Robibero Family Vineyards 2011 NYS Merlot

As we know 2011 was a tough growing season here in the Hudson Valley.  Everything was looking great until Irene hit the region then Lee.  Back to back storms. Lots of rain and scrambling on what to do with the harvesting of the grapes.

This Merlot was the first red wine of the 2011 season I have tasted and I was a bit disappointed, but then had to remember the challenges of the growing season and know they did the best they could with the hand they were dealt.

Aromas of earth, wood spice, cedar and licorice filled the glass.  It did take a while for the wine to open up. Looking back I should have decanted it.

This was a very young wine and due to the growing season it was thin in structure and color. Flavors of blackberry and blueberry on the palate with a hint of dried herbs.

The wine retails for $18.99 in the tasting room.

Good Ol' Boys Club Wine - H-C 2005 Merlot

Yes I am calling this wine "The Good Ol' Boys Club" wine. Why?  The first aroma I received from this wine took me to a room full of cigar smoking men sitting in a country club with their smoking jackets on.

This deep black cherry color wine gave way to cigar humidor aroma giving way to earth and hint of black cherry.

The taste on my palate was one of plum and hints of black cherry, tobacco and bitter taste of strong coffee on the finish.

This is one instance of a wine we purchased and held onto for a few years.  It's nice to dig it out of the wine cellar and see how it's aged.  Unfortunately I don't think you will be able to purchase the 2005 now, but take a look in your cellar and see if you have a bottle you forgot about.

Cookies and Merlot

It's that time of the year again where the annual cookie swap comes into play.  With less than one week notice I had to make 8 dozen cookies for our "Wine Night" swap.  So Friday evening found me slaving over my oven and kitchen aid to bake my cookies.  I couldn't do it alone, so I pulled out a 2008 Whitecliff Vineyards New York State Merlot.

A little wine for me, and more wine for me as I made the Coffee and Cream Drops.

When I opened the wine the first aromas that came to me was earth and mocha. I thought that was fitting since the cookies I was making had coffee and chocolate in them.  The earth and mocha gave way to hints of plum and black cherry.

I first tasted the wine before I tasted any of the cookies I was making.  I got a black cherry, bright fruit flavor with hints of raspberry.  The wine was thin with a bitter finish.   Then I had to see how the cookie and wine pairing tasted.  I will say the cookie softened the bitter finish and the black cherry flavor became loud and prominent.

I didn't know much about this wine before I opened it, but I must say it was a nice pairing.  A note to myself, if I am going to make cookies with coffee in them, bake then in the morning.  This way when you eat a couple from each batch, you won't be up all night from the caffeine.

2004 Baldwin Proprietor's Reserve Merlot

Baldwin Vineyards is located in Pine Bush, New York. They are in the middle of the Shawangunk Wine Trail.

Although known for their award winning Strawberry wine, they also produce some very good Merlot, Chardonnay, Riesling a other fruit wine.

We had the 2004 Proprietor's Reserve New York State Merlot and paired it with Chicken Parm.

Upfront this wine had dark fruit, blackberry. Mid taste was smooth, no tannins and slightly smokey. The finish had hints of licorice. The wine reminded us more of a California Merlot in body and texture.

We liked this wine and it went quite well with the chicken parm.