Here's What They are Saying
About Chaddsford Wine
Recent Good Words About Chaddsford Wines
October 2008
Corksavvy.com
Wine of the Week
Chaddsford Rubino 2006. This wine has an earthy nose. The flavors of ripe red berries are accented by hints of vanilla. A complex yet smooth wine is wonderful paired with many foods. Although they only produce less than 600 cases, this is one that is worth trying if you can get a hold of it.
September 2008
Travel + Leisure
"10 Unexpected U.S. Wine Trails"
Where to sip: Chaddsford Winery which produces 30,000 cases a year of tannin rich reds and whites, is co-owned by a husband-and-wife team, who turned a 17th century barn into a small premium operation in 1982.
August 2008
Philadelphia Magazine
Best of Philly 2008 Winner
Best Wine 2006 Pinot Noir
Click on the Best of Philly logo to read the award's write-up on phillymag.com
July 4, 2008
The Times-Tribune.com
Wine of the Week
Dave Falchek
This syrah from southeastern Pennsylvania's Chaddsford Winery has a charcoal smell with wiffs of alcohol wafting on top. A light-bodied wine, gritty flavors of black pepper, charred wood spice and a hint of tobacco and mint. The wine has a powerful, but short finish. This is a very rustic wine that comes off like a lighter zinfandel. It would go well with barbecue, pepper rub steak, or mesquite chicken.
June 5, 2008
Mastalk.com(Michael Smerconish)
Jonathan H. Newman, Chairman & CEO, Newman Wine & Spirits
With 25 years of experience in the town of Chadds Ford, Chaddsford Winery is probably Pennsylvania's best winery, and "Merican" is the top of their lineup.
June 4, 2008
Delaware News Journal
delawareonline.com
Once Scarce, Good Rosés for the Summer Table Abound
Roger Morris
The best food wine of the eight was the 2007 Chaddsford Rosé, Eric Miller's first try at this category. Made from Chambourcin grapes, it's a lean, crisp wine with raspberry flavors and a nice mouth feel--just right for all kinds of barbecue.
May 13, 2008
Tastings.com
92, Exceptional, Chaddsford 2005 Miller Estate Vineyard, Pinot Noir
...A soft, satiny entry leads to a dry-yet-fruit medium-to-full body of vibrant berry tart, custard, and delicate spice flavors. Finishes with a long, zesty fade with balanced acidity and tannins.
May 2008
Wine Enthusiast Magazine
America's Top 25 Tasting Rooms
A gloriously renovated 18th-century dairy barn in the heart of Andrew Wyeth country, on the original William Penn Estate, is the stage for Eric Miller's Burgundian-style Chardonnays and Pinot Noir, and rich, intense Due Rossi and Merican.
April 2008
Food & Wine
America's Best Wines 60+ top bottles $15 & Under
Ray Isle
Snapshot Pennsylvania: For one of the state's best bottles, try the svelte, appley 2005 Chaddsford Miller Estate Vineyard Chardonnay.
December 18, 2007
Winereviewonline.com
Marguerite Thomas
Chaddsford, Pennsylvania (United States) Pinot Noir Miller Estate Vineyard 2005 ($35): This would be a respectable Pinot Noir from any state in the union (even California, or perhaps especially California, where Pinot these days tends to be sweet and Syrah-ish). Coming from Pennsylvania, it is all the more impressive. Eric Miller has been the clear frontrunner of the Keystone State's modern winemaking era, and as other good producers are beginning to nip at his heels, this wine shows he's still clearly at the head of the pack. It is definitely a light and delicately styled Pinot, but with enough grip and a touch of earthiness to be good with a range of relatively unadorned foods such as roast chicken or pan-fried pork chops. 88
Philadelphia Magazine
Best of Philly ® 2007 Winner
Best Weekend Drive
November/December 2007
MainLine
Connoisseur/Wine
Lynn Hoffman
Thanksgiving Wine Pairings-Vegetables: If there are lots of luscious vegetable dish accompaniments, there's a separate set of considerations. You want a wine with lovely flavors that don't overpower the mouth with too much acid or tannin. Chaddsford Chambourcin Miller Estate 2005. Cherries and vanilla on a medium body with just enough tannin to give the feeling of substance. A terrific, well-made local wine.
