Ravines Wine Cellars Meritage

Stunning. I could easily have mistaken it for a high end aged Bordeaux. Of the old style, that is. The wine is perfectly balanced with the structure to go quite awhile yet. Great acidity, silky tannins, the fruit is becoming of the dried type but still has plenty of freshness. Herbs, leather, dried flowers. Complexity, intensity, depth, and a wonderfully long finish. It’s all here. It’s wines like this that make us spend so much of our lives searching for …

Initial cherry gives way to plum and blackberry, with a hint of pepper, then bright red fruit ascends the tongue while the plum lingers throughout. Soft, herbed earth as a foundation. Velvety, mature tannins. In short, it's drinking beautifully, but there's no rush on drinking bottles still in cellars.

This might be the best red ever made in the Finger Lakes -- and that's not a pejorative. Wonderfully layered nose of grilled herbs, black pepper, and dark fruits. Rich and medium-to-long finish; poured blind this wine stunned friends who couldn't believe the Finger Lakes could do something like this.