BARREL TASTING OF EMPIRE 2008

and BACO NOIR OLD VINES 2008

Yesterday, we tasted a sample pulled from the barrels before last weekend. We sampled them in the tasting - myself, Dominique, Laura, and David - and with valued friends. Debbie, the Hudson Valley Wine Goddess was there as well as Linda and Bob of the Hudson Valley Wine magazine. We also poured it for several customers.

The Old Vines Baco Noir is still a little young, as we knew it would be. But the berry flavor is a solid dark sour cherry flavor with lots of character and depth. There was the discussion of holding back a barrel or two's worth of the wine for a reseve wine, which is probably what we will do. But it howed a lot of promise. It's shaping up to be what we hoped it would be. Release will probably be in October/November of 2010.

The Empire 2008 was an excting experience. It's bigger and deeper than the original 2007 vintage. The 2007 was elegant. This is bigger, deeper, darker. There is more dark berry. This vintage showed tremendous potential. And we are very, very excited. Release will probably be in Late August/September of 2010.