Norton Wine - have you ever tasted it?

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Virginia Wine at it's finest


Here at Chrysalis, we've undertaken a serious commitment to restoring the native American grape, Norton, to its position of prominence as a source of world class wines. Cloaked in myth and mystery for decades, Norton thrives in the mid-Atlantic and Midwestern regions, and produces a robust red wine with big fruit flavors that ages beautifully over the years. One hundred and twenty five years ago, Norton wines were deemed the “best red wine of all nations” at a worldwide competition in Vienna. Today excellent Norton wines are being produced in Missouri at Augusta Wineries, Mount Pleasant Wineries, St. James Winery and Stone Hill Wineries, and in Virginia by Horton Vineyards.

Chrysalis Vineyards has now established what is believed to the largest planting of Norton in the world, with additional vineyards to come. We hope to establish a new standard of excellence for the creation of world class wines from this classic American vine.



Technical Notes: Norton (sometimes referred to as Cynthiana). The Norton is dark in color with big fruity flavors, firm acidity, and a sweet taste that does not deliver typical "foxy" flavors and fragrances. It is very Bordeaux-like with no grass, herb, hard acids, astringency, or tongue-wrenching tannin. The very best drinks effortlessly, ages magnificently, and no American wine cellar is complete without it. It is hardy to -20°F, and is perhaps the most disease-resistant variety commercially grown for wine production in the world. This is the most expensive non-vinifera grape in eastern America.






75% Norton, 13% Mourvedre, 6% Syrah, 4% Tannat, 3% Grenache

Alcohol: 13.1% pH: 3.58 TA: 7.65

The vision of Horton Vineyards is to grow grapes ideally suited to the climate of the Old Dominion. This vision has led to the planting of French Rhone, Bordeaux and native Virginia grapes. Horton Vineyards is proud to re-introduce the famous Norton wine, the original Virginia Claret. Norton is a native Virginia grape that produced the internationally prize winning clarets of the Monticello Wine Company of Charlottesville in the late 1800's.

Our Norton has a dark, rich color and an intensely fruity aroma of plums and tart cherries. Ageing in oak for 14 months has given this wine a long, flavorful, spicy finish. A wine for game, grilled sausages, and spicy.



http://www.chrysaliswine.com/begin.htm

http://www.hvwine.com/norton.htm

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1. Driking a 2001 vintage tonight, wonderful

I taste notes of cherry & banana, really