November 25, 2007
Philadelphia Inquirer
The region's wines, and wineries, are coming of age
Craig LaBan
"Chaddsford...is making impressive high-end reserve bottlings, including an intriguing Italian blend called Due Rossi that (Philadelphia Italian Restaurant) Vietri co-owner Jeff Benjamin says 'is right up there with some of the best barberas I've tasted from California.' "
Pinot Noir, Miller Estate 2005: "....soars on the palate, with a pretty wild strawberry note that rings like a bell. Impressive...."
Chambourcin, Miller Estate 2005: "Plummy, bold and balanced, with a spice box of cloves...."
Naked Chardonnay 2006: "Crisp and fresh....has a spiraling Euro-brightness, and a very good price."
November 2007
Delware Today
Uncorked
Matt Desiderio
On winemaker Eric Miller:
"Eric is quintessentially an artist. He has a sort of wild enthusiasm when he speaks about wine...His imaginative genius with viticulture has also earned him a nickname among fellow winemakers: The Willy Wonka of Wine."On Chaddsford Wines:
"....they win a lot of awards. Some of their bottles have more medals around their necks than Mark Spitz." "I sample a Pinot Noir...the wine has great complexity and bursts with characteristic black cherry The highlight however, is one of Eric's Italian wines, Due Rossi. It's an inventive marriage, or perhaps a mad-scientist's blend, of two-thirds Barbera and one-third Sangiovese." Commenting on the 2005 Chardonnay, Miller Estate Vineyard: "They just consistently put out award-winning wines." The '05 Chardonnay stands out."
August 3, 2007
Appellationamerica.com
Wine Recommendation
Catherine Fallis
The 2005 Pinot Noir Barrel Select is light-bodied and balanced with notes of cranberry, cherry and woodspice. The mid-palate is silky and creamy. .overall it is a good effort for such challenging conditions and for the diva of all grape divas.
August 2007
Mens Journal
Noah Rothbaum
If the name "Brandywine Valley" didn't tip you off that Pennsylvania is wine country, a few small vineyards in the southeast should do the trick. The prime target is Chaddsford, in the town of Chadds Ford. Nab the excellent "Merican" red blend ($40); they make only 600 cases a year.
July 11, 2007
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
The Wine Cellar
Dave DeSimone
His (Eric Miller) confident, light touch shines through on the charming and eminently quaffable 2006 Chaddsford 25th Vintage Pennsylvania Pinot Noir and the 2005 Chaddsford Miller Estate Vineyard Pinot Noir, a complex and beguling world-class wine aged in French oak for smoky black cherry notes, silky tannins and lovely balance.
July 2007
Gourmet Magazine
Easy Street
Gerald Asher
Chaddsford Winery of Pennsylvania turns out an enchanting Spring Wine that is in demand right through Labor Day, and a refreshingly crisp young Chardonnay.
June 2007
Main Line Today
Robert DiGiacomo
.the couple has helped launch a wine industry in Pennsylvania where none existed. Under the Millers' guidance, an accompanying infrastructure, including a state wine association, an official oenologist and a "wine trail" for the Brandywine Valley has developed.
Februay 9, 2007
USA Today
Food & Wine
Jerry Shriver
What's more romantic that a bottle from your backyard? More than half of the states are raising their winemaking game, including Pennsylvania, home of Chaddsford Winery, which makes a fine 2005 Chambourcin.
February 1, 2007
Detroit News
Detnews.com
Sandra Silfven
The 2005 Chambourcin has the finesse of a Pinot Noir; the 2005 Pinot Noir has the intensity and complexity of a French Burgundy; the 2004 Merlot is smooth with grainy tannins, totally ripe and clean, and powerful; and the 2005 Rubino, a Tuscan-style blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Sangiovese, Dornfelder and Petit Verdot, could truly pass for Italian in a blind tasting. The cream of the crop, the 2002 Merican, which is mainly Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, is dense, complex, and still so big and young, it's trying to find itself. It's packed with great stuff, and just needs time to flaunt it. It's what "real" wine is all about.
January 31, 2007
The New York Times
All Over America, Wines Search for Identity
Eric Asimov
...the 2005 Chaddsford Pinot Noir, a light-bodied wine with earthy cherry and spice flavors that was distinctly not a California Pinot Noir, though I would have been hard-pressed to guess it was from Pennsylvania.
Regardless of the particular wine, these three bottles and more like them have convinced me that credible wines at the least, and often enough really good wines, are emerging from the most unexpected corners of North America, and now is a good time to start paying attention to them.
