OTTO – Marked Tree Vineyard

Our wine tonight is the OTTO white blend from Marked Tree Vineyard.

OTTO = Old Two Tops Oak. Impressive old oak on the property which continues to rise above the farm’s old homestead.

Vintage 2018

Predominantly Vidal Blanc, listed as a blend…so we suspect blended with estate grown Chardonel and Grüner Veltliner.

Light yellow in color, similar to corn silk.

Crest of the Blue Ridge (Henderson County)

Nose of honeysuckle, peach, clematis, jasmine, and eucalyptus.

Semi-sweet with crisp balanced acidity.

Flavor notes of wildflower honey, pineapple, honeysuckle, honeydew melon, and pink grapefruit, and lemon-lime.

12.5% ABV

$20 a bottle.

Winery Escapades scores 89 points.

Kan-gria – Parker-Binns Vineyard

Our wine tonight is the Kan-Gria from Parker-Binns Vineyard in the Tryon Foothills of North Carolina.

KAN-GRIA

Estate grown red wine with natural spices.

Color of freshly squeezed cranberry juice.

The nose is tropical with hints of pink grapefruit and red plum.

12% ABV

Fruit forward profile bursting of red berries such as huckleberries, mulberries, and wild blackberries with pomegranate and bing cherry. Mid-palate unmask hints of citrus, blood orange, lime, and cilantro. The finish shows soft notes of lavender, vanilla, and strawberry.

Sangria is a Spanish term describing a mix of red wine and fruit! Sangria is really booming at craft wineries as a summer drink of choice. Could Sangria replace rosé as the next big summer wine? We think so!

Parker-Binns jumped ahead of the curve canning their sangria…..uh Kan-Gria!

Don’t be afraid to blend with a little coconut rum!

Loco Lulu White – Parker-Binns Vineyard

Our wine tonight is the Loco Lulu White from Parker-Binns Vineyard

Non-vintage on the label, though this wine is was very recently bottled.

Tryon Foothills wine region of Western North Carolina.

Blend of estate grown, Chardonnay, Petit Manseng, and Muscat.

Pale yellow in color.

Floral and citrus nose of honeysuckle and lemon-lime. Delicate and very approachable, semi-sweet on the tongue. Tasty notes of lemon meringue pie, a little key lime pie, and honeysuckle, quickly fading into a lingering finish of freshly opened can pears in syrup which pleasantly just coats your palate.

12% ABV.

WineryEscapades scores 93 points.

Lulu the winery dog has her paw stamp of approval on the cork.

Happy Easter!

He is risen!

Loco Lulu

Two New Rosé ~ Parker-Binns Vineyard

Our wine tonight…well yesterday….was two new Rosé releases from Parker-Binns Vineyard in the Tryon Foothills wine region.

PB Rosé and Loco Lulu Rosé

These two are both new releases.

The Rosé Wine is a new release of Parker-Binns traditional rosé.

The Loco Lulu Rosé is the first release.

Both are produced from a blend of estate grown Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot.

Similarly each Rosé was produced from the pressed top run off of each varietal in saignée style.

How each was handled from that point is what makes them different.

The Parker Binns Rosé Wine is produced more in the traditional Provence style.

The Lolo Lulu Rosé was produced with longer skin contact and back sweetened to off dry.

Both are expressively fruit forward on the nose and palate.

The Rosé is salmon in color while the Loco Lulu a very light pinkish hue.

Parker Binns Rosé Wine is 13% ABV

Loco Lulu Rosé ~ 12.5% ABV

We thoroughly enjoyed both, with Jenni slightly preferring the Loco Lulu Rosé and Dennis leaning more toward the dryer PB Rosé Wine.

Winemaker Justin Taylor has hit it out of the ballpark with these two releases.

We rated both as gold medal worthy.

Parker-Binns Rosé Wine ~ 92 points

Loco Lulu Rosé ~ 91 points

Reserve Cabernet Franc – Parker-Binns Vineyard

Our second wine for #NCWineNight is the 2015 Reserve Cabernet Franc from Parker-Binns Vineyard.

Vintage 2015

Estate grown Cabernet Franc

Tryon Foothills wine region of Western North Carolina

Winemaker Justin Taylor

Aerated for 60 minutes to open

Dark plum in color with a dark garnet rim.

Nose of wild cherry, pomegranate, blueberry, a subtle smokiness, black pepper, and spice

Full bodied with medium plus tannins and wide cascading legs

Complex and dry showing bold notes of spice, black pepper, pomegranate, cranberries, and cherry cola. Lingering finish with more herbal tones while showing a bit of oak, vanilla, and green bell pepper

13% ABV

This wine just drinks beautifully.

Exceptional vintage of single vineyard estate grown Cabernet Franc

WineryEscapades scores 93 points.

Merlot – Parker-Binns Vineyard

Our wine tonight is the Merlot from Parker-Binns Vineyard in the Tryon Foothills of North Carolina.

