Posts Written OnMarch 31, 2011

Black Willow Joins the Niagara Wine Trail

By Bryan Calandrelli, Niagara Region Editor I recently made my first visit to the region's newest winery, Black Willow Winery, in Burt. The tasting room for is housed in a newly renovated barn that sits right on Lake Road (Rt. 18) less than a mile from the southern shore of Lake Ontario. There isn't an adjacent vineyard yet, but with all the orchards surrounding the property, it has the quaint rural feel that you associate with wine country. Once inside, I was immediately impressed with the crisp and delicate nature of the whites. With grapes sourced from Cayuga Lake, the…

Sherwood House Vineyards 2005 Merlot

By Lenn Thompson, Executive Editor Sherwood House Vineyards 2005 Merlot ($25) shows classic Long Island merlot aromas of black raspberry and black cherry, hints of tobacco leaf and dried thyme, toasty oak and and earthy undercurrent. Made by Gilles Martin, this medium-to-full bodied merlot offers both fresh and dried cherry flavors with underlying tobacco and dried herb character. There is a dose of toasty oak here too. It's almost too much, but ultimately doesn't cross the line, spicing the wine rather than overwhelming it. The tannins are of medium intensity and are well integrated. Acidity brings a certain freshness. Earthy…