Williamsburg Winery Dominion 1996 Late Harvest Vidal
My mother-in-law discovered this wine while cleaning. Apparently, she bought it awhile ago planning on giving it as a gift to her mother. Thinking it to be perhaps too old she was planning on throwing it out, but my wife convinced her to let us have it instead. Clearly a good save … this is the first aged late harvest vidal I’ve been able to taste.
Williamsburg Winery Dominion Cellars of Virginia 1996 Late Harvest Vidal
This wine was made in Virginia from Vidal Blanc grapes (27 brix, 9.3% residual sugar). The bottle indicates that this was a limited edition wine. I’m not sure how many cases were produced, but it can safely be assumed that this wine would be quite difficult to find today. It’s interesting to consider that this might be one of the last bottles of this wine in existence.
It is darker in color than most late harvest vidals, perhaps due to aging. This thick wine has copper tones complimented by shades of light red and orange. It reminds me of wet fallen leaves in autumn. On the nose I’m picking up rich brown sugar, apple cider and preserves. It’s almost a popurri smell. Lush and intensely flavorful on the palate this wine is tremendously tasty and has clearly aged well. Sugar covered fruit with hints of caramel and spice. It’s as if I’m eating a candied apple. The candy flavors cannot be denied, for as serious as this wine looks it tastes like I’m drinking melted jolly ranchers. That’s it … it’s melted jolly ranchers and I completely love it.
September 24th, 2009 at 5:39 am
“It’s interesting to consider that this might be one of the last bottles of this wine in existence.”
Hey, I heard that they may have found one last living Tasmanian Tiger! Let’s go kill it and see what it taste like…
HAVE YOU NO SCRUPPLES, MAN!