Cutchogue - Long Island merlots and merlot-based blends from the 2007 vintage proved their place among wines from other regions of the world known for the varietal, including Pomerol and St. Emilion in France, Napa Valley in California, and the Columbia River in Washington State. At The Merlot Focus, a blind-tasting and rating of 14 merlot wines - seven world examples and seven from Long Island - organized by the Long Island Merlot Alliance and held April 27 at City Winery in Manhattan, the top score (86.86) went to the 2007 Christian's Cuvée Merlot from Wölffer Estate Vineyard. McCall Wines 2007 Ben's Blend also was in the top half of the wines, with a score of 85.43.

Participants gathering to taste and rate merlots from Long Island and other regions known for the varietal at The Merlot Focus. (Richard Lewin for the Long Island Merlot Alliance)

An overview of each wine, its score and rank in the results appears below. Interestingly, the spread of the average points scored for all the wines represented (with high and low scores removed) was only 3.9, with several of the wines scoring within only a few tenths of a point of one another. This relatively narrow margin suggests that the quality and drinkability of the wines were very similar. Indeed, participants remarked that, when tasted blind, the Long Island wines were difficult to distinguish from other world wines, particularly those from France.

Forty members of the wine trade and media participated in The Merlot Focus, including:

 • Michael Cinque, Amagansett Wine & Spirits
 • Valerie Corbin, Astor Wines & Spirits
 • André Compeyre, Adour Alain Ducasse at the St. Regis
 • Michael Dorf, City Winery
 • Rozanne Gold, Joseph Baum & Michael Whiteman Co.
 • Howard Goldberg, The New York Times
 • Lisa Granik, MW, Tastingworks
 • Joshua Greene, Wine & Spirits
 • David Milligan, David Milligan Selections
 • Robin Kelly O'Connor, Christie's
 • Patricia Savoie, Wine Media Guild

"It was validating to see how well Long Island merlots showed. It is our belief that our wines belong among those from Bordeaux, California and Washington, and indeed they were another branch of the merlot family tree," said Gilles Martin, technical director of the Long Island Merlot Alliance and consulting winemaker for Sherwood House Vineyards. "The Merlot Focus provided an opportunity for the Merlot Alliance to not only show our wines in great company, but also to highlight our efforts to constantly raise the level of quality of and regard for our region."

The Merlot Focus: Overall Results

Rank/Vineyard/Wine/Price/Score

1, Wölffer Estate Vineyard, 2007 Christian's Cuvée Merlot (The Hamptons), $100, 86.86
2, Swanson, 2007 Merlot (Oakville/Napa Valley), $29, 86.46
3, Duckhorn Vineyards, 2007 Merlot (Napa Valley), $55, 86.39
4, Chateau La Confession, 2007 (St. Emilion), $42, 86.04
5, Freemark Abbey, 2007 Merlot (Napa Valley), $28, 85.75
6, McCall Wines, 2007 Ben's Blend (North Fork of Long Island), $45, 85.43
7, Chateau La Fleur Cardinale, 2007 (St. Emilion), $45, 84.96
8, Chateau Ste. Michelle, 2007 Canoe Ridge Estate Merlot (Columbia River), $25, 84.32
9-10 (tie), Clovis Point, 2007 Vintner's Select Merlot (North Fork of Long Island), $35, 84.11
9-10 (tie), Long Island Merlot Alliance, 2007 Merliance (Long Island), $35, 84.11
11, Sherwood House Vineyards, 2007 Merlot (North Fork of Long Island), $25, 83.46
12, Raphael, 2007 First Label Merlot (North Fork of Long Island), $42, 83.21
13, Castello di Borghese, 2007 Merlot Reserve (North Fork of Long Island), $29, 83.18
14, Pomerol: Chateau La Croix, Saint-Georges 2007 (Pomerol), $58

About The Long Island Merlot Alliance
Founded in 2005, the Long Island Merlot Alliance (LIMA) joins premium wine estates committed to advancing the quality of and regard for Long Island merlot. Because it grows reliably well here, enriches most blended red wines of the region and consistently produces an elegant, classically styled single-varietal wine, the Alliance seeks recognition for merlot as the signature grape of the region, and for Long Island as the New World's leading appellation for merlot. LIMA members believe that, in the tradition of other great wine regions, emphasizing excellence in merlot does not diminish regard for other wines, but will help to elevate Long Island as a quality wine region.

For more information go to www.longislandmerlot.com.