Byrd Cellars

Wine: Winery: Ambiance: Sep 10, 2011

Favorite Wine: 2008 Norton Reserve

Norton Wine Review: I enjoyed Byrd Cellars so much that I scribbled all over my tasting sheet to the extent of not being able to decipher anything written. Sue Anne and Paul Klinefelter are true farmers from Ohio. They now maintain 134 acres of soy, wheat, something else I cannot read on my sheet and almost 15 acres of grapes split onto three vineyard sites (5.5 acres of Norton, plus Cab Sauv, Concord, Chardonnay, Vidal, Muscat, etc.). They have a nice tasting note sheet divided into columns: 1) Notes 2) Wine Name 3) Cost 4) a unique Dry-to-Sweet wine graph and 5) Description notes. A landscape printing of this would give more note room to “eulogize” the positive aspects of each tasted wine. Listed are three Apple wines (not lower alcohol % ciders) which I declined politely three times, but Sue Anne poured one anyway. Dern, she knew what she was doing, ~ I bought a bottle. Their first 100% Estate grown 2008 Norton produced from four year old vines in stainless steel was quite tart. Byrd Cellars’ second delightful Norton offering was a Raven Red meritage of sorts (Cab Sauv, Merlot, Syrah, & Norton – French oaked). Third on the list was a more controlled light, yet full bodied “drink now” 2008 Norton Reserve (with an approximate 60/40 American oak back blend). I was a little concerned with Byrd's use of Zork corks since I've not heard good words on using these for wines which one may wish to put away for a few years. There were seven other delights, but I’ll let you look them up on their Internet link. I was also lucky to get one of their last eleven bottles of Petit Verdot . Yep, I bought this one on blind faith, but was rewarded with unique dark lavender floral aromas and the pleasure of experiencing another one of Virginia's fine 100% Petit Verdots. Bottom line, go out of your way to find this remotely situated new vineyard and enjoy the fruits of their labors in a delightful hand-crafted small setting. Be one of the first to discover Byrd Cellars. Good today, and I bet better tomorrow.