Vintage 2017

Estate grown Merlot.

Deep maroon in color with a short purple rim.

Aromatic bouquet of red plum, bing cherry, fresh blueberry, vanilla extract, black tea, and mocha.

Dry, medium-plus bodied, pleasantly sultry with long cascading legs.

Fruit forward with notes of black currants, pomegranate, cherries, blackberries, and fresh figs, gently fading with hints of cedar, cigar box, black licorice, and leather.

12% ABV.

$22 a bottle.

Ships most states via VinoShipper. Check ParkerBinnsVineyard.Com

Winemaker Justin Taylor.

NC Fine Wines Showcase award winner 2020

NC Fine Wines Showcase Award Winning

Loco Lulu – Parker-Binns Vineyard

Our wine tonight is the Loco Lulu from Parker-Binns Vineyard in the Tryon Foothills wine region of Western North Carolina.

Loco Lulu – Soft Red Blend

Non-vintage on the bottle, though we believe this to be of the 2018 harvest.

Classic Bordeaux blend of estate grown Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.

Dark purple in color with a bright garnet rim.

Nose expressive of fresh Bing cherries, think of a freshly baked hot out of the oven cherry pie, cocoa, soft florals, cinnamon, vanilla, and smoke.

We aerated for 60 minutes.

Medium bodied, medium tannins, with beautiful cascading long legs.

Flavor notes of black currants, blackberries, cherries, red plums, and spice, finishing toward more subtle notes of cedar, vanilla, black pepper, and pipe tobacco.

$12.8% ABV

Winemaker: Justin Taylor

$20 a bottle.

Lulu’s paw of approval is stamped on the cork.

Ships most states via VinoShipper. Check the website for ordering.

Named for Lulu the winery rescue dog. $1 from every bottle sold is donated to her favorite local pet adoption organization.

Lulu

Parker-Binns Vineyard is close to our home and therefore we visit often. We hope to see you visiting one day soon!

From the Tasting Room looking out over the vineyard

Twenty-Fifteen BDX – Mountain Brook Vineyards

Our wine tonight is the Twenty-Fifteen BDX from Mountain Brook Vineyards in the Tryon Foothills of North Carolina.

Vintage 2015

Bordeaux blend of North Carolina grown fruit.

We aerated for 90 minutes.

Aged in a combination of French and American oak.

Dark ruby in color with a bright ruby rim.

Consistent uniform cascading full legs.

Expressive bouquet of blackberries, plums, prunes, fig preserves and dark chocolate.

Dry, medium-full bodied with medium tannins.

Black currant is forefront on the tongue, with subtle hints of blackberries, raisins, black licorice, and graphite, finishing with lingering notes of pipe tobacco and oak.

13.5% ABV

$38 a bottle.

Ships most states via VinoShipper.

Mountain Brook Vineyards is a beautiful venue should you ever be in Western North Carolina.

Below are a few iPhone shots from a recent visit.

#NCWine. #TryonFoothills #MountainBrook

Cheers!

Check out our other blog at WineryEscapades .Com

Merlot – Parker-Binns Vineyards

Our wine tonight is the award winning Merlot from Parker-Binns Vineyard in Tryon, North Carolina.

Vintage 2017.

Estate grown Merlot.

Tryon Foothills wine region.

Dark ruby in color with a soft garnet rim.

Decanted for one hour.

Soft bouquet of blackberry jam, red plum, tobacco, vanilla, and cedar.

Long slow cascading legs.

Medium to full bodied and velvety with lush tannins.

Dry yet fruity and complex with notes of red plums, dark cherries, raspberries, dried figs, pomegranate, boiled peanuts, damp forest, Earl Grey tea, and a lingering earthy finish.

13% ABV

2020 NC Fine Wines Showcase Winner!

Winemaker Justin Taylor.

NC Fine Wines Competition Winners

Petit Manseng- Parker-Binns Vineyard

Tonight we are celebrating National Drink Wine Day with a bottle of Petit Manseng from Parker-Binns Vineyard.

2018 Petit Manseng

Estate grown Petit Manseng.

Tryon Foothills of North Carolina.

Vintage 2018

Winemaker Justin Taylor marveled, during the harvest of 2018, this fruit was able to take on a bronzing rarely seen on other white varietals of Western North Carolina.

Color of bright straw, shimmering.

Expressively aromatic, noticeable the moment of uncorking. Robust notes of pineapple upside down cake, mandarin orange, lemon curd, and mango.

Medium bodied, crisp acidity, and rich.

Complex on the palate with overlying tones of citrus, florals, and minerality. Honeysuckle lingers on the dry finish.

14% ABV.

$25 a bottle.

Ships to most states via VinoShipper.

Check website at ParkerBinnsVineyard.Com

Thank you for reading. Please check our other site at WineryEscapades.Com

Cheers!