Whitecliff Vineyard NV Red Trail
People think that I hate hybrids — but that just isn’t true. There are hybrid grapes that I think are pretty awful generally — I’m looking at you seyval blanc and traminette. But at the end of the day, if a wine tastes good, I don’t care what grape it’s made from.
This wine tastes good, even if it’s a four-grape blend that includes three hybrids that I haven’t enjoyed much in the past.
Whitecliff Vineyard NV Red Trail ($14) is a blend of dechaunac, frontenac, noiret and merlot — and the result is a spicy, easy-drinking red.
Fresh strawberry and red cherry fruit aromas are sprinkled with black pepper and cinnamon. On days two and three, an earthy, almost-loamy note emerged as well.
Though somewhat one-dimensional and lacking a bit of structure, the light-bodied palate is juicy with red berries and a subtle earthy edge. It’s the type of carafe-style red you can chill a bit if you want and drink with a wide array of foods.
Producer: Whitecliff Vineyard
AVA: Hudson River Region
Price: $14*
(2.5 out of 5, Average-to-Very Good)
Thanks for the review, Lenn! Keep Whitecliff’s Awosting White and Traminette in mind if you ever want to revisit your thoughts about Seyval Blanc and Traminette. If you give them the serious care in the vineyard that is required to make a good wine (and that may more often be lavished on vinifera) they do perform. In fact our Awosting was the first hybrid-based wine to be featured at New York City’s Gramercy Tavern.