Merlot

PAUMANOK 2014 Merlot

Merlot

Country USA
Region Long Island
Producer Paumanok
Size

750mL

Style Red
Practices Sustainable
Grapes Merlot
Other Features Vegan, Screw Cap, Unfined

100% Merlot. The grapes were harvested mid-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 15 months in neutral French oak barrels the Merlot was bottled. It was sealed with a screw cap to preserve freshness and cleanliness. 12.5% alcohol. Less than 500 cases produced.
Attractive aromas of black cherry, plum, prune, rich earth, spice, and floral notes. Medium to full-bodied with soft but firm tannins.

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About the Producer

Paumanok is a Native American name for Long Island, and is used by the great poet Walt Whitman to describe this special place in his 1860 poem "Starting from Paumanok”. Located in Aquebogue, the 127 acre estate was founded in the spring of 1983 by Ursula and Charles Massoud. Born and raised in the "Old World" - Charles in Lebanon and Ursula in the Pfalz, Germany - wine had always been a part of their lives. They dreamed of becoming vintners themselves. After reading about pioneers Alex and Louisa Hargrave, they visited them, fell in love with the North Fork, and luck stroke a few years later when they found their property. Today, the estate is run by their son Kareem (winemaker), who after a brief career as a private equity analyst returned to his family's estate winery. Kareem's brothers are also on board: Nabeel is the vineyard manager, and Salim oversees administrative functions.

The 32 hectares of vineyards are exclusively planted with premium vinifera varieties: Chardonnay, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc, Albariño, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Malbec, with the recent addition of Pinot Noir for sparkling wines. In May 2020, 0.4ha were planted with Melon de Bourgogne, to complete the Loire varieties successfully growing on the property. The traditional dense planting of the vineyards at 1100 to 1400 vines per acre produces more concentrated fruit and therefore higher quality wines. All wines are made with estate fruit and the production is limited to fewer than 12,000 cases. The winery is a renovated turn-of-the-century barn that houses a fermentation tank room and lab. The spacious tasting room was built on top of the barrel cellar and an inviting deck overlooks the vineyards.

The terroir in general is defined by the prevailing maritime climate and sandy, loamy soils. In the winter, the bodies of waters surrounding Paumanok act as giant heat sinks insulating the vineyards from the extreme lows measured further inland. In the summer, they act as coolers moderating the heat experienced in the city and inland. At harvest, Paumanok often experiences an "Indian Summer" elongated by the maritime climate. The topography on the North Fork is primarily flat, and very similar to Bordeaux. Success as a wine-growing region is due to particularly good drainage, which is the case at Paumanok Vineyards: the top soils are sandy loam with sandy, gravelly subsoils. Even after heavy rains, there is no standing water. The third aspect of terroir is the human component. On Long Island, most winegrowers have concluded that viticultural practices such as maintaining an open canopy and leaf removal to expose the fruit are critical to achieving their goal of growing the healthiest, ripest fruit obtainable.

Farming/sustainability practices: Paumanok is certified sustainable by Long Island Sustainable Winegrowing (LISW). LISW is the first organization of its kind on the east coast and is modeled off of similar organizations on the west coast such as Oregon LIVE and Lodi Rules. Since 2017, the winery is 100% solar powered - while they are still connected to the grid, their annual consumption is 100% off-set  by the solar electricity generated by their 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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