Continuing with my backlog of notes. First a tasting at Stone Hill Winery, then two other wines below, including one of the best Viogniers I've ever had.
Stone Hill Winery is one of the big names in Missouri wine. I've passed their tasting room, which is just off of I-70 in New Florence, MO, dozens of times, and finally took the opportunity to stop in for a tasting. In short, I was quite pleased, and there clearly there are some very nice things happening in the Hermann AVA (which it should be noted was the first AVA ever established, a tip of the hat to Missouri's historical importance as a wine producing state).
I liked this first one well enough to get a bottle, since it was also a good value:
Stone Hill Winery, Vidal Blanc, Missouri 2008
From the Hermann AVA. Nice nose of ripe pear and peach. Lemon rind, pear, peach, floral honey, a hint of grass, and a whiff of brown spice, with steely acidity, and mineral. Very dry. Tasted twice with fully consistent notes. Really nice; good value for $8 (at the winery). Can age perhaps another 5 years? At the winery, and a second bottle at home. Very Good (84 - 88). [10/8/10]
Stone Hill Winery, Dry Vignoles, Missouri 2009
From the Hermann AVA. Really good nose of mineral and pear. Pear, apricot, and mineral, with steely acidity. Very dry. At the winery. Very Good (84 - 88). [10/8/10]
Stone Hill Winery, Traminette, Missouri 2009
From the Hermann AVA. Very nice nose of pear, apple, and floral honey. Similar on the palate, but not as expressive, with some nutmeg on the finish, and minerals. Steely acidity. Perhaps needs more time? At the winery. Very Good (84 - 88). [10/8/10]
Stone Hill Winery, Chambourcin, Missouri 2007
From the Hermann AVA. Lots of oak on the nose, but very nice, with dark fruit and floral vanilla. Similar on the palate, with nice plummy red fruit, but not very expressive at this stage. Air helps, but needs time. Good potential. At the winery. Very Good (84 - 88). [10/8/10]
Stone Hill Winery, Norton, Hermann (AVA) 2006
Rich, heady nose of cassis, vanilla, and oak (smells like a California Cab. Sauv. blend). Similar notes on the palate, with some red currant, and spice. Pretty good presence on the palate. Good quality. Might be holding back a bit. Needs more time? At the winery. Very Good (84 - 88). [10/8/10]
Stone Hill Winery, Port, Missouri 2007
From the Hermann AVA. Made from Norton. Similar notes to the dry Norton (cassis, red currant, spice), with more red fruit, plus chocolate and raisen. Quite nice. Will age nicely. At the winery. Very Good (84 - 88). [10/8/10]
One of the two big surprises:
Stone Hill Winery, Brut Blanc de Blancs, Missouri 2006
From the Hermann AVA. Vidal Blanc. Methode champenoise. Great fruit! Notes similar to the still Vidal Blanc (lemon rind, pear, peach), with mineral depth, creaminess, and toast. Very good quality, like a good Cava. A great success for Missouri! At the winery, and the best of the lot. Excellent (88 - 92). [10/8/10]
Stone Hill Winery, Brut Rose, Missouri NV
From the Hermann AVA. Vidal Blanc with a dossage of Chambourcin. Methode champenoise. No notes taken, but basically like the Blanc de Blancs with a hint of red fruit. Though not having quite the depth or precision of the Blanc de Blancs, this is another good quality sparkler that can hold its own against similar New World wines. At the winery. Very Good (84 - 88). [10/8/10]
Here is the other big surprise. Thanks to Tom Hill for the recommendation:
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Inland Sea, Viognier, Amigoni Vineyards, Missouri 2008
From the Kansas City area. Clean, light straw color. Wondefully aromatic, rich nose. White peach, apricot, loads of honey, flowers, with mineral, and mace/brown spice. Full bodied, rich, and wonderful. Finish a bit short initially, but the wine grows as it warms and opens, acquiring a good, spicey finish. As good as any Viognier I've had from anywhere. A triumph for Missouri! And very reasonably priced at $16 (in fact a wine of similar quality from California or Australia would probably cost a bit more). Excellent (88 - 92). [8/16/10]
This winery is just across the Missouri river from my hometown, and is turning out pretty agreeable wines, though they do need to polish up their winemaking a bit (for those not in the know, Cynthiana = Norton, although I recently read that they may be clones rather than identical):
Riverwood Winery, Cynthiana, Reserve, Missouri 2008
Tart with nice fruit on night 1, but mellowed nicely on night 2, with pure blackberry (lots of it!), currant, some floral notes a touch of euchalyptus, and oak. Very Good (84 - 88). [11/23/10]