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We visited Delaplane Cellars for the first time yesterday. Perhaps along with Bluemont, HIllsborough and RDV one of the most beautiful vineyard settings in Virginia. Five hundred feet up the steep side of "Lost Mountain" the tasting room looks over a valley and a distant range of the Shenandoah. Almost breathtaking to stand in their tasting room, sip and look outside through the floor to ceiling windows. They don't have a 150 space parking lot, nor does their business model depend on weddings or a carnival on summer weekends. It focuses on wine. We met the passionate owner. At some point we started talking about syrah and he mentioned that he was proud of his, the 2010 Shirland syrah. I apologetically mentioned Charles Smith's Royal City, Cayuse Bionic Frog, Sheridan Singularity-even Reynvaan Stonessence. He didn't flinch. He just asked us to taste his a day after it had opened. He opened a bottle for us. I slushed the wine around the glass, inhaled, slushed some more and after a minute or so, sipped. It was good. For $42 it should have been good. And was. But Jim Dolphin insisted: give it a day. It will be better. Much better. We stayed for over an hour and felt that he, his wife and staff could not have been friendlier nor more caring. And they were proud. I should mention that Delaplane Cellars is where Tarver King, chef of the Ashby Inn, had his rehearsal dinner. At Jim's winery. I'm guessing drinking Shirland syrah that was opened the day before. (There is an excellent $49 Left Bank Reserve blend that may even be better on the first day.) Tonight I pulled the cork out of the day old syrah and tasted it. Actually, I drank a glass of it. Well, to be honest two glasses were left and I have now drank both. Wow!!! Just, wow! We return to Delaplane in a week and a half with friends. We are going to open his syrah alongside of Royal City, Singularity and Stoneessence. I have no hesitation in saying that Jim Dolphin's 2010 Shirland syrah, opened a day, will show well alongside of them. @$42 a bottle. Royal City is $140-if you can find it. I passionately believe that Virginia wine is ready for the world stage. RDV's Lost Mountain was the first to carry the state's flag. Delaplane Cellars' 2010 Shirland syrah, opened a day, will be there alongside of it. Enthusiastic, prolonged applause to Jim Dolphin for a great wine. Not a great Virginia wine...but a great wine. His 2010 Shirland syrah, opened a day.
