History and Geological Features of Long Island History of Merlot What do we know about Merlot? The Soils, and Climate of Long Island Merlot Blind Tasting
Long Island Merlot Alliance "In a single generation, Long Island winemakers have proved that applying passion and skill to the naturalMerlot advantages Alliance of soil and climate can produce wines of harmony and finesse. Few other regions of the world have come so far, so fast," Thomas Matthews, Wine Spectator magazine 100 % Merlot
11.8% ABV pH 3.64
TA 6.75
260 cases
Super Merlot in1990’s
2004 Sideways Movie
“If anyone orders Merlot, I’m leaving. I’m not drinking any F?*&%#@ Merlot” Why ? I’m in a New York State of Mind 3 AVA’s 60 Wineries Long Island AVA 3,000 acres North Fork AVA -57 Wineries- Hampton’s AVA- 3 Wineries Production ½ million cases per year
3rd Largest wine growing region in America Maritime Climate 118 miles long 23 miles wide 43 degrees latitude
100% Vitis Vinifera
Geological Features of Long Island
The Massoud family PAUMANOK VINEYARDS Paumanok was the first LI vineyard to go solar in 2009. Over 90 acres under vine 127 acres and counting #Wine 1
93 points Robert Parker $40.00 Retail 30% New French Oak 16 months 13% abv pH 3.55 TA5.9 RS 0.1%
Wine #2 So how did we get here anyway? Ice Age
First Glacier 22,000 years ago
Wisconsin Glaciation
Last Glacier 11,000 years ago
“Long Island soils are among the finest soils for grape growing that I have ever seen in the world” --Australian viticulturalist Dr. Richard Smart
Maritime CONNECTICUT Climate Long Island Sound
Peconic Bay
NYC
Atlantic Ocean
Alex & Louisa Hargrave
Viticulture Challenges •Powdery Mildew •Nor’easter •Birds •Deer •Hurricaines Major Grapes on Long Island
CABERNET
MERLOT FRANC t
CHARDONNAY SAUVIGNON BLANC What we know about Merlot
• It’s a Noble Grape • It’s the most widely planted grape in Bordeaux • It’s the dominate grape in the right Bank • Smooth tannins • Soft and voluptuous • Ripens earlier than “the other” Bordeaux Red • Cabernet Franc and Magdeleine Noire des Charentes
HISTORY OF MERLOT
Merlot = Little Black Bird in French
Less is more ….Roman Roth
Wine #4 and Wine #5 “ Wine #4 Wolffer Estate
Grapes of Roth 2013 Merlot Established in 1988
Retail $44.00 Produced and bottled in Sagaponack, NY Wine #4 The Grapes of Roth 2013 Merlot
o83% Merlot -17%Cab Sauv. 13.5%abv o Merlot grapes were hand harvested. Malolactic ferm finished at 100%. 13.5% abv. oThe bottle was finished unfiltered and unfined. 329 cases were made and 1 case of magnum. 14.5 acres of Merlot
Wine #5
Chateaux Ste. Michelle 2013 Merlot 14.5% ABV TA 0.51 g/100ml pH 3.87 98% Merlot 2% Cabernet Sauvignon
Columbia Valley
140 miles from the Canadian Boarder
Wine #6 Wine #7 Richard Olsen- Harbich, Wine Maker at Bedell Cellars Bedell Cellers Estate 2014
Wine #7 • Ferrari Carano • Sonoma County 2013
• Cool Climate • Valley Floor • 1,000 Feet Elevation • All female winemakers • 16 Months Barrel Aging • $30.00 Retail • 14.5% abv
Wine #8 Wine #9
Wine #8
• Martha Clara Vineyards • Retail $40.00 • 13% Abv • 100% Estate Grown • 409 cases Wine #9 • GV Cellars • Solano County/ Green Valley AVA • Retail $24.00 • 13.9% Abv • 15% New French Oak • 119 cases • Wine Maker- Sterling Albert • 85 Ft Elevation • Coastal Cooling winds of the San Pablo Bay.
• Long Island Horticultural Research • Planted in 1993 • 2.5 Acre • Practical Vineyard Management • Soil Studies • Grape studies
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