Pennsylvania - Chester County - Black Walnut

Black Walnut Winery  - Jan 2020 - We tasted all available wines except for the ports. The Chardonnay was light and fruity, with a tart apple and light buttery finish. Mischief, a blend of Chardonnay and Malvasia was very aromatic with honeysuckle and an apricot, slightly tart, smooth finish. Their Apple is a nice blend of apples. Sassy, a blush made from finished red and white wines had a cranberry flavor while Iridescence, another blush made from finished wines had more cranberry on the sweet finish. Their Vidal Blanc is done in a semi-sweet style, which changes the typical acidity.

The 2014 Merlot had a dark hue, with drying tobacco aroma, plum flavor and medium tannis. The 2015 Pinot Noir was light in color, with earthy and pepper spice aromas, mild, not distinguishable, flavors and heavier tannins, slight overpowering. The 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon was very dark in color, with leather aroma, dark cherry flavor and heavy tannins, like the Pinot, but it could handle it. The Bank Barn Red, a blend of Norton, Syrah and Merlot, served chilled, had dried grape aromas and a finished similar to a semi-sweet Concord.

We had the pleasure of Valerie, the winemakers wife, pouring the wines, while she hosted another customer who was preparing for their wine and chocolate pairing later in the month.

Feb 2017 - The 2013 Sauvignon Blanc is still available so I decided to taste to see how it has aged - light oaking and a tangerine finish, while the Blanc Franc did not excite me this time.

But I enjoyed tasting the 2011 and 2012 Merlot side by side. Both were fruity, medium bodied but the 2013 I had in the fall had more flavor. The 2014 Cabernet Franc, recently released, had more body and nice cherry flavor, while the 2013 Syrah, bolder in color and tannins, had dark cherry and plum flavors. The 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon had dark cherry notes.

Oct 2016 - I got to do another side-by-side tasting, but this time it was the 2013 and 2014 Sauvignon Blanc. The 2014 had nice green apple flavors with a mineral finish, but the 2013 did not impress me. Based on the notes below, it probably should have. The 2012 White Cabernet Sauvignon was a blush wine made from the free run juice. The 2013 Merlot had nice plum aromas, medium body and a nice oakey finish.

Oct 2015 - I was telling my friends how I was able to sample the two Sauvignon Blancs side-by-side and was hoping to do it again, but they had just sold out of the 2011 vintage. The 2010 Blanc Franc gave me a peach after taste, while Sassy, Pinot Noir and Cayuga blend, had honeysuckle on the tongue and tart apple finish. The 2010 Amethyst gave me sour cherry notes and a smooth finish, 2011 Merlot had plum notes and a subtle oak finish, 2013 Syrah, with dark cherry notes and pepper finish, 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon with dark cherry notes and Bank Barn Red, their Norton was served chilled.

Aug 2015 - In preparation for the fall TVCEF trip, I stopped at the winery in Sadsburyville. It's a (rare) treat to be able to try two vintages of the same wine and I was able to do that with their Sauvignon Blanc, 2011 versus 2013, which was just released. Both were good, but the 2013 was young and if it can live up to the 2011, then they are on to something. The 2013 was light in color and full of flavor, but it was the 2011, with its golden honey color and lemongrass taste that teased my palette. Their 2010 Blanc Franc, an off-dry rose made from Cabernet Franc, closed out my whites. It did what no other franc has done; I bought a bottle to take home.

For their reds, I tried the 2010 Amethyst, a blend of Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Syrah. I was able to taste the plum and strawberry. I finished off with the 2013 Syrah, another recently released wine. It was not disappointing with a smooth pepper taste at the end. As a surprise, the Lance, the vitner, brought me a sample of their Cabernet Franc; I enjoyed it and asked when it would be released. Well, he is teasing me as he does not plan on releasing it for another year.

While I was there, I got to see the facility and how they could accommodate the group. Valerie and Kitty were gracious hosts. I know we'll enjoy this stop.

Mar 2015 - After visiting Taste, we went to the tasting room in Phoenixville to try some additional wines. Some of the names are deceiving, but their blends are smooth. Their Mischief is a blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillion; it has a mineral finish while their Pinot Gris has extra time with the grape skins and allowed for the crispness to flow though to the end. Switching to red, the Amethyst is a blend of Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Syrah, but I enjoyed Swindled, a Cabernet Franc blend, better. The Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon were traditional reds which held their own. I ended with Tryst, a 50/50 blend of Pinot Noir and Merlot.