By Lenn Thompson, Editor-in-Chief

Gramercy_08roseDon't feel bad if you've never heard of Gramercy Vineyards. I hadn't either until I was walking through the barrel cellar at Wolffer Estate and saw "GRAMERCY" on a few barrels. Of course, I figured that Roman Roth, winemaker at Wolffer, was making a private label for Gramercy Tavern or something.

Turns out that Gramercy Vineyards is a little 3 1/2-acre merlot vineyard on the North Fork, planted in 2003 by Carol Sullivan and Erich Moenius.

They haven't released any of their wines yet, save this Gramercy Vineyards 2008 Rose ($18). Roth is the winemaker, of course.

Fruity but not overly so, the nose brings red raspberry and red cherry aromas with a subtle earthiness lurking in the background.

The same red berry fruitiness greets the palate with some more of that background earthiness. There is a nice creaminess to the mid-palate but a bit more acidity would be nice. The finish shows nice Long Island merlot notes of earth and herbs.

Producer: Gramercy Vineyards
ABV:
12.5%

RS: 0%

Case Production: 69
Price:
$18*
Rating: 84

(Ratings Guide)