmine. Grown and bottled on site. Winemaker has been waiting 10 years for the vines to mature to produce a wine of this quality, range, and style. Light tannins, medium body with bold flavors. Will age well in bottle. Pairs well with everything from chocolate to bold cheeses. 4/5

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Penns Wood Winery

The Whites
Penns Word Proprietor's Reserve 2006
Pennsylvania - $23
One of my favorites from this winery, enjoyable. Lovely nose; citrus on palate reminscent of Pinot Grigio, green apple & lemon, a little more viscosity than Sauvignon Blanc. From the winemaker: "Deep lemony gold in color. Blend of Chardonnay & Pinot Grigio has warm nose packed w/generous armos of melon, tropical fruit, and citrus."

Penns Wood Chardonnay Reserve 2005
Pennsylvania - $33
Tangerine & spice on nose. Light body, thinner than what I'm used to but style typical of the terrior. Vanilla note on finish. Light oaking. From the winemaker: "Vibrancy on palate with aromas of juicy apple and tangerine, hint of vanilla."

Penns Wood Sauvignon Blanc 2006
Pennsylvania - $32
Grapefruit pith on nose, light minerality. Prefer French style of minerality, which this has. A little thin. From the winemaker: "Deep golden with notes of green in color, complex w/hints of tangerine peel, grapefruit pith & traces of minerality."

The Reds
Penns Wood Proprietor's Reserve 2004
Pennsylvania - $23
Cedar, red & black berry, earthiness! Some florals, nice acidity; light, lingering flavor and light, supple tannins. From the winemaker: "Blend of Cabernet and Merlot, floral bouquet, dark red fruit."

Penns Wood Ameritage 2004
Pennsylvania - $46
Earthy, barnyard, some light pepper on center of tongue. Smooth & elegant, like it but not for price. Prefer bolder style. Less than 70 cases produced. Blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Petite Verdot, Carmine, Sangiovese, and Nebiolo grapes.

Penns Wood Chambourcin 2008
Pennsylvania - $28
Like the nose, not the palate. Bitter smack in beginning, sour palate, some barnyard & earthiness. Picked up on sage & pepper. Did not like; apparently this grape is not one of my favorites as I've learned from other tastings. From the winemaker: "Bouquet of pomegranate, black pepper, sage."

Penns Wood White Merlot 2006
Pennsylvania - $18
Merry Edwards Pinot Noir nose, carmelly pink color. Not a lot of complexity, good summer sipper. Really cool nose, mocha & light light tannins. From the winemaker: "Cassis, black raspberry, mocha and underlying minerality."

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