Mark’s Score 8.6
I have a confession, I visited Layton’s Chance about a decade ago when we first moved to the Eastern Shore. I hated it. I thought their wines were little more than alcoholic grape juice. I dismissed it and never returned, until recently. I am on a journey of exploration, and a decade is a long time. So, I decided to give Layton’s Chance another chance.
The property has been owned by the Layton family since 1948. By the 1970s the farm was a large grain farm producing corn, soybeans, and wheat. In 2003 William Layton decided to diversify by planting a vineyard. They planted their first grapes in 2007 and built the tasting room in 2009. Over the years the vineyard has expanded to 15 acres (6.1 hectares) and it is now the family’s primary business. The Layton’s seek to produce refreshing approachable unpretentious wines that can be enjoyed at barbecues and family gatherings. The winery conducts vineyard tours, concerts, and festivals. They follow sustainable farming practices and make all their wines from locally sourced grapes.
The vineyard is located some distance off Route 13, requiring a short drive through bucolic farmland. You see the tasting room sitting in the middle of a field of soybeans, long before you reach it. This particular day was a beautiful summer’s day with wispy clouds and reasonably cool for the summer, so I decided to sit on their front porch facing the vineyard just across a narrow dirt road.
It had been a while since I visited Layton’s so I decided to buy a flight of five wines; Oaked Vidal Blanc, the Farm Red, the Oaked Chambourcin Reserve, Isadore Red, and Joe’s Cool White (Moscato). I placed my order and then made my way to the porch. Before the wine even arrived, the warm embrace of a summer’s day combined with a view of vineyard and the cobalt blue sky put me in a peaceful state of mind. The bartender brought out my flight with a piece of paper describing each of the wines. I turned to her and asked; ”those grapes over there, what variety are they, I am going to guess they were planted 20 years ago?” With a look of surprise, she said, “they are Chambourcin, they were planted 19 years ago.” There is a saying in the wine industry, the older the vine, the better the wine. Once vines pass 15 years, the wine they produce improves.
Which brings me to my wine flight. In the ten years since I had last visited, there has been a dramatic improvement in Layton’s wines. I loved the golden color of the vidal. The bouquet of the Isidore was spectacularly floral. The Moscato was refreshing on a hot summer’s day. My favorite was the Farm Red, it was earthy with a lovely blackberry finish. The Australians have an apt description for wines like Layton’s, cheap and cheerful. The combination of cheerful wines and bucolic setting mean I will not wait another 10 years to return.
What else is there to do in Cambridge?
Don’t want to miss any of my posts? You can follow me on my Facebook Page.
Leave a Reply