Meritage 2021
Vintages Notes:
A mild winter lead into a mild and beautifully warm spring. The large cropload and rainy summer and fall made for an extremely extended growing season. The whites came in with flinty minerality, high acidity and interesting flavors. The reds were an even bigger surprise. Racy but with tempered acidity, silky delicate tannins, cedar and herbaceous notes without being vegetal. Graceful and poignant, 2021 reds will be wines to watch as they develop over coming years.
Sweet cream and pomegranate are met with dark chocolate on the notes. There is a rich depth of fruit with ripe black cherries, medium tannins, and a medium toasted oak quality. Cardamom and black currant are met on the palate, with creaminess from the Merlot and cherry pie from the Cabernet Sauvignon. Cab Franc provides structure and adds to the overall complexity. Drink now, but save some for 5-10 years.
| Vintage | 2021 |
| Varietal | 42% Cabernet Franc, 32% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Merlot |
| Appellation | Finger Lakes |
| Vineyard | Knapp, Varick, Glenora Farms, Dalrymple, Gibson, Norbud |
| Harvest Date | 10/11/2021-11/2/2021 |
| PH | 3.58 |
| Residual Sugar | 0.0% |
| Alcohol | 12.20% |
| Volume | 750 ml |
| Artificially Carbonated | No |
| Sparkling Wine | No |
Winemaker Notes:
All wines were aged in barrel for 14 months, where they also completed malolactic with weekly lees stirring to help the fermentation. In the spring, the winemaker hand selected her favorite barrels to make this blend. Meritage wines are designed by American winemakers using classic Bordeaux 'noble' grapes. The name derives from 'merit', regarding the quality of the grapes, and 'heritage', reflecting the centuries old tradition of blending often considered to be the winemaker's highest art form.
