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Shadow Springs Vineyard Brandy Barrel Select Red Wine Yadkin Valley

Shadow Springs Vineyard has a sister named Windsor Run Cellars located a couple of miles away.  All of the wine making takes place at Windsor Run, which is both a winery and a distillery.  One of the Windsor Run products is a distilled spirit named Shadow Hawk, made from Seyval Blanc grapes grown onsite.

In recent years, a number of wineries have introduced wines aged in bourbon or whiskey barrels.  Sometimes, the barrel flavors mask mediocre wine.  Shadow Springs Brandy Barrel Select Red wine is a blend of Chambourcin and Cabernet Franc from more than one vintage year.  The wine was aged one year in oak barrels and 8 months in used Shadow Hawk brandy barrels.  The result is quite different.

On the nose, you detect black cherry and chocolate but the brandy aroma dominates.  This is a delicious rich blend of black cherry, blackberry, chocolate, cola and brandy flavors.  It is a bold mouthful of flavor with a very long finish.  This wine is evidence that great wine is being made in North Carolina.  Shadow Springs sells this for $30 and if you are supporting independent wineries in this pandemic time, this is a special wine to try.  I believe there is great aging potential for the wine if you have proper storage.

SC Wine Joe rating = 92 points


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