2012 Merlot Reserve
Tasting notes
Tasting Notes
Aromas of red berries, smoke and leather followed by dark cherries and violets, all finished with lingering vanilla and spice.
Vintage Notes
With the perfect balance of warm temperatures and occasional rainfall, the 2012 season turned into an exceptional vintage. Bud break occurred during mid-March, about five weeks earlier than usual, and set the tone for the rest of the season. Rivaling the impeccable 2010 vintage, 2012 also saw a large number of growing degree days, ideal for fully-ripened grapes and bold
wines. Due to the below average rainfall throughout the summer months, disease pressure remained low, allowing fruit to thrive with little intervention. These wines from the 2012 vintage are
beautifully balanced with bright acidity and fresh fruit flavors.
Hand-harvested
Hand-sorted
Harvested: 9/28/12
Brix: 24.5°
T.A.: 6.5 g/L
pH: 3.95
ABV: 13.9%
Cases Produced: 190
Oak Program
Aged for 17 months in a combination of 13% new Hungarian oak and 6% in new French oak.
| Vintage | 2012 |
| Varietal | Merlot |
| Varietal Composition | 100% Merlot |
| Appellation | Finger Lakes |
| Vineyard | 100% East side of Seneca Lake; Damiani vineyard |
| Harvest Date | 09/28/2012 |
| Acid | 6.5 g/L |
| PH | 3.95 |
| Aging | Aged for 17 months in a combination of 13% new Hungarian oak, 13% new French oak, 81% neutral oak. |
| Fermentation | Hungarian oak, French oak |
| Residual Sugar | 0.0% |
| Alcohol | 13.90% |
| Wine Style | Red |
| Volume | 750 ml |
| Cases Produced | 190 |
| Country of Origin | UNITED STATES |
| State of Origin | New York |
| Artificially Carbonated | No |
| Sparkling Wine | No |
Vineyard Site
Our Damiani Vineyard produces wines that tend to soften the line between feminine sophistication and bold vitality. Anyone who knows Lou Damiani would agree that this characterization of his vineyard perfectly mirrors his energy in life – thoughtful, passionate and strong. This site was hand-planted in two separate instances on Howard Gravelly Loam soils, the lower block in 1997 and the upper block in 2000.
