The Barn at 678 Vineyard

October 26, 2023.  Near where Route 20 jogs briefly on Route 33 in Barboursville, you will find the Barn at 678 Vineyard, a new winery located on Route 678 a few yards from the turn for the famous Barboursville Vineyard.  Opened in June 2022, the Barn is the work of Rick and Lorrie Bryant.  The tasting room is cozy and unfinished and may feel a bit cramped in the winter.   

The side porch is better -  more relaxed with the vines standing just a few steps away beginning to turn a deep Autumn red.  Outside food is welcome.  Check their website for the food truck schedule.

 

We spoke with Rick Bryant who comes to this enterprise from his work in landscaping (according to the Barn website).  Interestingly, Rick didn’t say anything about landscaping. He told us that he is also a pathologist and medical examiner.  Talk about work that cries out for a change of pace to be outside in the vines and managing a wine business!  The Bryant’s have some grapes under vine at the Barboursville site and another 16 acres under lease in Nelson County.  All fruit is Virginia-grown but not necessarily from the Monticello AVA.  However, the Barn does not produce its wines; this is the third winery on our trip that was a custom crush client of Michael Shaps Wineworks.  Rick commented that he enjoys working with the staff at Wineworks although he seldom sees The Man himself.  Rick said they produce around 4,000 cases annually. 

We had our wine samples on the side porch and visited with another couple on this lazy afternoon.  One side-effect of the warmer weather was an abundance of yellowjackets. One stung the woman near us and prompted us to move inside. 

We had four wines at the Barn.  Here’s our take on them:

2021 Chardonnay.  Kim rates the Chardonnay a B.  Medium bodied.  She says the first taste is good but it is not sustained.

2021 Lo Sadrick Red.  The name for this red blend is itself a blend of Lorrie, Sadie, their daughter, and Rick.  The blend is mostly Petit Verdot (37%) with Merlot, Tannat, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chambourcin, and 5% “other.”  Tannins are pleasant.  Taste of dark fruit.  Mild sweetness. Not too complex.  Rate it a B.

2019 Meritage.  The Meritage shows more care – aging in French and neutral oak.  The blend is mostly Petit Verdot (50%) with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot taking up the rest.  There is some mineral/earth on the palate.  Stronger tannin than the Lo Sadrick Red.  13% ABV.  I rate it a B and nearly a B+.

2021 Reserve Red.  The Barn Reserve Red gets a B+ from me.  It has a lighter mouthfeel and lighter body overall.  Some plum-like stone fruit on the palate, melon on the aroma.  Also 13% ABV.  Maybe the aging in new oak (50%)} is responsible.

You can expect release of a LoSadrick White in the near future.  That will be a blend of Petit Manseng and Vidal Blanc.  Also be on the lookout for new Chardonnay releases in stainless.

One final note, if you are looking for a good place to eat in the Barboursville area and don’t want to spend excessively at Palladio, Rick highly recommends the Exchange Café just west of his location on Route 33.  ExchangeCafeVa.com.  The other couple I mentioned fully concurred.  We don’t generally review restaurants on this blog, but on these recommendations we had lunch at the Café.  Great crab cakes at a reasonable price.

 

Location: 6045 Governor Barbour St, Barboursville, VA 22923, USA

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