INSIDER'S PICK: 2012 LOVINGSTON WINERY MERLOT 'JOSIE'S KNOLL' $19.99(WINE ENTHUSIAST 91pts)

Making wine in Virginia is often a thankless pursuit, determined as much by luck as skill in many years. This stretch of rainy days we are in is a prime example; anything not harvested before the rains started, whether it was ready or not, is now deer and bird food. Fortunately much of the season up to this point has encouraged a fairly early ripening, but any stragglers will be waterlogged and/or rotten messes. Lovingston saw exceptionally good luck a few weeks back when the powerful storm that damaged the Lockn' festival and canceled their first day bypassed them by less than a mile and left them completely unscathed. All wine-growing regions have their risks, but Virginia's can be particularly unpredictable and cruel.
​
It is with this in mind that we want to honor a wine where all the good breaks happened and a wine of uniquely high quality was produced. Plenty of skill involved here as well, of course, but the seasons were much kinder to the winemakers to allow the raw material to do what they wanted. Lush dark color and deep currant aromas in the glass immediately show the intensity of the vintage, and some swirls in the glass gradually pulls out some spice and red fruits. On the palate the texture is silky and polished as a Merlot should be, but does not lack for character, showing lots of energy behind the dark fruit flavors and fine tannins. This is one of those Merlots that has layers of complexity, an indication of 'seriousness' to it that is many times lost in Virginia wines, and one that could even do well for at least another 3-5 years in the cellar.