Joel Butler, America’s first Master of Wine, recently became aware of Virginia wine and the substantial new visibility it has been getting, and came out in late 2024 for an in-depth tour and tasting at a handful of select Virginia wineries.
He published a four-part series with detailed reviews, commentaries and scores in his WineKnowLog blog in January 2025, and here is the final entry in the series:
Last, but not least – A Cabernet Franc from Virginia that stood out among several tasted and highlighted the great potential for this grape in Virgina among all of the vinifera grapes grown there. If Norton is Virginia’s ‘own and original’ grape, then Cab franc should be the State’s ‘adopted’ finest ! especially when the quality and character reaches the heights of this newly released wine from DuCard Vineyards.
DuCard Vineyards 2023 Cabernet Franc estate VA. Planted around 2001, Aged 10 months in puncheons, about 10% new. 3.9 pH. Darker deep ruby with violet = beautiful color. Lovely framboise, black berry / cassis bouquet. Bottled last week (end August 2024). Medium + body. Rich and dense, strong fruit with ripe lovely boysenberry flaors complemented by cedary, graphite herbal notes. Firm tannins and balanced acidity fram the ripe fruit with solid extract density. More comple wine than those above, with a fine minty finish. Seriously good CF, more BDX style perhaps, savory firm yet deeply fruited. Now through 2033. 13% ABV ***
{Note: he scores using a three star system – *** = top category, outstanding. And this was the only wine in his Virginia tour that received a full *** score] This wine subsequently was awarded a spot in the VA Governor’s Case in spring 2025 – consisting of the top 12 wines in the state.
Other wineries included in the five part series called Virginia’s Fine Wines include:
- Breaux Vineyards
- Paradise Springs Winery
- RDV (now Lost Mountain Vineyards)
- Arterra Wines
- CANA Vineyards
- Chrysalis Vineyards
- Delaplane Cellars
- Boxwood Winery
- Crimson Lane Vineyard
- Rappahannock Cellars
- Pearmund Cellars
- Barboursville Winery
- DuCard Vineyards
- Linden Vineyards
- Horton Vineyards
- Michael Shaps Wines/ Virginia Wine Works
- Veritas Wines
- King Family Winery
- Fifty Third Winery & Vineyards
This article originally published by Joel Butler at https://joelbutlermw.substack.com/p/virginias-fine-wines-part-iv