Where did the Wine go?

Labor Day weekend called for a trip to southern Ohio. Kinkead Ridge Estate Winery was going to be open, and we just had to taste their latest offerings. After hearing Brian Kirby wax philosophical about all things Kinkead, I knew that this was our chance.

With a 5 acre vineyard, they are known for their Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, and also grow and bottle Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Viognier, and Riesling. along with smaller quantities of Roussanne and Sauvignon Blanc.

At the little house in Ripley, OH - home to their tasting room - which is open only select weekends depending on the quatities of wines available we encountered a lively group of tasters and many people discussing the wines.

From Kinkead Ridge website... my camera didn't cooperate.

We were able to taste 5 of their wines. The 2009 reds were released under the secondary label, River Village Cellars. The whites are the 2010 release for Kinkead Ridge, plus their River Village traminette.

The 2010 White Revelation is a blend of Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and some secret grape thatI couldn't pick out. Its a tart wine, reminding me much of New Zealand SB - with just a hint of the vanilla that you get from oak. At $13.95, its a good buy for Sauvignon Blanc fans, but the alcohol, at 14.8% was a little overwhelming for us.

The 2010 Viognier/Rousanne has some of the very distinct viognier characteristics, but the addition of the larger amount of rousanne, I think, makes the wine just bit flat or flabby. At $15.95, its not one I'll recommend for a quality-price ratio winner, but it does make a nice sipper.

The 2010 Riesling was MrWineOH's favorite in the bunch. I'm not sure how many bottles we walked out with, but I know it was more than one. Nice and dry, with a 1.2% residual sugar. (I was shocked - I didn't think it was more than .05%) Very crisp acidity, a fruity finish and a hint of efforvescence, this will be a wine we'll thoroughly enjoy. At $11.95, it is definitely high on the QPR scale, but they only made 82 cases, so get after it... after I get mine.

The reds, as I said, were bottled under the secondary label. Ron Barrett noted in his winemakers notes that he was concerned about the 2009 vintage. That concern shows in the reds.

The 2010 Cabernet Franc... this is one I was SO looking forward to - and what I tasted was all oak, all the time. I had no notes of cherry fruit, no green pepper, just oak. I think many folks who like their oaky reds will love this, especially at the price point of $11.95 - but this is not the Cab Franc that we will go back to.

If I was looking for my favorite Kinkead Wine - I hit the jackpot with the 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon. Many of you might say... "Cab Sauv? In Ohio? Really?" but I have to tell you this one is delicious. Cabernet Sauvignon with a blending of petit verdot and syrah. The PV, one of my favorite varietals, shines through with its soft velvety finish. The Cabernet provides the fruity palate that many expect in a bold Cab. At $12.95 on the River Valley label, its a great value.

I want to love Kinkead, I think I was exposed to it at a bad vintage. I'll be hunting for the older vintages in the wine shops, because I've heard amazing things about their Cab Franc and Petit Verdot.

Please - try their wines. They do good work, and while I wasn't overly impressed with a few of their wines, we walked out with a half case of the good stuff, and I've committed their Cab Sauv to my Ohio Wine Tasting lineup for the season. They are THAT good.