Long Island Merlot Alliance Releases Its 2006 Merliance

CUTCHOGUE, NY - May 4, 2009 - The Long Island Merlot Alliance (LIMA) is proud to announce the release its 2006 Merliance. This is the third release of the popular blend that helps raise money for local wine research.

Merliance is a specially crafted blend of 100% merlot from each LIMA member, whose merlot grapes hail from The Hamptons and The North Fork of Long Island American Viticultural Areas (AVAs). Each winery contributes two barrels of merlot, each of a different style, from some of its best lots of the vintage. LIMA winemakers conduct a blind tasting of many different samples, choosing the wines and adjusting proportions to create a merlot that best represents the East End of Long Island’s unique terroir. Merliance is barrel-aged for one year before bottling and released each spring. Only 250 cases of the 2006 vintage were produced.

The 2006 Merliance is dark red in color with a vibrant aroma of crushed ripe blueberries, raspberry jam, hints of clove, vanilla, dried thyme and mint, with a fine smokiness. On the palate, it is medium-bodied with an elegant mouth-feel and flavors of black cherry, raspberry and herbs. The tannins are soft and the delicate, toasted oak is well-integrated. Merliance is classic in style and exhibits the food-friendliness of this variety on Long Island. It can be enjoyed now and shows great aging potential for up to 10 years.

Merliance sells for $35, with a substantial portion of the proceeds going to local research and development for the production of quality Long Island merlot. Merliance may be purchased at the tasting rooms and on the websites of LIMA member wineries.