My blog is not a political blog, but since Trump is now our President-elect, it seemed like a good time to dust off the 2013 Trump Winery Meritage and give it a swirl. This wine was a gift to me this summer. I made the assumption it wouldn’t be good ( I should have had more faith in the giver….maybe even Trump, as well) and didn’t mind holding it until the election.
This Meritage was respectable. Dusty dark cherry and blackberry. The medium body wine was easy to drink. “Very easy,” my friends said. The tannins were smooth. I found a bit of savory herb character to it as well. The finish was medium in length. The breakdown for this wine is Cabernet Sauvignon 33%, Merlot 26%, Cab Franc 16%, Petite Verdot 14% and Malbec 11%. I wouldn’t rush out and buy it again… but my research has me very intrigued to try the 2015 Viogner and find the 2014 Meritage… which has a better reputation for complexity than the 2013.
Trump Winery is located a few miles from Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. It was formerly known as Kluge and wines from this estate have been served at the White House and at the rehearsal dinner for Chelsea Clinton’s Foundation wedding.
The wine estate is the largest in Virginia and the entire east coast with 195 acres under vine. All the fruit is from the estate and is hand harvested. The tasting room is open for sampling and the estate also has a 45 room inn, Trump Hotel Collection, Albemarle Estate. The pictures are quite nice! You can get married there, picnic there and/or bring your dog when you come taste. Other wines include Cabernet Sauvignon, Blanc de Blanc (Sparkling), Viogner and Rose.
EveryDayCabRene 