Biltmore Signature Cab Sauv North Coast 2001

I visited them about 10 years ago with a client an Importer-Exporter and a German winery owner, the tour of the Biltmore Mansion set up by an Ashville wholesaler. The tour & lunch was good and a young lady was buttigned the task of pouring wine us for at a very busy time. After we finished the previously opened wine, mostly from hybrid. When the winemaker from Germany asked some technical question, she just read from the pr sheet which had no technical data, the question was repeated by she said she was just filling in for a friend. There was wine that was off, we asked for a taste from a new bottle, The young lady said she couldn't do that, it was in her instruction of giving us a private tasting. Heinz asked if we could try the cabernet reserve. The young lady directed us to the main tasting area, where we had a zing with California grapes and the cab reserve from the central coast. Again the wine was flawed. It had been opened for 5 days. They said no to a request a fresh bottle be opened, I explained that the folks with me were looking for American wine to export and that I was a broker representing a number of Maryland & Virginia wine. The man running the tasting room came over and I handed him our business card--he thought for a moment and said we'd have to make an appointment with Biltmore's sales director to retaste the wines. The zin was unimpressive and I couldn't get much out of the cab.

Our next stop was Orlando where we would be pouring at a trade show. I did call our wholesaler and told him that it was obvious that the tasting room staff thought we were tourists, but we appreciated his efforts. We were told that the sales manager said there was a mix up in communication and if we were returning to Ashville we'd be most welcome.

Over the years I've had a number of Biltmore wine with California grapes. Not very good. I'd say except for marketing. Biltmore Estate Wines is not ready for prime time.