Ohio Winery Visit: Debonne Vineyards

TANNENBAUM TRAIL REPORT – Prior to this visit to the Geneva , I knew precious little about the wineries in the area. Two wineries that I did know were Debonne and Ferrante. Their wines are available widely in Ohio.

Debonne was our fourth stop on the Trail. It was a sunny but cold day and we were looking forward to the visit, despite a comment by one winemaker earlier in the day that, “Oh yeah, they’re a big commercial winery.”

Debonne is the largest estate winery in Ohio. The family has been in business in the area since 1916.

Upon arriving, the winery and grounds give a very favorable impression. This is a substantial operation and a great place to spend a sunny afternoon or while away a cold day inside at the tasting bar.

There is a nice grass amphitheater outside where concerts are offered weekly in warmer weather. There is also a great patio. Inside there is a nice restaurant and spacious tasting bar.

We started out with a Chardonnay. This was not a very inspired wine and had a flat taste to me. It is lightly oaked and had apple on the palate. The semi-dry Riesling had light spice and apricot flavor notes – a bit sweet for the Green Dragon and I who prefer dry Riesling.

The Cabernet Franc is a dry red with a touch of smokiness and aroma of pepper. It has rich flavors of black cherry and light oak. This also had a rewarding finish. This is a pleasing wine.

Green Dragon next sampled the Grand Dolina, on of the “Vineyard Select house wines of Chalet Debonne.” Although we didn’t realize it at the time, apparently the Chalet Debonne wines are a line of lower priced lambrusca and French hybrid type wines. Some of these wines, like Delaware and Catawba, are typical Lake Erie style wines, with a tendency for sweetness and a “foxy” taste. The Grand Dolina was unremarkable. These wines might be good for backyard sipping, but my advice would be to stick to the premium wines from Debonne.

The final taste for me was “a Cab.” This wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Chambourcin. This has flavors of blackberry and oak. Chambourcin is an interesting grape, but doesn’t have much of a bouquet and as a result, this wine didn’t have much nose.

Debonne is a major player in the Ohio wine scene with a wide portfolio of wines from low cost sippers to varietals that can proudly accompany your finest meal. The winery itself is a lively scene with music and special events regularly scheduled.

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Photo: Debonne employee seals the capsules on some custom labeled wine.

DeLoach Pinot Noir 2008 California Family Collection

DeLoach Vineyards was named by Wine & Spirits Magazine a “Top 100 Winery of the Year” in its winter issue. In the same issue, DeLoach’s 2007 Russian River Valley Pinot Noir was recognized as one of the “100 Best Buys of the Year.” Those are some serious honors.

Since 1975 DeLoach Vineyards has been making terroir-driven wines in the Russian River Valley and in premium vineyard sites across Northern California. Its founders were not only part of the first group to plant Pinot Noir in the Russian River Valley in 1973, but they also played an important role in creating the Russian River Valley AVA in 1983.

This tasty bottle was opened for my wife’s “girls night in.” Luckily a glass was saved for me. This is the lower end of the DeLoach family of Pinot Noirs. The single vineyard Pinots go for about $45 and the 2006 Sonoma Stage Vineyard Pinot goes for $85.

The 2008 California Pinot expresses many of the classic traits of this fine varietal. It has aromas of cherry and mushroom and delectable flavors of strawberry and smoke. It has a smooth, long finish.

It is a great value for about $15 and whets the appetite for the more expensive DeLoach Pinot Noirs.

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Ohio Winery Visit: Maple Ridge Vineyard

TANNENBAUM TRAIL – Our visit to the Vines and Wines Wine Trail continued when we rolled into Maple Ridge Vineyard. I was curious about the winery since there was no picture on their Web site. We didn’t know what to expect when we rolled up to what appeared to be a house with chickens roaming around. Appearances can be deceptive!

Maple Ridge is an organic wine-farm specializing in Bordeaux and Bourgogne style wines. The winery is located on a ridge at approximately 1,200 feet elevation where they grow Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Riesling and Bordeaux red varieties of grapes.

Owner Jim Iubelt  developed a taste for fine European wines during more than 20 years of corporate travel. Jim worked with the viticulture department at Cornell to select just the right root stock for his vineyard. The vines were imported from Europe.

Allier Oak Barrels from Bourgogne France are used to make their finest wines. The wine barrels are cut from select Allier Forrest Oak, aged in Cognac for more than 30 months, toasted over an open fire, and constructed by some of the top craftsman in Bourgogne.

With this attention to detail, you can image the wine is something special. We tried the 2007 Riesling Spatelese and the Pinot Gris. The  Pinot Gris is in the white Burgundy style. These were both tasty, but the reds really stole the spotlight. We sampled the Pinot Noir, which was surprisingly complex.

The stellar wine of the tasting was the Meritage. The Meritage lists for $90 and can best be described as sublime. It is a Bordeaux-style blend with Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot with lesser amounts of Petit Sirah and Petite Verdot. It has dancing layers of fruit with just the right amount of oak finish. Like most wines offered by Maple Ridge, they are available on a very limited basis.

According to Jim, most wine is sold through winery memberships. Winery members receive monthly shipments of wine and can participate in eight to nine members only events at the winery each year. The food is great with chickens and lambs being grown organically on the grounds.

