Common Wealth Crush 'Let's Be Friends' Shenandoah Valley Red 2022

Press 4 Red • August 2024 Direct Press Selection

72% Merlot, 13% Sauvignon Blanc, 5% Vidal Blanc, 4% Petit Manseng, 2% Grüner Veltliner, 2% Chambourcin, 1% Pinot Blanc, 1% Pinot Gris

A cooperative dedicated to cultivating the potential of Virginia wine — and its next generation of winemakers — Common Wealth Crush has become known for its inventive cuvées, often featuring hybrid grapes that thrive in Virginia’s humid continental climate despite their frequent dismissal by the wider wine industry.

‘Let’s Be Friends’ is no exception. A blend of more than half a dozen varieties — largely Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, but also the hybrid red grape Chambourcin — its “critter” label features the black bears that are a common sight for hikers in Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains (and revered as a creation of the Great Spirit by many indigenous groups). 

Even more importantly, the wine inside is lots of fun. Whole clusters of Merlot go through partial carbonic maceration, giving an extra lift to the wine’s aromas of cherry, red currant and macerated rose petals. There’s an earthiness, as well, with notes of black pepper, rare steak, and Shenandoah forests after a night of rain adding to the wine’s complexity. Kate Masters