Two Instant Classics From William Heritage Winery - Exceptional

These days New Jersey is putting out some truly exceptional classic wines. I tasted two of them at the Eastern Winery Exposition in Lancaster earlier this year. Bill Heritage proudly poured me these two wines, and I was very thrilled to try them. I've been writing about Bill and Penny Heritage for 15 years now, and the wines just keep getting better and better. It's a family run company, and they are doing everything right. 

Semillon is unique on the east coast. It's a white grape planted most notably in Bordeaux and Australia, where there are excellent examples. And several producers on the west coast, especially in California and Washington, also produce varietally correct wines of great substance. William Heritage Limited Release Semillon 2023 is made from estate fruit, grown in sandy, loamy soil, in the Outer Costal Plain. The wine was fermented and aged in stainless steel. Floral aromas accompanied by honeydew and green apples. There are also notes of lemon custard, apricot and pear. There's a hint of salinity and a nice touch of zippy acidity to keep the wine wound up together tight. Absolutely stellar. 

William Heritage Reserve Norman's Vineyard Cabernet Franc 2022 is proof fine wine is not only possible in New Jersey, but rather, to be expected. This wine was an absolutely incredible statement about grape growing, wine production, and barrel aging in the Garden State. Previous vintages of this wine have captured very impressive accolades, And the 2022 is no exception. The wine is dark red with a purple tinge. Big pops of blueberry, violets, dark cherry, and cassis come off the nose, along with tobacco, and cocoa. There are also hints of fallen leaves and fresh wood. Big cherry and black currants are followed by tobacco on the palate as well, with notes of dark chocolate and vanilla. A lovely, big, medium bodied wine, with lots of flavor, solid tannins, and a nice dose of acidity make the fruit linger a long time after swallowing. Well crafted, complex and well balanced, this is a truly exceptional wine. 

The Outer Coastal Plain continue to produce wines of excellence, and is fast becoming one of the most prominent AVAs of the east coast. And William Heritage Winery is one of it's most stellar producers. Two more notches of excellent for this label - two MUST HAVE bottles.