Soooo....this is one of those reviews that goes back some time. Some of the vintages are no longer available But the impressions are still vivid (as are the notes)....The first thing I remember is that I had not really tasted Auburn Road wines in any real way. And when I did at the Garden State Harvest Wine Festival, I remember being extremely floored....the stuff was good! Real good!
Auburn Road Vineyards is a winery in Pilesgrove Township in Salem County, New Jersey. The vineyard was first planted in 2004, and opened to the public in 2007 by a group of friends and relatives. Auburn Road has 19 acres of grapes under cultivation, and produces 4,200 cases of wine per year. The winery is named for the road where it is located. Auburn Road Vineyards is in the Outer Coastal Plain AVA, and produces wine from Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cayuga White, Chambourcin, Chardonnay, Merlot, Niagara, Pinot gris, Sangiovese, and Vidal blanc grapes. Auburn Road also makes fruit wines from apples, blueberries, and peaches.
First one on the list was Auburn Road's The White Bottle, which is a light Chardonnay with a lovely, bright acidity. It was fermented in stainless steel and then matured in new oak barrels for a few months. It has lots of green apple and a hint of vanilla. A very lovely white!
Eidolon 2011 was created to help support the Walt Whitman Association in its work including the restoration and preservation of the Walt Whitman House in Camden, New Jersey. The wine itself is
meant to be a statement of New Jersey terroir from the soils and climate of the Garden State’s premier growing region, the Outer Coastal Plain. It is a blend of Merlot and Chambourcin. This is a big, complex, flavorful, layered, dry red wine.
Classico 2011 is the most impressive wine from Auburn Road. It is a big, complex, classic Chianti Reserve-styled blend of Sangiovese, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Chambourcin. It is aged 23 months in oak, It is an impressive wine! As good as any from any winery on the east coast! It is an amazing wine that calls for a big pot of Penne Arabiata or a big juicy steak or pan fried porkchop with peppers and potatoes. It is begging for a piece of red cow parmigiano! A fantastic, fantastic wine!