Williams Gap Vineyard

February 6, 2022.

Kim and I took advantage of the first non-freezing, non-snowing or raining day in weeks to travel out to a new winery in Round Hill, Loudoun County: Williams Gap.  Approaching Williams Gap, you are surprised by how it rises from the adjacent housing development to present a winding road through acres of vineyards.  Since the early 2000’s owner John Sexton has been growing grapes for sale to other wineries.  He now has 35 acres of grapes under vine, growing ten varietals in those 35 acres.  In 2019, they decided to go into wine production as well.

The tasting room sits mid-way on a hill surrounded by vines.  The winery does not permit outside food.  Reservations are advised to the comfy chairs and sofas in front of the fireplace.  Even in the winter, there appears to be much landscaping going on, with lakes and terraces being built into the hillsides. 

Following our usual M.O., Kim tasted two white wines, and I tasted three red wines on offer.  Based on glowing recommendations from another winery that bought Merlot grapes from Williams Gap, I was looking forward to trying their Merlot, but it was reserved for Club members only.  Williams Gap has no Chardonnay for tasting as they sell all of their Chardonnay grapes to other wineries.  We did not buy any bottles.

2019 White Blend.  Kim gave this blend a D-.  Not good.

2019 Vidal Blanc.  Kim rated the Vidal Blanc better at C+. Still, she found it weak and would not buy a bottle.

2020 Mountain Valley Red.  I found this strongly aromatic, light, with slight tannin. It has little finish.  It is the lightest bodied wine in the tasting.  The tasting notes advise that this is a blend of 33% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc, 17% Petit Verdot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 10 % Tannat.  It aged 10 months in oak (all French).

2019 Cabernet Franc.  This is a 100% Cab Franc, aged 10 months in oak.  It is Williams Gap’s only pure varietal available to the public.  It has noticeably more tannin than the Mountain Valley Red and has light pepper.

2020 Round Hill Red.  This is a blend of 50% Merlot, 30% Cab Franc, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Petit Verdot, and 5% Tannat.  It aged for 10 months in oak.  I found the Round Hill Red to be a little bitter with a smoky aftertaste. It has low tannins and is smooth in that regard.

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