Nissley Chambourcin

[Innkeeper]

2000 Nissley, Estate Bottled, Chambourcin, Lancaster (PA) Valley ($11.75). Very nice wine that you might not find outside of Pennsylvania. It is 13% cabernet franc. Lovely deep red almost purple color. Fresh berry fruit and spice on the nose and upfront. Strong acidity, more berries and herbs, mild oak, and smooth tannin across the palate, and a crisp finish. Matched nicely with hamburgers and salad. Would by more.

Chambourcin is a French/American Hybrid. It is grown is great quantity in the East, Midwest, Heartland, and throughout France; including in Bordeaux. French laws outlaw blending hybrids with varietals. It is a quickly maturing grape like gamay. Some vintners combine it with the same percentage of carmine as this one has franc. This makes a wine this is remarkable similar to Chianti. Does anyone know a producer in America or abroad that bottles a chambourcin/carmine blend?

[mrdutton]

IK, a lot of the Virginia vintners use Chambourcin. I'll see what I can find out about the use of that with Carmine.

[This message has been edited by mrdutton (edited 10-03-2001).]

[mrdutton]

Apparently not...... I checked the web site of every Virginia Winery that has a web site. I found Chardonel (sp?), Chambourcin, and Norton and other such stuff. But nary a mention of Carmine.....

Lots of fun though looking over the web sites.

Here's the 'other such stuff':

Cayuga, Roue, Traminette, Malvaxia, Vidal, Seyval, Petite Verdot, Tannat, Fer Servadou, Petite Manseng, Spanish Alberino, Temparanillo, Graciano, Mourvedre, Viognier and Sangiovese.

Quite a list. Of course, I did not mention Merlot, CS, Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio, Pinot Noir and CF. However they are also grown here in Virginia.