Flying Fox Vineyard and Winery

February 23, 2024.  Our first stop on this winter excursion to the Monticello AVA was a return trip to Flying Fox Vineyard and Winery in Afton.  You can’t miss the two-storey sign mounted beside a restored fiber mill.  Be prepared for a hard turn off of Route 250.

Flying Fox was incorporated in 2000 but purchased in 2015 by three siblings, Chloe, Emily, and George Hodson.  Their parents had developed Veritas Vineyard nearby.  Sister Emily – now Emily Hodson Pelton – has been the winemaker at Veritas and Flying Fox and was awarded Winemaker of the Year in 2017.  Red wines come from the Flying Fox Vineyard five miles away but within the Monticello AVA.. White wines come from the Ridge Run Vineyard in the Shenandoah AVA. 

Since our last visit, Flying Fox has moved to a new tasting room.  The new tasting room is large but unadorned and basic near the bar.  Even with lots of leather – sofas, even lampshades – the seating area has a low coziness quotient.  There is no fireplace.  Very basic outside seating and no heaters for cooler months.  According to our server, Cooper, the winery seldom has any food for purchase so you should plan on bringing your own.  Flying Fox only music “very occasionally.”  The focus is on the wine.

 

 

When last we visited Flying Fox we came away with a bottle of Vermouth. (Spring Edition 18.01).  This time, we stayed with regular wines to sample.  Here are our comments:

2017 Cabernet Franc.  The 2017 vintage received a Gold Medal in the Virginia Governor’s Cup.  It is a blend of 80% Cab Franc and 20% Merlot.  Tannin is prominent.  Medium to light body.  I got a faint candy aroma.  Tasting notes say red raspberry.  B+.  I bought a bottle.

2021 Cabernet Franc.  By comparison, the 2021 vintage still needs time to develop.  It is a blend of 93% Cab Franc and only 7% Merlot.  Prominent veggie nose, less fruit and lower tannin.  Almost light bodied, lighter in color.  B. 

2017 Merlot.  The 2017 Merlot is a reverse of the Cab Franc for that year – 80% Merlot and 20% Cab Franc in the blend.  Very little fruit, some cocoa.  Stronger tannin.  Medium bodied.  B

2019 Trio.  This is another Gold Medal winner.  It is a blend of 40% Merlot, 40% Cab Franc, and 20% Petit Verdot.  Some smokiness in the back palate.  Medium bodied.  Medium tannin.  B.

2021 Petit Verdot.  I’m getting some smoke/cigar aromas from this wine, which is 75% Petit Verdot and 25% Merlot.  Some cherry.  B.

2022 Rosé.  An unusual pale gold color.  Merlot-based.  Light and mostly dry – a faint sweetness on the finish.  B.

2022 Pino Grigio. Kim noted a citrusy nose, light. And rated it a B-.  Flying Fox’s tasting notes say that the Pino Grigio has “aromas of meyer lemon and petrichor.”  For those of you unfamiliar with these references: A meyer lemon is a hybrid fruit – sweeter and less acidic than a regular lemon.  Petrichor is an earthy musky pleasant odor associated with rainfall after a warm dry period.  Good descriptors to know…

Unfortunately, this stop was not a highlight of our trip.

 

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