Tasting - Effingham Reseve

Name: Effingham Reserve
Variety: red blend, unable to find exact blend for this vintage, 2020 is, in order of most to least, Cabernet Sauvignon, Tannat, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc. 

Region: Broad Run, VA

Country: USA

Year: 2019

Price: $49

Winery review: This historic property is humbling to know in so many ways. Five years in the marking, we honor Effingham with its first Reserve wine. A blend of the state’s best vineyards and varieties, aged in Virginia oak for well over a year, this win was made to respect and be respected… past, present, and future (bottle).

Wine Folly: Assuming this Reserve is similar to the 2020 vintage, the primary varietal is Cabernet Sauvignon, which is known for flavors like black cherry, black currant, cedar, baking spices, and graphite. It’s dry, very full bodied, has medium-high tannins, and medium-high acidity. It’s best served decanted for an hour and just slightly below room temperature (https://winefolly.com/grapes/cabernet-sauvignon/).

The next most dominant grape is Tannat, which I hadn’t previously heard of. It’s a strong antioxidant among wine grape and has flavors like black currant, plum, licorice, smoke, and cardamom. It’s dry, very full bodied, high in tannins, and has medium acidity. It’s also best served decanted for an hour and slightly below room temperature (https://winefolly.com/grapes/tannat/). 

My review: I said I was going to get into reds and here we are, sipping a very bold, full bodied, and tannic red. And I like it! I’ve been working on this bottle for three nights and it’s finally time to sit down and analyze it. The cherry from the two dominant varietals comes through on first sniff. There’s another smell that I can’t place, but I’m starting to suspect may be black currant, something I’ve never had but frequently see described in the reds where there’s a smell or flavor I’m unfamiliar with. My first sip tonight was intensely buttery, something I hadn’t noticed other nights. In subsequent sips, I began to notice plumb, spices, and a slight smokiness. I wish I had more bottles of this so I could see how the tannins settle over time.