Assemblage

PAUMANOK Assemblage

Assemblage

Country USA
Region Long Island
Producer Paumanok
Size

750mL

Style Red
Practices Sustainable
Grapes Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot
Other Features Vegan, Screw Cap, Unfined

50% Merlot, 37% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petit Verdot. The grapes were harvested mid to late October. They were sent through the crusher-destemmer with the rollers set wide apart to retain a larger number of whole berries. Next, the grapes were sorted to remove MOG (matter other than grape) and any unripe or undesirable fruit. The must was inoculated immediately with yeast and within 24 hours with malolactic bacteria. This practice – called co-inoculation – resulted in the completion of malolactic fermentation prior to the completion of alcoholic fermentation. This has the major advantage of allowing the winemaker to rapidly protect the wine with sulfites upon completion of alcoholic fermentation (as opposed to waiting weeks or months after alcoholic fermentation for malolactic fermentation to complete). Délestage (complete drainage of free run and returning the same volume of juice/wine by irrigating over the cap, also known as “rack and return”) was done to achieve thorough, gentle extraction while minimizing the extraction of harsher tannins by the elimination of seeds as the cap settles during délestage. This method ensures that only the softest tannins are extracted. After the fermentation was complete, the free run was drained into oak barrels. The must was pressed and, after clarification, was also moved to oak barrels. After 16 months in French oak barrels (20% new, the remainder neutral), the Assemblage was bottled. 90% of the 750 ml bottles were sealed with a screw cap and the remainder were sealed with natural cork. 19 cases of magnums and 5 cases of double magnums were also filled. 13.5% alcohol. 489 cases produced.
Dense and round, with intense aromas of cassis, black berry, black cherry and spice. Medium to full-bodied, a firm tannin structure and a long finish.

Vintage notes: “2014 was an exceptional growing season. The start to the growing season was slow, due to cooler than normal conditions in April and May. Cooler weather proved to be the theme for the summer of 2014. However, what 2014 lacked in heat was made up for with sheer sunshine. A remarkable summer that will be remembered for cool breezes both day and night, blue skies, lots of sun, and very little rain. This sort of whether is ideal for a successful flowering period which determines the size of the crop. Indeed, 2014 yielded the most prolific harvest we can remember.”

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About the Producer

Founded in 1983 by the Massoud family, Paumanok Vineyards is the 2nd oldest winery on Long Island – and the oldest winery on Long Island still owned and run by its founder’s family. Established by Charles Massoud, a native of Lebanon, and his wife Ursula, a native of the Pfalz, Germany – and member of a winemaking/grape growing family – the estate is now run by their sons. Their eldest son, Kareem, is the winemaker; their son Nabeel is the viticulturalist, and their son Salim runs their administrative functions. The estate takes its name from an Algonquian name for Long Island, which was famously referenced by Walt Whitman in his poem “Starting from Paumanok”, published in Leaves of Grass.

Their 127-acre estate property is planted with 32 ha of Chardonnay, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Malbec, Pinot Noir, and Melon de Bourgogne – densely plated at 1,100-1,400 vines per acre to produce more concentrated fruit and higher quality wines. Their wines are only made with estate fruit and production is limited to under 12,000 cases.

Their terroir is defined by the North Fork’s maritime climate and sandy, loamy topsoil and gravelly subsoil with excellent drainage, similar to Premiers Cru Bordeaux sites. In winter, Long Island Sound and Peconic Bay, which surround the estate, act as giant heat sinks and insulate the vineyards from extreme low temperatures. In summer, they moderate the heat experienced in the city and inland. At harvest, Paumanok often experiences a long Indian summer due to the maritime climate. Sustainable farming and careful canopy management allow the terroir to express itself in their delicately crafted wines. Kareem’s winemaking approach is meticulous and low-intervention, with minimal use of sulfur dioxide.

Paumanok is certified sustainable by Long Island Sustainable Winegrowing (LISW). LISW is the first organization of its kind on the East Coast – modeled after similar organizations on the West Coast, like Oregon LIVE and Lodi Rules. Since 2017, the winery is 100% solar powered by their own solar panels.

Paumanok
New York Wines, Wineries, Wine Making History of New York - Charles Massoud
Click here for Kareem Massoud's interview, "Vineyard Chat" with Jeff Harding

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