France has A.O.C.; Virginia now has RdV.

The new Virginia winery, RdV, has taken a distinctly French approach to its wines, planting Bordeaux grapes, including Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot, on a rocky hillside in Delaplane. A Bordelaise wine expert was even brought on to perfect the blends.

The signature RdV ($88) is the closest we've tasted to a Virginia premier cru. Bold and slightly tannic thanks to a base of Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2008 bottle is a knockout with red meat.

Rendezvous ($55) is a Merlot-based companion bottle that builds excellent character from the gritty, dry soil.

Until now, the wines were released only to a mailing list. But private tours debuted this weekend and will include the option to purchase the wines. The tour ($40) will take visitors onto the hill to see the vines and learn more about the growing process. The tasting will also include charcuterie and cheese to help showcase the flavors of the bold flagship RdV.

It's Virginia with a French accent.

RdV Vineyards, 2550 Delaplane Grade Rd., Delaplane; 540-364-0221 or rdvvineyards.com