Once past the traffic our adventure began @ The Baiting Hollow Farm Vineyard in Baiting Hollow. We've sampled the wine at various events prior to making the trip, but this was our first actual visit to the vineyard and tasting house. The house is just that. A beautifully refurbished 19th century farm house converted into a tasting room that is charming but certainly more comfortable for smaller groups than large crowds. The modest patio and lawn with picnic tables behind the house is the better choice to stretch your legs and enjoy your wine. Simple cheese platters are offered for sale as well.
But let's get to the good stuff...the wine. Being our first stop we started off slow with a long day ahead of us. I volunteered to sample a few reds and the Mrs. a combo of the remaining reds and white.
Merlot - The 2004 Merlot smells of black cherry and plum with a hint of smokiness that I really appreciated. (There are certain times where it just sneaks up on you). The palate is rich with oak and mild tannins provide a nice even finish.
If I had an extra bottle I would love to hold on this and let it age a while longer before giving it another try.
2.5 of 5.
Cabernet Sauvignon 2007- At first glance I noticed the standard deep red color. The taste is dark fruit flavors of black cherry and black currant with dark chocolate. The oak aging contributes to the smokiness and coffee bean flavor of the wine. This wine has good structure and again, I'd like to allow it to sit and age before giving it another try.
2.5 of 5.
Cabernet Franc - The 2007 Cabernet Franc at first nose also exhibits fruity black cherry aroma like the Merlot followed by with subtle hint of blackberry. The palate is earthy and the tannins mild with a lingering finish. While not overwhelming, I felt it to be less well rounded than I had hoped & lacked a real identity.
To be fair, I usually tend to enjoy Cab Franc over other wines and there was no exception to that trend today. But overall it didn't hold up to some of my favorites.
2.75 of 5.
Cabernet Franc Rose 2008 - A dryer style Rosé. This wine offers while full of fruit flavors has a definite bite to it. An almost overwhelming grapefruit and citrus blended palate followed by touch of strawberry gave it the impression of a sour candy. I don't mean that to be disparaging, but rather that this wine tended to linger far longer than any of the others I tried today.
Personally not my favorite of the day, but I did appreciate the way it snuck up on my palate. I tend to enjoy strong flavors whether they work or not.
2 of 5.
Mirage 2007 - One of the "horse rescue wines" the vineyard produces, this is a blend of Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Dry on the palate with a smooth finish, this is a strong offering for a blend where a portion of the profits go to the BHFV horse rescue organization.
2.5 of 5.
White Satin 2010 - A peach and herbal nose lead to a palate consisting of green fruits like apple and pear with a twist of citrus that posses an abrupt, refreshing finish.
In my humble opinion there is a place for most every wine. This a cool white that works beautifully for a summer day and/or backyard cookout
2.25 of 5.
Overall, we enjoyed BHFV about the same as many others on the North Fork. The staff was friendly and the wine perfectly drinkable, but average in comparison to some of the other east end vineyards.
As previously mentioned, a notable aspect to be commended is the BHFV's support to "save the horses". The family has rescued many of the animals from livestock auctions who now instead call the stable on the property their new home. In addition, portions of the sale of various wines are donated to BHFV horse rescue efforts. I respect their commitment to these animals and urge anyone who visits to show their support as well.
Happy Tasting!
-E.S.
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