Crimson Lane Vineyards

March 9, 2023.  On a tip from one of our wine tasting colleagues, Kim and I celebrated our 140th Virginia winery by driving out to the brand-new Crimson Lane Vineyards in Linden, VA.  The winery sits on a majestic ridge overlooking acres of red wine grape vines sloping down with a view across Interstate 66 and the Manassas Gap.  Sometimes the view from the tasting room will be obscured by clouds below.  The approach to the tasting room is up and down fairly precipitous rolling gravel roads.

Tom and Deanna Herrity purchased the land at Crimson Lane Farm in 2014, planted their first vines in 2016 under the guidance of Lucie Morton and Steve Blias, and had their first vintage in the disastrous harvest of 2018.  In spite of that rain-drenched season, Crimson Lane managed to produce some good wine, as we’ll discuss shortly.  The winery opened to the public just a week before our visit in March 2023.  Being so new, they don’t have figures yet on average case production and don’t have the volume yet to compete in the Governor’s Cup, as the five wines on the tasting menu comprise less than 770 cases.  Even so, Tom has over 23 acres under vine, producing all of the juice for his wines.  Crimson Lane is 100% estate grown.  The property is blessed with diverse soils and south-facing slopes rising between 980 and 1,550 feet.  The red wine grape vines tend to be arrayed on hills below the tasting room while white wine grapes rise on hills behind.  All wines are produced and bottled on the property.

The tasting room itself is sleek and modern with high exposed wood beams and paneling.  Once warmer weather arrives, expect that the large windows will be opened to the long porch that looks out South across the valley. 

According to Genaveve Davis, social media director, because it sits on a scenic easement, Crimson Lane cannot host large weddings or corporate events.  To me, that means this well-appointed place will not succumb to being a wedding venue where wines take a back seat.  Most of the floor space is given over to the tasting area.  Several smaller rooms may be reserved for small gatherings.  A side room is reserved for club members. 

A visit to Crimson Lane is by reservation only.  A reservation requires at least a tasting which is $25.00 per person for five wines.  Don’t expect this to change.  Even if you know what wines you like, there is still that $25.00 per person fee.  No children or pets are allowed.  Further, no outside food is permitted.  If you want to picnic, you will be doing it from the winery menu, which has a bread basket, cheeseboard, humus platter, empanadas, and the ubiquitous charcuterie.  Between the price of tastings, the wines themselves, and the food, Crimson Lane is a fairly pricey destination.   

Thanks to Tom, Genaveve, and our server, Christine, for spending time with us. 

                                                                    Tom Herrity 

We were able to sample all wines currently available.  Here they are:

2020 Sauvignon Blanc.  Kim rated this wine an A-.  It has a strong floral nose, thin legs, Dry to off-dry.  Pale straw in color. 

2018 Chardonnay.  Kim rated this Chardonnay a C+.  It has lots of vegetation on the nose.  Light body and lightly astringent.  It has a longer finish than the Sauvignon Blanc with a sort of damp foresty sensation. 

2019 Barrel-Aged Chardonnay.  Kim rated the Barrel-Aged Chardonnay a B.  This has more pronounced legs, a citrusy nose.  The taste is more complex with subdued fruit.  Some butter is detected from the oak aging.  If you factor in the price, Kim would lower her score.

Some readers of this blog have asked me to provide my ratings just as Kim does.  I have a real reservation about pigeon-holing wines in that way, but I’ll give it a shot and see how it goes…

2018 Prelude.  I would rate this Bordeaux blend a B.  Dominick Fioresi is the winemaker at Crimson Lane, and also Tom’s brother-in-law.  We learned that Dominick is a big fan of Bordeaux wines (as am I), which explains their offering of reds that are heavily into the noble grapes of that French region.  Prelude is Crimson Lane’s first red blend coming from the inaugural harvest of 2018.  It is named in hopes for better times.  The wine is light bodied, light fruit of strawberry and lime (?)  It is dry with a bright aroma with some warmth from alcohol.  Very limited production due to the harvest that year and will not be repeated.

2019 Parral.  Parrel is Crimson Lane’s “flagship wine.”  It is named after the town in Chihuahua, Mexico, which is the hometown of Crimson Lane’s vineyard manger, Rumaldo Chavez and his crew.  I rate this wine a B.  It full bodied and bold with an ABV of 15%.  Lots of thick legs.  Dark purple in color.  Dark fruit but well-managed tannins.  It is 42% Merlot, 33% Cabernet Franc, and 25% Cabernet Sauvignon.  Not a quaffing wine.  Think of a hearty meal with which to pair it - Easter lamb perhaps.  Long finish.  Bodes well for laying down.  This wine tops the price list at $80.00 per bottle.

We also tasted three wines not on the standard tasting menu:

2020 Albariño.  Kim rated this wine a B.  It has a light aroma of honey, dry and non-astringent. 

2018 Petit Verdot.  I rate this Petit Verdot a B.  It is a good representative of PV being full-bodied, with strong tannins and dark fruit. It has a shorter finish than the Parral.  ABV of 14.3%. 

2019 Collina.  I would rate the Collina as a B as well.  This is Crimson Lane’s second Bordeaux blend behind Parral, being 50% Merlot, and 25% Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon each.  ABV is 14.5%.  It has high tannins.   

 

Location: 159 Appalachian Ln, Linden, VA 22642, USA

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