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TASTING NOTES

Generous in fruit expressing layers of dark plums, blackberry, and violets rounded with leather, chocolate, and a touch of sweet spice. Supple and posh, the silky mouthfeel is fruit-driven with a spicy bite.

VINEYARD NOTES

The Meritage is a blend of vineyard sites on both Keuka and Seneca Lake. The shallow, shale-based soils on Keuka Lake adds minerality, acidity, and elegance while the deep honeoye silt loam soils on Seneca Lake are a few degrees warmer than Keuka providing riper fruit notes. During the aging process, better tasting barrels are put aside and all evenly aged for 18 months. The blend is comprised of 15 total barrels; 5 barrels of each variety. The barrels for this blend are new and 2nd fill French oak.

WINEMAKER NOTES

Hot and dry is a great way to describe the 2020 growing season. The trend of late bud break continues, beginning in mid-May. A month later in mid-June, most varieties began flowering and fruit set. Between bud break and fruit set, it was warm and dry with only considerable rainfall a handful of times. Throughout the growing season we were blessed with hot and dry conditions. This kept disease pressure very low. Luckily, our old vines are able to withstand drought conditions. The warm and dry weather continued into the fall allowing us to fully ripen grapes well into October. 2020 red wines may be some of the best in recent years.

VARIETY

33% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot, 33% Petit Verdot.

VINEYARD

A blend of Seneca and Keuka vineyards.

VINIFICATION

De-stemmed. Several Day Cold Soak.

VESSEL

Open-Top Stainless Steel. Temperature Controlled.

FERMENTATION

Traditional. Twice Daily Pumpovers.

ÉLEVAGE

16 Months. French Oak. 20% New.

ACCOLADES