Ripe black and red cherries combine with pleasant herbaceous and subtle floral notes on the nose. Tannin and acidity nicely balance the mélange of juicy fruit flavors on entry, while tomato leaf and cigar box add complexity. The wine maintains structural integrity throughout and will benefit from aging.

WINE INFORMATION

Located on the east side of Cayuga Lake, Bright Leaf Vineyard was previously a livestock farm providing good, rich pasture for planting. Owners Mike and Donna Wilson began preparation of the vineyard in 2013 with deep subsoil trenching along each row and drainage tile between each alternating row. Their first ten acres of vines were mechanically planted in spring of 2014 with an additional four acres of vines planted in 2015 and 2016.

Currently Bright Leaf Vineyard owns 14 acres in what is really two vineyards, including an upper and lower field, divided by a quarry of Tully limestone, which runs north-south through the farm. This creates two different soil types:  Aurora loam (uphill from the quarry, with excellent drainage and higher acidity, where the white varietals are planted) and Cazenovia silt (downhill from the quarry, heavier, clay soils, home to the reds).

Grapes come from Long Island as well as the Finger Lakes. After traditional fermentation the wine was aged for 28 months in French oak. Winemaker Colleen Lucas joined Bright Leaf in 2018.

Grilled preparations, Mushrooms, Pizza, Red Meat, Tomato Sauce, Wild Game