Rustic on the nose and palate, there’s an abundance of smoke and char that envelops all the pretty layers of fall foliage, sour cherry and black pepper spice. Notes of green leaves in the midpalate turn riper and bramblier on the finish. ——A.I.(12/1/2011)—— 84

Smoky raspberry and gamy spice lead on the nose of the Merlot from New York, and on the palate, the smoky oak turns a touch bitter. Cranberry and cherry fruit mingles with spice and weighty tannins, meaning this wine will do well with rich meat stews and duck.——S.K.(7/1/2008)—— 83