Posts Tagged ‘gray ghost winery’
Varietal: Cabernet Franc
Region: Virginia – USA
Cost: $22
100% Cabernet Franc fermented in small lots and aged in French oak. Bright flavors of cherry and blackberry with the typical spicy pepper finish. Pair with grilled foods such as pork as well as pasta and tomato sauce.
Recommendations: Living in Virginia, we’re lucky enough to get a lot of quality Cabernet Franc, and this one from Gray Ghost is no exception. I was very pleasantly surprised by how light this particular Cabernet Franc was, as it paired very well with the grilled boneless pork chops and roasted red potatoes that my wife and I paired it with.
The usual pepper finish was there, but much more subtle than many other Cabernet Francs, and there was much more bright fruit flavors on the palate than I was accustomed to. Neither of these things is a bad thing. I like this Cabernet Franc because I find that those that are heavy on the pepper finish are great to pair with food, but can be a bit rough to drink by themselves. That’s not the case with this Cabernet from Gray Ghost. This is definitely a wine that can be enjoyed well after the food is gone, or without any to begin with.
The only real complaint I have about this wine is that they’ve only produced 40 cases this year. Certainly one worth trying whether you’re already a fan of Cabernet Franc or just starting to get into it.
Varietal: Chardonnay
Region: Virginia – USA
Cost: $14.50
Light and fruity Chardonnay with no oak. Pineapple and tropical flavors with a semi-dry finish. Pair with spicy food or light fare.
Recommendations: Given as how my wife isn’t a fan of oaked Chardonnay, we were certainly intrigued by this one when we first tried it. The semi-dry finish wasn’t quite what I was expecting, but it wasn’t bad, it just isn’t meant to be paired with everything.
We paired this wine with a light lunch (cheese, crackers, hummus, wings, etc) and I really do believe that that’s the best way to enjoy this wine. This is a great white to enjoy out on the deck on a hot day or to pair with some spicy food while watching the game. As table wines go, it’s a good one.
If you’re looking for something that’s got a bit of residual sugar but isn’t sweet, this is definitely what you’re looking for. While summer is quickly leaving us, it won’t be long before we’re all spending time out on the deck again, so stock up now.
Varietal: Chardonnay
Region: Virginia – USA
Cost: $17
Tropical fruit flavors with a hint of vanilla and soft oak finish. Dry, but not overly oaky. Straw coloring that is typical of Chardonnay. Pairs well with poultry, seafood, and pasta.
Recommendations: I’ve had Gray Ghost wine before, but over the Labor Day weekend my wife, my parents, and myself made a trip out to visit the vineyard, one of my parents’ favorites. The vineyard itself was beautiful, and the staff was amazing (all of which is a post for another time), and after coming home with quite a bit of wine, my wife and I finally opened a bottle the other night to pair with our meal.
Our dinner of pork cutlets with a honey glaze and bacon pesto risotto was a great compliment to the wine (or the other way around). The oak of this wine is ever so subtle, and doesn’t mask a bit of acid on the finish, which I was a big fan of and did an excellent job of cutting some of the sweetness from the meal. The balance of light fruit flavors made this wine enjoyable long after our meal was gone – a feature I find key to any good wine.
At $17 a bottle it’s a good price for a top quality Chardonnay, especially one that you can pair with a variety of foods (or none at all). Definitely worth trying out if you’re a Chardonnay fan.