December 6, 2006
Washington Post
Wine Pairings
Dick Rosano
Chaddsford 2005 Pinot Grigio: Straightforward and delicious, with flavors of fig and lemon.
July 7, 2006
USA Today
Sips
Jerry Shriver
Anyway, you're in luck. One of the more highly regarded wineries on the East Coast is Chaddsford Winery...A Pinot Noir and a Chambourcin from Chaddsford won gold medals in national competitions last year.
June 2006
US Airways Magazine
In the Hub
Husband and wife team Eric and Lee Miller began their business in a converted 17th century barn in 1982. Their dedication helps explain why their wines win so many awards, including more than two dozen prestigious prizes just last year.
March 2006
Washington Inn
Michael Craig
I just wanted to tell you about a library dinner that I did at the Washington Inn for the Dionysians, a wine group from around the country. We tasted older chardonnays from our cellar, 1991 Barrel Fermented Sanford, 1990 Peter McCoy Les Pierres Vineyard, 1993 Cold Creek Vineyard Chateau St. Michelle, 1990 Premier Cru Montagny from Maurice Bertrand and the 1988 Phillip Roth Chaddsford Winery.My palate is excellent and I have much tasting experience. I had saved this wine from when you came down in 1989 or 90 for a wine dinner with us. The wine was the standout! It was nothing less than phenomenal. The oak was kept subtle and delicate with the fine nuances of French barrels. The acidity was right on and the fruit was blossoming for over an hour after opening. There was really no comparison with the other wines all of which have been cellared impeccably. I have always loved that wine and I wanted to share this moment of pleasure with you. I love French Burgundy and I know that style was a bench mark for you in this wine. What a beautiful masterpiece. Congratulations!
March 2006
Saveur
Michael Steinberger
.these are wines crafted with the same noble intent, and in the same experimental spirit, that eventually yielded such rich dividends in California, Oregon, and Washington.
Winter 2006
Wine Spirits Quarterly
Karrie Gavin
Chaddsford's chief winemaker-also Lee's husband-Eric Miller lords over 30 acres of vines, and buys grapes from more than 10 local growers, making him the largest buyer in the state. Together, they sell more wine and win more awards than any other Pennsylvania winery. "It's a full-time job, lifestyle and passion for both of us," says Lee.
Restaurant Wine
Issue #109, 2005
Chaddsford, 2001 Merican: Three stars plus. A discovery! This is very, very good in a supple, medium full bodied, ripely flavored, well balanced style. It is smooth and long on the palate, and tastes of plum, spearmint, baked cherry, clove, and toast. Leaning towards Bordeaux.
October 31, 2005 - Sandra Silfven, regional specialist contributing author of the Atlantic Northeast section of the Wine Report 2005.
An excerpt from an Email to Eric Miller
...You are re-writing the wine book in Pennsylvania....the 2001 Merican...certainly has the stuffing to be a long-lived beauty. The Due Rossi...I love it. It's so in your face...so cherry and chocolate. I really love this wine. The Super Tuscan(Rubino)...the beauty and power was right on.
September 2005
Sante Magazine
Chaddsford 2002 Due Rossi: LIght to medium bodied, soft, and easy-drinking with aromas of cooked dark fruit, toasted oak, earth, and floral notes leading to flavors of cherry, strawberry, vanilla, and mandarin orange; medium finish. Simple foods such as grilled hamburgers or chicken.
August 16, 2005 - Wineeducation.com
Stephen Reiss, Ph.D
The staff is not only knowledgeable, they are passionate about their wine education. The winery encourages this, going so far as to assist them in the economic side of learning about wines. I have rarely seen any winery, anywhere with such a highly trained staff. All of their wines are worth trying, but I was particularly impressed with their Pinot Noirs.
May 19, 2005 - "Welcome the best of the wines from back East"
by W. Blake Gray, San Francisco Chronicle
I thought the 2004 Chaddsford New York Pinot Grigio ($16) was outstanding....pleasant aromas of apple and apple blossom lead into flavors of Fuji apple, ripe pear and yellow plum, with floral notes.
February, 2005
Wine Lover's Discussion Group
An excerpt from a web site discussion:
It's nice to see Chaddsford recognized. I've been a fan of their wines for a while now and believe that they are the best winery in the East....Eric Miller appears to be serious about producing a quality product.
