A friend brought this Virginia wine to a pizza party and it was only my second encounter with wines from that area.

Doukénie, located on a 500-acre farm in Loudoun County, Virginia, is a popular winery that has garnered much praise for the region for its award-winning wines.

We uncorked this wine and gave it no decanting or time to open up. Deeply purple in the glass, this wine offers big floral aromas with notes of ripe, dark berries and stone fruit. This Merlot is medium-bodied with plummy, jammy blackberry flavors and notes of mocha. The finish is short with faint tannins.

Pairings: Burger, grilled meats, pizza

Style: Red Wine

Grape Type(s): Merlot

Region: Loudoun County, VA, USA

Price: $33