Tomasello Outer Coastal Plain Blaufrankisch 2022 - Immense! Outstanding!

One of the oldest and largest producing wineries in New Jersey, founded in 1933, is Tomasello Winery. Helmed for more than three decades by Jack and Charlie Tomasello, the winery has numerous satellite tasting rooms around the state. Their portfolio is rich and varied. From their immensely popular inexpensively priced line of fruit dessert wines, their new line of cream dessert wines,  to their Sparkling Rkatsiteli, to their line of Palmaris fine wines, Tomasello does it all. 

Recently I had the opportunity to try several of their wines. Two made an immense impression on me. The first, and the most impressive was the Tomasello Out Coastal Plain Blaufrankisch 2022. This wine had a wonderfully red/purple color to it, with notes of stewed dark fruits - plum, cherry, blueberry - with notes of white pepper and spice. On the palate, the fruits came through with added notes of cassis and bramble. There was also nice notes of black and white pepper, and a whiff of cedar. The fruit lasted a long time. This was an exceptional Blaufrankisch. 

The Outer Coastal Plain continues to grow some of the best fruit on the eastern seaboard, proving it amongst the best fruit producing regions out there. The reds mature are a fantastic rate, and year in and year out offer some of the most consistent wine grapes east of the Mississippi. This wine easily proves the point. Immense and impressive. Outstanding. 

Another impressive wine was the Tomasello Palmaris Outer Coastal Plain Cabernet Franc 2021. I think the line of Palmaris wines is one of the best New Jersey wine lists being produced in the state. This new 2021 was also another terrific wine. This Cabernet Franc is made from 75% Cabernet Franc and 25% Cabernet Sauvignon. just 2 grapes both grown in the Outer Coastal Plain and aged in small barrel French Nevers and American Oak barrels. The resulting wine has notes of bright and dark cherry, lovely floral notes, and  long lasting flavor. Not as huge as you might think, there was still a kind of east coast lightness to this Cabernet Franc. Extremely well balanced and complex. Terrific.

Tomasello's high-end bottlings of classic varietal wines is a tremendous value and a great experience. Search out Tomasello Palmaris wines.  Especially these two! Absolutely great stuff!