Win(e)ding Roads: Continuing Adventures on the Connecticut Wine Trail

Marguerite Barrett

Contributing Writer

After finishing with the Whites, the tasting moved on to the Reds.  On the menu were three Reds, including Jerram’s first wine, the Marechal Foch, and one of their newest wines, the Nor’Easter.  But first up:

Highland Reserve  A medium-bodied red, this wine is a blend of Cabernet Franc and Marechal Foch grapes.  The nose is rich with notes of both fruit and earthiness.  The wine is mellow, with a really nice finish.  The two grapes blend nicely together, with the Cab Franc smoothing out some of the tartness that one often finds with Marechal Foch.  A very interesting wine.

Marechal Foch Made from 100% Marechal Foch grapes, this wine was both a surprise and a delight.  Jerram’s first wine, produced since 1982, the Marechal Foch wine is a deep plum color, with a dry, earthy nose.  Slightly tart on the tongue, it has an interesting depth, and a surprisingly smooth finish.  My previous, albeit limited, experience with Marechal Foch wines led me to expect a much tarter wine with a “bite” to the finish.  This is a subtler wine, and the slight tartness that is the hallmark of the grape added an interesting complexity to the wine. This was one of my overall favorites.

Nor’Easter A blend, primarily Chambourcin, this is a semi-sweet red.  A relatively new wine, it was first introduced in December 2004.  The color is a rich dark red, and the nose has a rich fruitiness.  The sweetness adds a light touch without being overpowering; mellow and silky, there’s a slightly fruity finish (the tasting notes indicate Raspberry).  It’s a very nice wine that would pair well with a wide variety of food.

After the Nor’Easter, Jim pulled out a tasting of their dessert wine:

Vespers This is a very sweet dessert wine “made in the style of a late-harvest wine” according to the tasting notes.  Smooth, with a rich fruity nose, Vespers is made from Vignole grapes, which contribute both the sweetness and a touch of acidity which help balance the wine.  While not as rich as an ice wine, this would pair very nicely with cheeses, fruit, or sweet desserts.  I think it would be particularly good paired with an apple pie or a rich cheesecake.

Overall, I was so impressed with Jerram’s wines, that I went home with a bottle of everything I tasted that day – a rare occurrence for me.  But it was hard to choose between them.  Unfortunately, Jerram doesn’t ship wine, so I wasn’t able to share the experience with Gretchen and Kevin.  But for those of you local to Connecticut or Southern New England, the wines can be found in about 2 dozen package stores across Connecticut.  And if you do get a chance to stop by the winery itself, you won’t be disappointed.