71% Merlot and 29% Cabernet Sauvignon from the Finger Lakes region of New York.
SRP of $40 and available at that price. Sample submitted for review.
From the bottle:
"This limited release contains Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon blended for complexity and long life. This wine will continue to get better over many years of aging. Rich, full-bodied and smooth, it is unrivaled as an accompaniment to tenderloin of beef. This wine is unfiltered and unfined. It is natural for a sediment to form over time. You may wish to decant this wine before serving.
Our winery, located on the western slopes of Seneca Lake, is ideally situated for producing world class wines. Open all year, our tasting room and Cafe, with their spectacular views of the lake and vineyards, are perfect for a relaxing visit.
12.3% Alcohol"
One of the truly fun parts of being a winelover is exploring wines from new regions. While I obviously love the big wine countries like Spain and Italy it's amazing what you can find in some of the smaller regions that you wouldn't necessarily expect to be prime grape growing areas.
You may remember from our review of the Ex Libris Cabernet Sauvignon from Washington state that we dubbed it "One Cool Cabernet", thanks to the generally cool climate growing region of the Columbia Valley. Well today's wine from the Finger Lakes takes cool climate to a whole new level, and produces, a bit surprisingly to me, one delicious Meritage. Here we have definitive proof that the Finger Lakes offers a lot more than Riesling. (Although they still do Riesling very well so you may want to check up our annual Finger Lakes Riesling Round-up posts too: Finger Lakes Riesling Roundup and Finger Lakes Riesling Roundup - Round Two!)
The 2010 Fox Run Vineyards Meritage takes a little time to open up but when it does it offers complex aromas of blackberry, menthol, coffee and black olives. The wine tastes delicious and features lots of deep dark fruit, fine tannins with a bit of spice, and vanilla and chocolate undertones. Hints of coffee and black olives carry-over from the bouquet. It ends with good length, nice spice and lingering coffee and chocolate notes.
Wine in the "Make Mine A Meritage" series:
- Lyeth Meritage 2010 - Make Mine A Meritage Wine #1
- Hahn Winery Central Coast Meritage 2010 - This ain't no second class Bordeaux.
- Dry Creek Vineyard Sonoma County Meritage 2008 - Smooth Drinking Ahead!
- Fox Run Vineyards Meritage 2010 - Proof the Finger Lakes offers a lot more than Riesling.
- Arrowhead Red Meritage 2008 - It's easy to fall for this Meritage from Niagara.
- Dry Creek Vineyard The Mariner Meritage 2008 - Splice the mainbrace!
- Estancia Reserve Meritage 2009 - Sweet oak and rich fruit wrapped up in a smooth package.
- Kirkland Signature Rutherford Napa Valley Meritage 2011 - A Sure Thing!
- Chateau Ste Michelle Artist Series Meritage 2008 - A Work of Art
- Arrowhead Spring Vineyards Meritage Reserve 2008 - A blackberry patch in a bottle.
- Franciscan Estate Magnificat Napa Valley Meritage 2009 - Magnificent Magnificat.
See a listing of local retailers selling this wine here.
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