Introducing Vertical Tastings at Jolene Family Winery
Do you ever wonder how wine changes as it ages? Or what makes one vintage taste different from the next? We’re bringing something new to the tasting room that answers those exact questions. Our new vertical tasting experience is a fun, relaxed way to explore how our Lakeview Red has evolved over the years.
WHat is a vertical tasting?
A vertical tasting is a special opportunity to compare multiple releases of the same wine. Unlike tasting different wines side by side, this allows you to see how a single wine evolves over the years.
It’s a chance to slow down and notice the details. Taste how one year’s weather influenced the fruit. Discover how time in the bottle softened the structure or brought forward new flavors. Whether you’re new to wine or have been tasting for years, vertical tastings offer something truly eye-opening.
The wines: lakeview red lots 22, 23, and 24
We’re kicking off our vertical tasting series with Lakeview Red, a fan favorite that shows just how much a wine can evolve from year to year. These three releases bring out different personalities of the same blend that each are shaped by its season, aging, and winemaking style.
Lot 22
A sweet ruby red blend. Notes of dark plum and black cherry with subtle hints of spiced crandberry and cherry tobacco. Aged six months on new American oak with light tannins and an endlessly smooth finish.
100% Norton - Mikelaites Laurel Vineyards and New Kent Area
Hand picked; Hand Sorted; Whole berry (destemmed) Free run and pressed, Fermented on skin for 7 days. Aged for 6 months in American Oak, 4% Residual Sugar, 12.6% Alcohol
Lot 23
This semi-sweet red wine has aromas of raspberry, blackberry, and rose hip. On the palate it has jammy flavors of deep plum, boysenberry and vanilla with a nice acidity and soft tannins.
24% Norton, 45% Chambourcin; 31% Touriga -(Norton & Chambourcin) Mikelaites Laurel Vineyards, (Touriga) Monticello AVA
Hand picked & Hand Sorted; 100% Whole Berry (destemmed); Blend of press and free-run juices, Fermented on skin for 8 days. Aged for 6 months in American Oak, 4.5% Residual Sugar, 12.5% Alcohol
Lot 24
A light, fruity red wine that's easy to drink. It has aromas of pomegranate, cooked plums, and sweet berries, with a hint of vanilla that comes in softly. The taste is full of juicy blueberries and a little bit of pie crust flavor, finishing again with smooth vanilla. It's nicely balanced, slightly sweet, and very enjoyable.
60% Chambourcin + 22% Norton from the VA Peninsula AVA, 18% Touriga from the Monticello AVA
Hand picked; Hand Sorted; Whole berry (destemmed) Free run and pressed, Fermented on skin for 8-12 days depending on the variety. Aged for 6 months in American Oak, 3.8% Residual Sugar, 12.5% Alcohol
behind the wine
Behind every bottle is a mix of choices including grape blends, where they were grown, when they were picked, how they were fermented, and how long they aged. Even small changes in those details can completely shape the way a wine looks, smells, and tastes. Tasting different releases of the same wine side by side gives you a peek into that process and helps you appreciate just how much thought goes into every pour.
tasting with purpose
Whether you’ve been sipping Lakeview Red for years or you’re just discovering it, this vertical tasting is a great way to dive deeper into what makes wine so fascinating. You’ll taste the differences, learn a little, and have some fun along the way.
The Library vintages won’t be around forever. Swing by the tasting room, get a vertical tasting, and see how time has shaped one of our most loved wines.