North Carolina Wine has always been about place. At its core it tells stories of dreams that take root, grow deep, and evolve over time. At Grassy Creek Vineyard and Winery, you’ll find a story that embodies this theme. This year marks their 20th anniversary and one of the celebrations was a vertical tasting of five library vintages of their signature red wine, the Red Barn Blend.
We were honored to be able to join the tasting event on Saturday February 21st. What unfolded was an afternoon of history, hospitality, and a constant reminder that North Carolina Wine ages well.
About Grassy Creek Vineyard
Grassy Creek’s journey began in 2003 when Jim and Cynthia Douthit paired up with Derrill and Lori Rice to fulfill their dreams of starting a vineyard and winery that spoke to making the most of what the land can produce. Plantings begin soon after focusing on traditional European winemaking grapes which form the basis of their wines today.
Over time, the ownership team expanded when Steve and Peggi Clark joined, followed by Larry and Lynn Nycum not long after. Lynn quickly became interested in wine production and joined Jim in the winemaking process. One thing that remains constant is just how deeply personal the work has always been. Not only does the team have a direct hand in every step of the process, but they also bring in their friends and families to help along the way.
What is the Red Barn Blend?
The Red Barn Blend has been part of the legacy at Grassy Creek Vineyard since 2004. The blend generally consists of Merlot, Syrah, and Sangiovese with percentages roughly lining up to be 60/30/10. That being said, the primary goal of this blend is to make a wine that captures the best of the vintage and not necessarily creating the same wine year after year.
It begins in the winery. After all the grapes are harvested the wines are made separately and aged in oak barrels. Throughout the aging process, they are tasted periodically to see how each is progressing. When it’s time to blend, the best barrels of Merlot, Syrah, and Sangiovese are set aside for the Red Barn Blend. From there, they start to play with the ratios of the three wines until a wine is made that captures the best of that year. For this reason, the exact percentages may change, but the core will remain Merlot, Syrah, and Sangiovese.
What we Tasted
We explored five library vintages; 2010, 2014, 2015, 2018, and 2021. Also on hand was a sample of the current 2023 vintage as well. Here are our impressions and notes on each wine:
- 2010 Red Barn Blend – Brick red with just a hint of age at the rim. Aromas of dried plum, leather, and subtle smoke. Earthy and savory on the palate with roasted red fruits and soft, integrated tannins. A mature wine that’s still drinking gracefully, although Jim mentioned you should enjoy now if you have it.
- 2014 Red Barn Blend – A brighter, lighter ruby red color in the glass. Dusty and earthy on the nose with a touch of vanilla. If you’ve ever wondered what red currant is like, this wine is a poster child of it with vibrant acidity, and juicy red fruits. As it sat in the glass, it developed deeper roasted flavors and a sweet‑toned vanilla note that rounded everything out while concentrating the flavors even more. This was the group’s favorite as no bottles remained after the tasting.
- 2015 Red Barn Blend – Lighter and slightly tawny. Aromas lean toward oak and toast rather than fruit. On the palate, it’s dry, oak‑forward, and spice‑tinged with a long, toasty finish. One of the more restrained vintages of the lineup.
- 2018 Red Barn Blend – Bright ruby and beautifully concentrated. Aromas of caramel, vanilla, and a whisper of sun‑dried tomato. Excellent balance: juicy fruit, smooth tannins, and a caramel‑vanilla mid‑palate leading to a lingering toffee finish. This was a stand out vintage with everything being in check.
- 2021 Red Barn Blend – Deepest color of the library wines showing a garnet‑purple core. Aromas of violets, plum, black cherry, and youthful freshness. The palate carries black tea‑like tannins, plum and black cherries with a smoky oak accent. Clean fade on the finish. This wine is still very young but will age nicely over time.
- 2023 Red Barn Blend (Current Vintage) – Dark, vibrant, and youthful. Plum, vanilla, and black cherry lead the nose and palate. Oak is more prominent here due to its youth, but after tasting earlier vintages, it’s easy to see this wine’s future potential.
Overall Favorites
When we started the event, the group was instructed that if they found something they liked they should jump up and grab a bottle of that vintage from the display table (only 10 bottles available per vintage). The clear winners at the end were the 2014 (first to run out), 2021 (another sell out), and 2018 (only 1 bottle remained). Our personal favorites aligned with the group with our preferences toward the 2021 and 2018 vintages.
Final Thoughts
A vertical tasting is always special but this one had an extra special connection. Where we were seated in the Red Barn tasting room was actually the spot where it all began. The initial winery was located in that very spot which brought a sweet sense of nostalgia to those who have been around since the beginning.
Tasting through the wines, it was fun to connect these wines with others in the area and across the state from these same vintages. One thing is clear, that North Carolina Wine is centered around a sense of place and those who work hard to create a taste for everyone.
