Today I’d like to discuss some of my favorite unique New Jersey wine blends. Pictured above are a few of those I presently have in my cellar. From left to right they are: Sharrott Winery’s Tango, White Horse Winery’s Vintner’s Red, William Heritage Winery’s Coeur d’Est, Auburn Road Vineyards’ Eidolon Coeur d’Est, Hawk Haven Vineyard & Winery’s Proprietor’s Blend, Hawk Haven’s Flying Press Red and Jessie Creek Winery’s Coastal Red.
It is often said that making wine is part science and part art. While blending wines requires science, it is the creativity and superior palate that is on display in blending a great wine. From talking to a number of our state’s winemakers, it is a skill that they truly enjoy. But blending wines also offers ways to save a variety that may have struggled a bit during a particularly challenging year (perhaps too much rain or an earlier than expected frost). Perhaps a grape that is usually grown as a “stand-alone” grape, like a Cabernet Sauvignon or a Pinot Noir, can be blended with one or more other varieties that can “smooth out” the aspects which are not up to the winemaker’s standards. Blending also gives the patron a greater variety of wines to choose from in the tasting room, truly offering something for everyone.
I would like to stress that there are many other very good wine blends produced in New Jersey. Those listed below are just some that I have tasted in the past six months or so and have enjoyed enough that I wanted to spread the word in case you have not tried them.
While red blends are much more common, here are a few of my favorite white blends:
- Unionville Vineyards’ Hunterdon Mistral Blanc – Viognier (50%), Marsanne (25%), Rousanne (25%).
- William Heritage Winery’s Cuvee Blanc – A delicious medium-bodied Chardonnay-based blend.
- William Heritage Winery’s Pennlyn Place Bianco is also a very smooth blend, with just a hint of sweetness. It is a blend of Pinot Grigio and Chardonnay.
- Alba Vineyards & Winery’s Mainsail White-a great light and refreshing blend of Chardonnay, Riesling and Traminette that is very reasonable.
- Autumn Lake Winery’s Halcyon-a very good Sauvignon Blanc/Viognier blend. It is currently unavailable.
According to Food & Wine, red wine blends sell more by volume than either Pinot Noir or Merlot. Among my favorite New Jersey red blends:
- Unionville Vineyards’ Hunterdon Mistral Rouge-One of my favorite red blends, highlighting varietals more commonly found in France: Syrah (55%), Counoise (42%), and Viognier (3%).
- Beneduce Vineyards’ Cabernet Sauvignon/Malbec (60-40 Blend) – A great, nicely balanced, full-bodied red.
- Beneduce Vineyards’ Shotgun Red-A blend of their Corot Noir, Noiret and Chambourcin. A fruit-forward wine with a little sweetness, aged in stainless steel.
- William Heritage Winery’s Cuvee Rouge- A smooth, light red.
- Mount Salem Vineyards’ Blaufrankisch/Zweigelt-A smooth, dry and delicious blend.
- Mount Salem Vineyards’ Cuvee “Mathias”- A terrific blend of Blaufrankisch, Zweigelt and St. Laurent, more commonly found in Austria. Unique and delicious.
- Cape May Winery’s Vintner’s Blend (now only available on tap and take-home growlers)
- White Horse Winery’s Vintner’s Blend-Smooth, medium-bodied red blend
- Hawk Haven Vineyards & Winery’s Proprietor’s Blend (Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Syrah)
- Hawk Haven Vineyards & Winery’s Flying Press Red-A wonderful light, every day red that goes great with a burger or pizza.
- Auburn Road Winery’s Gaia-a terrific blend of Cab Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot
- Auburn Road Winery’s Good Karma, a light dry blend of Merlot and Pinot Noir
- Cedar Rose Vineyards makes a number of very good red blends. My favorite is their Thundergust (a full-bodied blend of equal parts Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Chambourcin).
- Sharrott Winery’s Tango-An unheralded and under-rated (in my opinion) every day red blend.
- Jessie Creek Winery’s Coastal Red-A dry blend of Cab Franc, Merlot and Grenache.
Another unique NJ wine blend is the C’oeur d’Est (literally Heart of the East). These wines are produced by many wineries in the Outer Coastal Plan using only OCP grapes from a single vintage. The grapes varieties may consist of Chambourcin, Cab Franc, Merlot (75%-100% of blend) and up to 25% of the Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Petit Verdot. The final product must also score at least an 85 by an independent rating service.
Among my favorite producers of Coeur d’Est wines of the past year:
- Bellview Winery Their 2015 was a Beverage Tasting Institute Silver Medal Winner
- Sharrott Winery-Also an award winner and a consistently good Coeur d’Est
- William Heritage Winery-Also an award winner and a consistently good version
- Auburn Road’s Coeur d’Est they call Eidolon (named after Walt Whitman’s poem). It is a blend of Chambourcin, Merlot and Petit Verdot. Proceeds from sales go to the Walt Whitman House in Camden.
Finally I must add a personal favorite when it comes to economical, but quality Jug/Growler-style red blends. Amalthea produces a wonderful red blend for each season that they call their Cantina Mas. The winter blends tend to be a little more full-bodied, but I have had a few from different seasons and they are all at least medium-bodied and not lacking in flavor or sophistication, despite the plastic growlers. The summer blend from last year consisted of Barbera, Alicante and Nebbiolo. The spring Cantina is now available and I will be refilling soon!
Cheers!
Coming Attractions:
- A revisit at one of our state’s wineries.
- Interviews with owners and winemakers.
- Blue Cork Vineyards & Winery-With an anticipated April, 2019 opening, it’s time to take a closer look at this promising winery in Williamstown.
***********************************************************************************************************
March Madness is still going on for another week. Time to pick up New Jersey Uncorked at a discounted price ($5 off the paperback at store.bookbaby.com/book/New-Jersey-Uncorked). Be sure to use the coupon code: MarchMadness. You can still get the e-book at Apple’s iBook App. Use the same coupon code: MarchMadness to get $2 off.
***********************************************************************************************************
Tried a New Jersey wine lately? Visited a NJ winery recently? Please share your experience here. Like what you read and see here? Consider subscribing and getting your weekly pour of NJ wine right in your inbox. No spills, no mess.
