Castle Gruen Vineyards and Winery

Wine: Winery: Ambiance: Apr 30, 2010

Norton Wine Review: Sometimes you just get lucky when finding a small remote vineyard and this was the case at Castle Gruen Winery. Though only five offered wines from this small family vineyard, you are quickly introduced to a vintner who is truly in love with his grape works. You just cannot go wrong with any wines at Castle Gruen. From a truly well crafted “Southern” Gewurztraminer style Traminette fermented in stainless steel to a drinkable now Merlot (75% Merlot, 10% Alicante Bouschet, 10% Concord, 5% Viognier). *CGVW 2007 Norton is described as ‘Deep, Dark, Vanilla, and Cherry, with Balanced Tannins’. Good description except we did not find this Norton “dark” in color or taste. Stated was that “the issue is not always the flavors, but the aromas” in wines and this is so true to the aromas of his wine with its light bodied, yet complex California Pinot Noir style produced Norton. Drinkable now, but we are betting after holding for a few more years we might have one of the best Nortons to be found in Virginia. Don’t leave without considering also their King’s Red blend (Merlot-Cabernet Sauvignon-Cabernet Franc). Again, we will hold this wine royalty for a few more years. . . . *Sixteen Norton vineyards later on this one trip, this was my wife’s favorite Norton wine.