Blue Mountain Vineyards is one of the better quality producers of the Lehigh Valley Trail wineries. I remember I had my first bottle of Blue Mountain back in the late 1990s, I think it was 1998. And met Joe and Vicki Greff at the Pennsylvania wine festival in 1999. I have been following their wines for years.
In late November, we were doing our last racking of the winter with a crew of guys who have been with me for a decade now. I really wanted to piur them something nice to celebrate. I brought up several wines. I had gone through the cellar, looking for something different, when I spotted a wine I'd laid down a long time ago, and thought it might be fun to try. I was worried that it might be past it's prime, one never knows. Joe Greff is the winemaker and his assistant is Matt Milkovits.
According to Wikipedia: The Meritage Association was formed in 1988 by a small group of Napa Valley, California vintners increasingly frustrated by U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives regulations stipulating wines contain at least 75% of a specific grape to be labeled as that varietal. As interest grew in creating Bordeaux-style wines, which by their blended nature fail to qualify for varietal status, members sought to create a recognizable name for their high-quality blended wines....the Meritage Alliance specifically states that the word should be pronounced to rhyme with "heritage."
Blue Mountian Blue Heron Meritage 2006 is made up of mostly Cabernet Sauvignon (50-60% - with the older vintages of this wine, the Cab could be as high as in the low 70s%) with equal parts Merlot, and Cabernet Franc. The fruit is all estate. The free run of these grapes were fermented separately, blended together, and aged in New French Oak.
As I poured the wine, just fresh up from the cellar, and sniffed to see if there were any off odors. I was worried I had ruined the wine....bad cellaring, or just letting it sit past its prime. But low and behold, what came out of the glass were ripe cherry, red raspberry, and dark cassis. The nose was wonderful! It truly smelled of dansom plum, and hints of lekvar and mocha and cedar and spice. The wine was smooth, and the fruit lingered for a long time. The wine was wonderful!!!!
The Blue Mountain Blue Heron Meritage has long been their flagship wine. They did a fabulous job with this wine. If you can find the current vintage, the Blue Mountain Blue Heron Meritage 2015, pick up at least two bottles - one to drink now, and one to save for a very special location!
Wow!