INSIDER'S PICK: 2020 MIDLAND CONSTRUCTION 'CABERNET FRANKISCH' SHENANDOAH VALLEY $24.99

Even though we will not be doing the public tasting portion of the Insider's Pick until further notice, we will still be offering the wine for purchase with the usual 10% discount on Thursday and Friday. The wines will still be ones we highly recommend, and the tasting notes will still be our own. We will be returning to doing just the one wine on Thursdays and Fridays until further notice. We hope you are able to come by and get some wines to enjoy.

The measure of a great winemaker is what they are capable of creating in the more difficult vintages. Not only was 2020 difficult just because of everything in the world that was going on, frost issues early on and tough growing conditions throughout the growing season made it particularly taxing on Virginia wineries. Midlands Construction is one of the side projects for Early Mountain's winemaker Ben Jordan, based off of vineyards planted at his family's farm in Ft. Defiance between Staunton and Harrisonburg. While not to the intensity levels it has been previously (reflected in the price drop from last vintage), they managed to squeeze every drop of flavor and texture they could to make this very endearing and holiday-friendly wine. Co-fermented at roughly 80%CabFranc/ 20%Blaufrankisch with native yeasts, the black fruits are a bit subdued on the nose, giving more herbal berry and higher toned red fruits you usually get with Cabernet Franc. The palate is very polished and fuller than the aromas let on, especially with some time open, with more of the dark fruit and earthy forest floor tone showing through here, finishing with a dusty peppered cherry note. A perfect Virginian wine to have during the holiday that reminds us all to be thankful for all the positive things in our lives.

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