I’ve spent the better part of a week mulling over this post, for two reasons: Is it worth writing? And, am I being impartial? Final analysis – yes, and probably not, but here goes.
Superbowl weekend isn’t just about football, beer parties, and junk food. Oh no! For my dear friend Lauren, it was also her birthday celebration. Granted, it was several weeks late, but, we were all up for a winery visit with tasting and a small, intimate party. We choose Chateau O’Brien at Northpoint for that Saturday.
Lauren and I have had a number of wonderful visits at CO’B. We enjoy their wines and think the world of the owners, Howard and Debbie. On one particular visit, Howard was kind enough to let us sample their newly produced Late Harvest Tannat – which I’ve previously written tastes like liquid silk – resulting in the purchase of several glasses for enjoyment.
So, on the Saturday in question, in a rainy sleet that turned into large snowflakes – nevertheless, gorgeous – we decided to make the trip out Rt. 66 because we were certain that CO’B was the perfect destination. With the addition of the fire pit plus enclosed deck overlooking rolling Tuscan-like hills, it seemed a perfect fit for our purpose and the day’s weather.
We did the “cellar” tasting which included a 2009 Syrah, the Padlock Red – awesome, I brought a bottle home – plus the 2009 Limited Reserve and 2009 Late Harvest Tannats. The Padlock Red is “[A} well-balanced Bordeaux-style blend of 60% Cabernet Franc, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 15% Petit Verdot. Rich in lingering dark fruit with lovely tannins and a silky finish.”1 There wasn’t a bad bottle in the bunch, but do note that the Syrah needs some time to mature. Buy a bottle now and enjoy in a year, is my recommendation.
Admittedly, we arrived late, at 4 p.m. We did not realize at the outset that CO’B closed at 5 p.m. – my bad! Our host for the tasting was Rich; he was charming and very knowledgeable about the wines he was serving. In the end we purchased a bottle of the Late Harvest Tannat – at a price of $79 – to pair with our cheese, fruit, and chocolate cheesecake for the birthday girl. The Tannat, from CO’B’s website description, is everything and more …
No wine language can so eloquently express the powerful elegance of this wine. The result of superb viticulture, patience, and discipline for harvest timing and sound winemaking, this subtly sweet Tannat blatantly expresses the underestimated potential of red wine in Virginia … you will be convinced, as we are, that Tannat is a grape to bring greatness to Virginia.
We settled in at one of the tables overlooking those beautiful hills, got out the birthday presents and nosh, all the while having great fun. That’s when our experience began to sour.
My guess is that, because of the late hour, the staff was subtly trying to tell us not to get too comfortable. We quickly realized it was cold; the overhead heaters had been turned off. At 5 p.m. we got the “ten minute” warning that we needed to pack up and leave. Come on, it was pretty hard to miss that we were having a great time enjoying their wine and our little party. But, the staff was adamant. So, pack up we did.
In short, despite its good wines and lovely estate, it will be a long while before we revisit Chateau O’Brien. We felt the hospitality we’ve come to expect from this winery was, sadly, missing.
1 http://www.chateauobrien.com/wines/
