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Saturday, March 14, 2009

Wine Dogs Have a Ball at Barrel Oaks

Barrel Oak Winery
Delaplane, VA
"Hot Dog!" Munchkin exclaimed when she opened her personal invitation for Barrel Oak Winery's Blogger's Ball. With Brian's hospitiality and Sharon's delicious wines, BOW is fast becoming Top Dog among Virginia wineries in the Wine Dogs' book.

Barrel owners and bloggers alike were invited to sample BOW's '07 Reds and '08 Whites, some freshly bottled; others still in the barrel. The Wine Dogs were happy to reconnect with fellow bloggers Warren and Paul, who publish the Virginia Wine Time blog.

As the crowd poured in, Rick poured the '08 Bowhaus White (the '07 is sold out). The excellent, crisp-but-fruity and very reasonably priced wine returns to the tasting room Memorial Day weekend, which is also BOW's first anniversary.

It's been a great year, and the atmosphere was celebratory as guests sampled outstanding wines, complemented by a sumptuous spread of munchies (much appreciated by Munchkin).

Both Sharon and Rick were a little horse (does that make them ponies?) having just returned from Wineries Unlimited trade show in Pennsylvania. Still, the Wine Dogs were able to pick up that Sharon's Chardonney (steel-barrel fermented) were the first grapes pressed at BOW, and that the second grapes stopped the presses, literally.

Roy loved the fruity Voigner, the signature Virginia white although Barrel Oak and several other Virginia wineries are seeing success with the Traminette grape. The reserve (oaked) Chardonney was a classic by any measure.

An established Cab Francophile, Munchkin as was quite pleased with BOW's '07, which has been highly praised, recently winning a gold in the Governor's Cup competition. Congrats, guys!
While the stars aligned in '07 to make it in Rick's words "a year I'll never see again in my lifetime," the '08 Merlot stood its ground with plenty of "there there" according to Uncle Jeff.

Munchkin and the pack (Pomeroy and Izzy) had a blast at the paw-ty, and look forward to many happy returns to BOW.

Wine Dogs at BOW Bloggers Ball


Message: Roy, Izzy and I are checking out the new releases at Barrel Oak Winery. More later.

Munchkin



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