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Monday, November 20, 2017

Mazzaroth Vineyards Vidal Blanc 2016 Is An Impressive First Release! (MD)


In 2011 Garry and Micki Cohen got serious about wine. They planted a small vineyard on their property in Middletown, Maryland; in the south western part of Frederick County. The original 1/4-acre test vineyard was planted in April 2012. The vineyard has been expanded every year since and is currently 1.75 acres.

The Cohen's mission is to grow the finest wine grapes in the Catoctin American Viticultural Area or AVA. This AVA is geographically defined from the north by the Mason Dixon line, from the east by Braddock Mountain, from the south by the Potomac River and from the west by South Mountain.

They started off with Vidal Blanc, but they have also planted Albarino, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Tannat. Their ultimate goal is to make high quality quality wine. And in this first varietal wine they have produced they have absolutely succeeded.


I met Garry Cohen at the Taste Camp Maryland in May 2017. It was clear from the beginning he wants to make high quality wine of integrity. The Mazzaroth Vineyards Vidal Blanc 2016 was an elegant white with hints of pineapple and citrus. This was a delicate, light, delicious wine, that you might have otherwise thought came from California or France. Absolutely lovely. An impressive wine. Really looking forward to what the Cohens will produce and release in the future.