I was first introduced to Glen Manor Vineyards by Dave McIntyre, then of the Washington Post. Dave poured me the Vin Rogue and I was instantly in love with it. Glen Manor Vineyards is located in Virginia approximately 70 miles west of Washington D.C., situated on a western flank of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The farm had been in the family for more than 120 years. The owner/winemaker is Jeff White, one of my favorite winemakers of the region.
The Glen Manor Vin Rouge 2023 is made from Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot, and Cabernet Franc. It's a lovely reddish-purple wine, with a nose filled with stewed red fruits - red cherry, red raspberry, blackberry, and black currant. The flavors on the palate make it super easy drinking. But at the back of the wine there are notes of dark chocolate and spice, a hint of minerality, and a lovely black tea finish, with just enough acidity to carry the fruit on long past swallow each sip. This is a wine that would standout in any region. Glen Manor has been a standard setter on the east coast since it's beginning. And this recent vintage shows that Glen Manor remains one of the better wines on the eastern seaboard.
And by the way...Thanks Dave McIntyre!