Maryland - Hydes - Boordy Vineyards

Boordy Vineyards - October 2018 - After meeting winemaker Phineas Deford in the parking lot, he took my sensory class into the barn lower level tasting room with its portable bars (There is an open-air tasting room.) where he served us the following Landmark series, estate wines:

2017 Sauvignon Blanc (two clones) was pale straw color with lemon and guava aromas. The flavors of lemon, guava and pineapple led to a mild acidity, guava clean and refreshing finish. 2017 Viognier was pale straw color with white peach and apricot aromas. The apricot flavor led to a dry, smooth, slightly lingering finish. 2017 Albarino was very pale, almost glass, with lemon and citrus aromas. The lemon and lime flavors led to a slightly sweet lingering finish. 2017 Rose, a blend of 50% Cab Franc and 50% Merlot done in the Saignee technique, was pale pink with light red tree fruit aromas. The cherry flavor led to a short cherry Life Saver finish. A well-balanced wine that might make me think about Rose. 2016 Chardonnay was a pale yellow color with apricot and orange aromas. The citrus flavors were not distinguishable but they led to a smooth, slightly creamy lingering finish. 2015 South Mountain Red, a blend of 69% Merlot, 12% cab Franc, 12% Syrah and 6% Cab Sauv was a purplish-red color with spice, pepper and smoked tobacco aromas. The light-bodied wine had plum and red cherry flavors with a black pepper, light tannic finish; an easy drinking wine. The first bottle poured had oxidation. After opening a fresh bottle, I was able to taste the two side-by-side. I was not able to detect the oxidation, without being told it was oxidation, but knew there was something I did not like about the wine. The notes are from the second bottle.  2014 Cabernet Franc Reserve was a deep purple with red tints and plum, (light) dark cherry and fresh tobacco aromas. The light to medium-bodied wine had dark cherry and black berry flavors with mild tannins and a lingering finish; enjoyable but lighter than expected. 2015 Merlot was a deep purple with earthy, some bell pepper and skoky (char) aromas. The light to medium-bodied wine had plum and some vegetative flavors with heavier tannins coming in before the plum finish. 2014 Landmark Reserve, a blend of 52% Merlot, 17% Cab Sauv, 13% Cab Franc, 11% Petit Verdot and 7% Syrah was a deep purple with black currant, tart cherry, cranberry and fresh tobacco aromas. The medium bodied wine had plum and tart cherry flavors, the boldest tannins and currant and cherry finish; the best of the reds.

This is the second time I have been to Boordy. The first time, I was there are part of the Mason-Dixon Wine Trail and probably had more of their Chesapeake series, which is made from a mixture of locations, with at least 50% produced in Maryland. The wines we tasted were well-balanced and enjoyable. Having a group discussion about the wines, the vineyard and the overall business gave me more insight with the balance between vineyard management, winemaking and marketing (they are looking at changing the (large label to show off the wine)). The visible vineyards were well maintained. When in the area, I will stop back.

March 2016 -As part of the Mason-Dixon Wine Trail event, we tried the 2014 Pinot Grigio, with mild orange and grapefruit flavors and an acidic finish, the 2014 Dry Rose, their blend of free run juice from several red varieties, which ended slightly sweet finish, Rockfish, a blend of Seyval, Chardonnay and Vidal, with a crisp finish, Diamondback Terrapin, their Cabernet Sauvignon blend. The 2014 vintage finished with mild tannins, while the 2015, unfiltered out of the tank seemed fruitier. Baltimore Oriole, s semi-sweet Riesling, had honey flavors, the Chambourcin/Merlot was fruity, but ended on the sweet side, and the Jazz Berry, was sweet strawberries and raspberries blended in perfect harmony.

I decided to do an additional tasting of the Landmark Series and tasted the 2014 Pinot Grigio (again), the 2014 Chardonnay, aged in stainless steel, with light oak and butter finish, 2014 Dry Rose, to find it is a blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Syrah, had more tannins, the 2014 Chardonnay Reserve, with a crisp start and a light oak lingering finish, 2014 South Mountain Red, a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah and Cabernet Franc, with fruit forward and medium tannins on the end, 2013 Cabernet Franc, with its cherry flavor and ending black pepper notes, 2013 Merlot, was better than the Franc, ending smooth, the 2012 Veritas Vintage Port, made from Chambourcin grapes, has aromas of plum and a sweet raspberry finish, and the 2014 Eisling, the sweet vidal blanc reserve, was sweet with honey notes.