December 8, 2004
Delaware Online/Wilmington News Journal
TASTING PAIRS BRANDYWINE BOTTLES, EUROPEAN CLASSICS by Roger Morris
"Recently I gave a blind comparative tasting of wines from the Brandywine Valley versus similar wines from the classic regions of Europe for the regional chapter of the Cornell Hotel Society at the Union League Club in Philadelphia....with their overall favorites being the Chaddsford Merican vs. Chateau La Tour de Mons Margaux pairing.
Holiday, 2004 Issue
Sante Magazine
SANTE SELECTIONS, ** VALUE
Chaddsford 2003 Pinot Grigio: Medium bodied with orange-blossom and grapefruit aromas leading to rich apple flavors on the palate; lean, crisp finish. Food recommendation: Pasta with cream sauces.
November 11, 2004
Essential Wine Guide by Bon Apetit's Anthony Dias Blue
RECOMMENDED WINE LIST:
Chaddsford Chambourcin Seven Valleys Vineyard 2002: A lovely red varietal bursting with blackberry fruit.
Fall 2004
Wine Report 2005
ATLANTIC NORTHEAST, by Sandra Silfven of The Detroit News
As for what the Atlantic Northeast should be doing, wineries need to look to Eric Miller at Chaddsford...who went kicking and screaming away from making what he perceived as classic European-style reds to a New World style
August, 2004
Jack Smith, Robb Report
"BRAND CRU": "This is not for everyone, explains winemaker Eric Miller, as he hoists onto a table a bottle of Merican from his new Portfolio collection.'It's bold, masculine and somber. It says, I'm for the big boys. I'm serious stuff.' But Miller, proprietor of the Chaddsford Winery, is not speaking about the wine, he is describing the bottle....although....he does make tasty wines that have been served at such tony Philadelphia boitres as Le Bec-Fin, the Fountain Restaurant at the Four Seasons, and Striped Bass."
July, 2004
Main Line Today
START WINING
You don't need to travel to Napa Valey to experience fine wine.
June 28, 2004
Daily Local News Feature
“Trading on the Grapevine: Local winery offers aficionados a chance to buy Futures.”
June 9, 2004
Michael Dresser, The Baltimore Sun
WINE OF THE WEEK: 2002 Chaddsford Spring Wine “My tasting companion said it best: ‘It tastes like spring. It’s happy wine.’ That might not be a description that appeals to snobs, but it’s dead-on accurate....It’s a very floral white, lightly sweet.....with intense flavors of apricot, pear, orange, cherry, honey and herbs....a wine to drink by the pool or on the deck on a warm evening for the sheer fun of it.”
June 2004
The Hunt Magazine: Top 10 American Wines
"You won't have to travel far to find one of the nation's finest wines."
June 2004
Sante Magazine: The East Coast Emerges
"In the mid-Atlantic states, Chaddsford in eastern Pennsylvania and Boordy in Maryland are the only significant commercial producers."
May 2004
Dave DeSimone in the Pittsburgh Tribune Review
Following are some personal highlights (of the PLCB Tasting at Heinz Field):
- 2002 Chaddsford Winery Due Rossi - "After tasting this wine, one wonders whether winemaker Eric Miller has a little Etruscan heritage....a distinctive blend of two quintessential Italian varieties. Try it....recommended."
- 2002 Chaddsford Pinot Noir, Miller Estae Vineyard - "Miller is a master of Pinot Noir. He pulls out all the stops with this elegant, impressive wine."
May 28, 2004
From wine writer Dave Zuchowski
“I just tried the 2002 Chaddsford Merlot and it’s fantastic! It’s pure pleasure in a bottle – so rich, complex, smooth, and enticingly flavorful with so many different elements that provide a sensual experience from the moment it hits the tongue....the price is also so reasonable, especially when you pit it against other California Merlots that go for three or four times as much. Absolutely delicious.”
April 28, 2004
Main Line Life “The Best of Life 2004” Reader’s Choice Poll
FIRST PLACE WINNER, BEST LOCAL WINERY: CHADDSFORD WINERY!
November 2003
Food & Wine Magazine: All-American Wines by Richard Nalley
10 TOP BOTTLES: 2001 Pennsylvania Chardonnay, Philip Roth Vineyard Chardonnay “Portnoy would never complain about this generous, mouth-filling wine from the Brandywine Valley.”
March 25, 2004
Len Lear, in the Chestnut Hill Local
“The Chaddsford Winery is regarded by virtually all experts in the field as the finest in the state....”