Visiting the Lone Done Wines tasting room is always an adventure. A rapidly-expanding wine list means that each visit offers something new. As we prepared for Valentine’s Day, we visited Lone Dove to taste the latest releases.
It was the first sunny weekend since Christmas, so we were thrilled to be outdoors without an umbrella. The outdoor tasting space at Lone Dove was an ideal way to celebrate this first hint of spring. With propane heaters at the ready, we were confident that we were prepared for any eventuality.
We chose a table under the awning and jumped into the tasting with our first of several new experiences, a wine called Kiersey. We were told that it was inspired by a wine region in France by the same name, but a search on Google did not reveal any further information on that. Regardless of heritage, this was an awesome white wine with pineapple and apricot notes, with a citrus zest finish. A white wine for people who don’t appreciate white wine. We are hoping to test our theory once it is “sit by the pool and sip” weather.
Next up was their Rosé of Malbec. We appreciated the light, low alcohol presentation, with hints of rose water and cigar smoke. The Rouge d’Loire, a rosé made from Cabernet Franc, showed an interesting sweet/tart flavor that reminded us of Jolly Ranchers and almost audibly begged for a plate of Székely goulash. Amazing fruit, especially apple and raspberry, with pepper and sage. Both of these wines joined the Kiersey on our “take home” list.
Then we were onto the true reds, starting with their Malbec. We loved the blackberry notes and the crisp dry finish. The LDZ (short for Lone Dove Zinfandel, of course) showed its classic Lodi roots, with lots of fruit up front and BBQ-ready pepper on the finish.
We next tasted their new Rosé Port. At only 15.5% alcohol by volume, this is a great “gateway” port. For your friends who don’t (yet) appreciate port. Super light and not at all jammy. The penultimate taste was a Ruby Port. Made from Cabernet Sauvignon, this is a true-blooded, classic port. For real port lovers.
Our final taste was their Blanc d’Loire. Made in the sauternes style, this dessert wine was not cloying at all, with some real fruit character. An ideal accompaniment for a fruit pie or maybe a crème brûlée.
At this point our take home list was at 14 bottles and counting. It was time to call it a day. We thanked George, Stella, Chris and John, divided the bottles amongst our sherpas (the younger demographic in our group) and set off into the setting sun. Another wonderful experience at Lone Dove!
About the Author: John grills a mean steak and is always in the market for another wine fridge. Believes that if a winery has more than 10 employees, it's probably too big. Buys wine faster than he drinks it, but who cares?
