Boxwood Winery Boxwood

Boxwood Proprietary Red 2007
When I first tasted this wine at a Virginia wine festival event I was pleasantly surprised. While I champion the idea of regional wines and believe VA wines overall continue to get better, I have yet to experience one that compelled me to think past the local region and dare to compare it with better wines I have had from the West Coast and beyond... until this one.

Boxwood is relatively new winery located in Middleburg, Virginia. It is owned by the John Kent Cook, son of the infamous Jack Kent Cook, who was the flamboyant owner of the Washington Red Skins read more...during their heyday. His daughter, Rachel Martin, is the winery’s director and one of the driving forces behind the wine along with winemaker consultant Stephane Derenoncourt .

This 2007 was only the second release of the Boxwood Red, a Left Bank Bordeaux style blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petite Verdot. The lack of maturity of the terroir and vines (planted in 2004) is evident through its youthfulness. But this is a well made and elegant wine of moderate complexity that hints of the potential for greater things to come in the years ahead as the vines and winemaking mature.

I served this wine with a roasted chicken breast stuffed with thyme and rosemary seasoned goat cheese, thyme and garlic roasted red bliss potatoes and wild mushrooms and peas braised with a bit of pancetta. I was getting sweet spices, dark cherries, raspberries, new leather and a hint of vanilla/almond on the nose. With the roast chicken the sensation of sweet Moroccan spices and some nice acidity is very present on the front, with dark cherries, currant, cocoa on the mid palette with a touch of cassis and vanilla added on the finish. The wine is medium to full body with soft and well integrated tannins, most notable on the finish. The tannins suggest this is also a wine you could easily age another 3-5 years.

All in all this is one Virginia wine I would seek out again, especially at fairly reasonable price point for the quality of the wine of around $20.
October 2009    (hide)

October 2009

Depending on the setting and palate, I thought this wine was very good, but did not surprise me with each sip. I wouldn't mind drinking it again and again though...

November 2009