LIMA Releases 2006 Merliance; Touts Superiority Of Long Island Merlots

Merliance is a specially crafted blend of 100 percent merlot from each LIMA member, whose merlot grapes hail from The Hamptons and The North Fork of Long Island American Viticultural areas. Photos courtesy of LIMA

Cutchogue - The Long Island Merlot Alliance (LIMA) is proud to announce the release of its 2006 Merliance. This is the third release of the popular blend that helps raise money for local wine research.

Merliance is a specially crafted blend of 100 percent merlot from each LIMA member, whose Merlot grapes hail from The Hamptons and The North Fork of Long Island American Viticultural areas (AVAs). Each winery contributes two barrels of merlot, each of a different style, from some of its best lots of the vintage. LIMA winemakers conduct a blind tasting of many different samples, choosing the wines and adjusting proportions to create a merlot that best represents the East End of Long Island's uniqueterroir.

Merliance is barrel-aged for one year before bottling and released each spring. Only 250 cases of the 2006 vintage were produced. The 2006 Merliance is dark red in color with a vibrant aroma of crushed ripe blueberries, raspberry jam, hints of clove, vanilla, dried thyme and mint, with a fine smokiness. On the palate, it is medium-bodied with an elegant mouth-feel and flavors of black cherry, raspberry and herbs. The tannins are soft and the delicate, toasted oak is well-integrated.

Merliance is classic in style and exhibits the food-friendliness of this variety on Long Island. It can be enjoyed now and shows great aging potential for up to 10 years. Merliance sells for $35, with a substantial portion of the proceeds going to local research supporting the production of quality Long Island Merlot. Merliance may be purchased at the tasting rooms and on the websites of LIMA-member wineries.

The Long Island Merlot Alliance was founded in 2005, joining premium wine estates committed to developing quality standards in the production of classically styled Merlot. LIMA seeks recognition for Merlot as the premiere grape of Long Island, whether as a single varietal or in blends, and for Long Island as the leading appellation for Merlot in the New World.

"We believe that, in the tradition of other great wine regions, emphasizing our excellence in one varietal does not diminish other wines from Long Island," a LIMA spokesperson commented, "but will help to gain attention for all varietals grown here."