We’ve loved finding some wine tasting scheduled over the next few weeks, and we just happened to see this Venge tasting scheduled at Rumours! With manageable work schedules this week, we jumped at the chance and made our reservation!
We’ve enjoyed Venge wines over the years, so it was an easy decision to make an evening of it at Rumours’ tasting event. And in typical Rumours style, it was fun, relaxed, and very enjoyable. There were three Venge wines, plus a bonus Zinfandel from Kokomo Vineyards – and we enjoyed all four!
The Tasting
We started with the bonus wine…the 2022 Kokomo Zinfandel from Dry Creek Valley in Sonoma. It’s super easy to enjoy – nothing stuffy about it. It has a nice burst of ripe berry flavors, like blackberry and raspberry, with just a little hint of spice to keep things interesting. The texture is smooth and not too heavy, so it goes down easily. We tried it without food, but it would be great with our favorite Rumours flatbreads or something like barbecue. It was a great start to the tasting and led us nicely into the Venge wines. At just $26.99 a bottle, it’s a great value.
The 2022 Kokomo Vineyards Zinfandel
Venge Wines
The tasting then moved into the Venge wines, beginning with the 2022 Scout’s Honor. Scout’s Honor is a red blend of 71% Zinfandel, 19% Charbono, 8% Petite Syrah, and 2% Syrah. Named after their dog (we love this!! 🐶), it’s just an easy-drinking blend. It bursts with dark fruit flavors—think blackberry and cherry—with a little hit of spice and a touch of vanilla. It’s bold and smooth without being too serious. It’s the perfect “watching the sunset on Manasota Beach” kind of wine. Add a little cheese and some crackers, and we’d pull our beach chairs up to yours in a minute! 🏖️
The Venge 2022 Scout’s Honor Red Blend
Next up was the 2022 Venge Silencieux. While it’s mainly Cabernet Sauvignon, it has a touch of both Cab Franc and Merlot, which help smooth it out a bit. It was still rich, bold, and very Napa Cab-like without being over the top. We both got plenty of dark fruit like blackberry and cassis, while a little coffee and vanilla gave it a warmer feel. It was smooth enough to sip on its own, but it’s also the kind of wine we love to share with friends who drop by at the last minute for an easy dinner on a random Tuesday.
We ended the tasting with the 2022 Igneus Cabernet Sauvignon. It’s bold and a little more rugged, but in the best way. We got a mix of dark fruit like blackberry and plum, along with some vanilla, spice, and a hint of tobacco that gave it a deeper, slightly smoky vibe. It wass full and structured but not harsh, with a smooth feel we really enjoyed. It’s a great pick if you want something rich and intense, but still easy enough to enjoy on the lanai without overthinking it.
We snuck a bottle of each of the Venge wines into our cellar, so it was a successful evening all around! (And Rumours has these available if you want to try them for yourself! We recommend stopping by and picking up one of each!)
If you haven’t been to Rumours yet, check out our Wine Spot Wednesday post. We were excited to see all of the fun events they have coming up, so definitely check those out. We’re most excited about the upcoming Whiskers, Wags, and Wine Fundraiser benefitting EARS on April 18. What could be better than sipping wines to help our sweet animals!?!?!?! 🐶🐱
We’d love to know if you’ve tried Venge wines before – either from Venge Vineyards or from some of the other wineries he makes wines with. Let us know in the comments below! 🥂