This is a boutique operation with a focus on very fine European style wines.  For a truly different winery experience and some sensational, quality wines try a visit to Maple Ridge.

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Niagara-on-the-Lake Wineries Offer 21 Stocking Days of Christmas

Ontario wineries want you to make Niagara-on-the-Lake wine country your destination for holiday shopping and cellar stocking. The month of December features 21 special days of touring and tasting and an exclusive selection of wines available only at the wineries. This includes wines available in extremely limited supply and back vintages that will be available to purchase during this event only.

There are 21 exceptional VQA wines for you to sample and purchase for gifting, collecting or to celebrate the season. The shops and boutiques of Niagara-on-the-Lake also feature unique gifts for everyone on your list. Special offers for touring pass holders are being offered by retail partners during this event.

Full information is available at the Wineries of Niagara-on-the-Lake Web site. The tasting and shopping passes are $25.00 per person plus applicable taxes. Passes can be used any day through December 1 - 21, 2009

Tickets are available here or call (905) 468-1950.

Washington Wine: A Dash Of Taste

The wines of Washington were center stage last week at Cork’s as Dave Pirwitz of DJP Selections sampled a selection of fine Evergreen State wines.

Featured wines included:

Thurston Wolfe PGV – A 2008 blend of 57% Viognier and 43% Pinot Gris.  Crisp with flavors of orange and tropical fruit. Should be nice with chicken and seafood dishes.

Alexandria Nicole 2008 Shepherd’s Mark -- We like the wines from this boutique winery. This wine is named after markers, still standing, left by sheepherders in Horse Heaven Hills along the  ridge line the  Destiny Ridge estate vineyard. This

is a  Rhone Blend of Rousanne, Marsanne and Viognier. A tasty white with layers of fig, lemon and baked apple. Complex flavor with a refreshingly finish.

Thurston Wolfe 2007 Doctor Wolfe’s Family Red – Something different for us, this is a unique blend of Primitivo, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Sirah and Lemberger.  Spicy, fruity and full-bodied.

Elegante Cellars 2007 Sangiovese – Another pick from a Walla Walla Valley boutique winery. Tasty but not the favorite.

Five Star Cellars 2006 Merlot – This was the winner of the evening. Lush mouth feel with black cherry,  pepper and spice. An extended round finish with subtle oaking.

Dama Syrah 2007 – Dama is a high-end winery by two women winemakers. Only 290 cases were made of this great smoky and spicy Syrah. This wine is an excellent buy.

Make The Dash Count Icicles 2006 Riesling Ice Wine - This is a nicely balanced ice wine with floral and cinnamon aromas. Intensely sweet with flavors of honey and ripe apricots. Sales of the wine benefit the Make the Dash Count Foundation which educates youth in the responsibilities of community leadership and charitable giving. 

While enjoying the great tasting, the topic turned to the the inspirational poem, The Dash. The Dash is an poem by Linda Ellis and refers to the dates on a gravestone. The key message is it’s not your birth date or date of death that matters, but what you do with your life (represented by the dash between the two dates).

It’s a heavy thought best pondered with a glass of nice wine…

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Wine Tastings & Events: Week of Dec. 14, 2009

Wednesday, December 16
Beer and Wine Cave, 4400 Heatherdowns, (419) 382-6221. 6-8 PM, $15.

Thursday, December 17
The Andersons, Wine Tasting. Maumee 5-7 PM. Nominal charge.

The Andersons, Wine Tasting. Talmadge Road 6-8 PM. Nominal fee.

Beer and Wine Cave, 4400 Heatherdowns, (419) 382-6221. 6-8 PM, $15.

Corks Wine and Liquor, Promenade Plaza, 27250 Crossroads Pkwy., Rossford – (419) 872-6800. 6-9 PM. Badass Wines. So you think wine is for book groups, knitting circles and Sunday school? WRONG. We dare you to drop in and tremble before a wine lineup that’s way tougher than you are. Cost $1 - $3 per glass.

Friday, December 18
Aficionado Wine and Cigars, The Shoppes at RiverPlace, 26567 N. Dixie Highway, Suite 135, Perrysburg, (419-873-4444). Christmas Cabs. 1. Canyon’s Edge Cabernet Sauvignon, 2. Pacific Estates Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, 3. Stag’s Leap Cellars “Artemis” Cabernet Sauvignon, 4. Steltzner Cabernet Franc. $10 tasting.

Corks Wine and Liquor, Promenade Plaza, 27250 Crossroads Pkwy., Rossford – (419) 872-6800. 6-9 PM. Badass Wines. So you think wine is for book groups, knitting circles and Sunday school? WRONG. We dare you to drop in and tremble before a wine lineup that’s way tougher than you are. Cost $1 - $3 per glass.

Saturday, December 19
Aficionado Wine and Cigars, The Shoppes at RiverPlace, 26567 N. Dixie Highway, Suite 135, Perrysburg, (419-873-4444). Christmas Cabs. 1. Canyon’s Edge Cabernet Sauvignon, 2. Pacific Estates Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, 3. Stag’s Leap Cellars “Artemis” Cabernet Sauvignon, 4. Steltzner Cabernet Franc. $10 tasting.

Walt Churchill’s Market, 3320 Briarfield. Maumee, (419) 794-4000—Noon to 5 PM. Plumpjack/Cade Winery (and special holiday tasting). Pay by the sample or for the whole flight.

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