Talon Winery Cabernet Sauvignon

Name: Talon Winery Cabernet Sauvignon
Color: Red
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
Vintage: 2005
Country/State: Kentucky
Region: Lexington
Price: $22
Stars: 3.5 (out of 5)

Last night we had the Cabernet Sauvignon that we picked up at the Talon Winery in Lexington, Kentucky. At first this wine was a little tight or closed up, but after about an hour in the decanter, it really got smoother and more mellow. The dominant aroma and taste was black currants and cherry, but it also had an indescribable taste that was neither good nor bad...It was just different compared to most Cabs we've had in the past. We drank this wine last night with steaks and mushrooms that were seasoned and grilled. The wine was better with the food than without. All in all, it was nice to drink a wine that reminded us of our summer trip to Kentucky!! Plus, it's always fun to try new wines from outside of the common wine producing states.

Talon Winery Sweet Evening Breeze

Name: Talon Winery Sweet Evening Breeze
Color: White
Varietal: Blend (Vidal Blanc/Cayuga White)
Vintage: 2007
Country/State: Kentucky
Region: Lexington
Price: $13
Stars: 3.5 (out of 5)



Tonight we opened one of the bottles we purchased this summer at the Talon Winery (http://www.talonwine.com/) in Lexington, KY. While we were there, we tasted about 8 wines and bought a red (their Cab) and a white (this Sweet Evening Breeze)...The Sweet Evening Breeze is a blend of Vidal Blanc and Cayuga White, two varieties we've never had before. It's really good, but definitely sweet. The name is not at all misleading. This was probably the sweetest non-dessert wine I've ever had. It was a nice change of pace for us, but Krista and I both generally prefer much drier wines. The nose and taste featured peaches and sweet apples...The winery describes it as An elegant Riesling style white wine, semi-sweet with tropical undertones.



Krista and I both highly recommend a visit to the Talon Winery. We had a great time exploring the vines, tasting the wines, and eating a picnic lunch in their pavillion. The boys had a blast running through the fields and enjoying a crisp, cool day at the vineyard (especially compared to the Florida heat that they are used to).

Elk Creek Sweet Owen Red

Name: Elk Creek Vineyards Sweet Owen Red
Color: Red
Varietal: Norton
Vintage: 2006
Country/State: Kentucky
Region: Owenton
Price: $12
Stars: 3.5 (out of 5)

We picked up this wine during our recent trip to Lexington. As we were visiting Rupp Arena, we noticed a wine store in the mall that's connected to Rupp. This store sold only wines made in the state of Kentucky. Knowing that we would be visiting Talon Winery the next day, I didn't want to spend too much money on wine in the store, but this one really caught my eye, especially the name "Sweet Owen Red". Our youngest son is Owen, so buying a bottle of this wine was a no-brainer. It turns the wine is made by Kentucky's largest winery, Elk Creek Vineyards. (After checking out the winery's website, Krista and I can't wait to visit it one day...It's huge with lush grounds and an amazing tasting room, complete with on-site accommodations.)

We drank this bottle last night after dinner and really enjoyed it. It was our first experience with a wine made from the Norton grape, which after some research, appears to be generally compared to Zinfandel. From what I have read, the Norton is also known as Cynthiana. It is grown primarily in Kentucky, Virginia, and Missouri, and may be the oldest grown grape native to North America. Anyway, the Sweet Owen Red was very distinctive in its aroma and taste. It smelled and tasted of sweet red fruits. It also benefited from the exposure to air. We decanted it and it really got better (and less oak-y) as the night went on. It's kind of hard to describe with my limited experience...It wasn't as full bodied and mouth-filling as most red wines that we prefer, but that certainly didn't stop us from finishing the bottle!