We decided to pay a visit to La Grange Winery, and it happened to be on the weekend before Halloween. Associates dressed like witches, ghouls, and goblins greeted us, and the tasting room decor celebrated autumn and its spectacular colors. Lilia, our tasting associate, guided us through the nine wines being sampled that day, and amidst the Halloween atmosphere, we swirled and sipped away!
Notable white wines were the 2005 Fletcher’s Chardonnay and the 2005Viognier. The Chardonnay was Warren’s personal favorite; this Chardonnay was produced in the classic French style and fermented in French oak barrels. The result is a Chardonnay rich in apple flavors with a vanilla/nut finish. Paul favored the 2005 Viognier. Its golden straw color suggested crispness, and lemon/citrusy aromas invited the taster to sip! Grapefruit and orange characteristics prevailed in the mouth with a nice honeyed texture to boot. We decided to put a star next to this one to designate our lunch wine. (More on that later.)
Favorite reds included the 2005 Cabernet Franc and the 2004 Meritage. Of course, Cabernet Franc shines in Virginia, and La Grange provides reasons why this is the case. The La Grange Cabernet Franc is another classic with its herby, spicy characteristics. Red berries were noted, too. The complex 2004 Meritage is a lovely blend of the five Bordeaux varietals that would complement red meats and hearty cheeses. We were not able to sample the 2005 Snort, but this port-style wine is made from late harvest Petit Verdot.
We completed our tasting, and Lilia invited us to tour the facility. La Grange Winery is one of the newest wineries in Virginia; owner Chris Pearmund opened La Grange earlier in September after completing an extensive renovation of the historic La Grange manor house and its grounds. One would never have known that the manor house suffered through years of neglect. Our tour of the mansion revealed an incredible restoration of the three-level house with careful attention to historical details. Parlor rooms and their furnishings brought us back to 1790, the date the manor was built. However, we were growing hungrier by the second; so, we purchased a bottle of the 2005 Viognier and made our way to the grounds for a picnic.
So what was for lunch? We brought along Paul’s famous chicken strips; these he coated with herbs, spices and garlic then pan-fried in olive oil. (I think he’s been watching the Food Network!) The chicken strips paired quite nicely with the Viognier. We also enjoyed light cheeses on baguette slices. Of course, we were surrounded by magnificent views of autumn leaves, and the weather was cool and crisp. We also kept an eye on a ghoulish figure stalking the grounds; the Grim Reaper seemed to have haunted the house that day, but I’m sure he was there to enjoy the wines!
If you visit La Grange be sure to tell them you read about them on the Virginia Wine Time blog.