Lauren Zimmerman and the Port of Leonardtown Chambourcin Reserve 2017 (MD)

Lauren Zimmerman is quickly becoming one of the most impressive winemakers not only in the Mid-Atlantic region, but her reputation has begun to expand well beyond that. This wine ought to substantially help catapult her further. The young and brilliant winemaker at Port of Leonardtown has produced a new Chambourcin Reserve 2017 that is incredible.

Port of Leonardtown is a unique winery in that is is basically a cooperative of grape growers. 

Forrest Hall Farm Vineyard - St. Marys County. Grows Cayuga, Chambourcin, Cabernet Franc, and Vidal Blanc. Gossett Farm - Calvert County. Grows Chambourcin. Gray Wolf Vineyard - St. Mary's County. Grows Traminette, Vidal Blanc, and Barbera. Lawton Hall Vineyard - St. Mary's County. Grows Chambourcin and Vidal Blanc. Long Looked For Come At Last - St. Mary's County. Grows Barbera, Petit Verdot, Vidal Blanc, Viognier, Merlot, and Albariño. Mulberry Hill Farm - Calvert County. Grows Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Vidal Blanc, Chambourcin, Charnel, and Norton. St Gabriel's Manor Farm - St. Mary's County. Grows Vidal Blanc. St Michaels Manor - St. Mary's County. Grows Chancellor, De Chaunac, Vidal Blanc, and Villard. Stonemur Vineyard - Charles County. Grows Cabernet Franc, Vidal Blanc, Seyval Blanc, Barbera, Lemberger, and Vanessa. Summerseat Farm - St. Mary's County. Grows Barbera, Chambourcin, Cabernet Franc, Dolcetto, Malvasia Bianca, Marechal Foch, Nebbiolo, Norton, Petit Sirah, Petit Verdot, Sangiovese, Vidal Blanc, and Viognier. Tranquility Vineyard - Calvert County. Grows Cayuga, Chardonnay, and Chambourcin.. 

The Port of Leonardtown Chambourcin Reserve 2017 is 80% Chambourcin, 10% Barbera, and 10% Petite Verdot.  All  the grapes were grown in St. Mary's County, MD. It was aged for 18 months in a variety of French and American new oak. Port of Leonardtown made approximately 550 cases of Chambourcin in that year. The top five barrels went into the reserve. Also, the Reserve is aged 12 more months than their regular label Chambourcin.

The wine starts off all dark cherries, blackberry, and cassis. Lots of spice in there too, with hints of cedar and vanilla and tobacco and mocha. The big fruit wine dissolves into a smoothness that is carried along by toasty notes, and then the fruit lingers without a hint of sweetness. A fabulous, big, juicy, chewy red. I made this with a big spicy pasta dish and served it to some wine writer friends. All were suitably impressed. A wonderful, wonderful wine. Lovely complexity and balance.

Fantastic Chambourcin by Lauren Z and Port of Leonardtown.