I recently visited Pollak Vineyards with my very good friend Jennifer Shull of the Virginia Wine of the Month Club. We had a wonderful time. And tasted some wonderful wines.
Pollak Vineyards was built on the historic Mountain Hollow Farm in 2003, by David and Margo Pollak. Today they have 44 acres of French vinifera growing. Their winemaker Benoit Pineau was born and raised near Tours in the wine appellation of Jasnières, in France. He obtained his Enologist degree studying in Bordeaux and Burgundy. He worked in France, Australia and California before arriving in Virginia in 2005. He moved to Napa the following year to work at Cain Vineyards. He returned to Virginia in 2008. He has worked at Pollak Vineyards (2011-2018, 2020-present). In that period he has made some spectacular wines.
I tasted some fabulous wines at Pollak, but far and away was the Pollock Vineyards Merlot, 2023, a big big dry red wine of immense power and elegance. Complex, well-balanced, and incredibly rich, the wine featured notes on the nose and palate of dark cherry, dried plums, fresh raspberries, black pepper, leather. cocoa. and dark chocolate with a big dose of black tea tannins. Absolutely superb Merlot!
Benoit, c'est magnifique!