Women & Wine ® Member Experiences

I was told about Michael by a Twitter follower who was outraged that I’d eaten at my hotel’s mediocre restaurant while I could have been dining at this great dining establishment in the vicinity of my Chicago North Shore office.  I was touched that a local foodie would go out of his way to recommend [...]

I was told about Michael by a Twitter follower who was outraged that I’d eaten at my hotel’s mediocre restaurant while I could have been dining at this great dining establishment in the vicinity of my Chicago North Shore office.  I was touched that a local foodie would go out of his way to recommend [...]

Search and you never know what you will find.  Recently while searching in my wine cellar for a nice red to have I came across and oldie - well not that old, but old enough - 7 years a 2003 Whitecliff Vineyards & Winery Sky Island Red. I didn't even realize I had a local wine that old in the house.  Quite honestly I was wondering how well it was holding up.

I contacted Michael Migliore the winemaker to tell him of my find and ask what was in the blend.  I know this particular wine of theirs is their Bordeaux blend.  This wine is blended with 78% Cabernet Sauvignon from Ackerman Vineyards in Long Island, 6% Whitecliff Vineyard Hudson Valley Merlot and 6% Whitcliff Vineyards Hudson Valley Cabernet Franc.

With no expectations I opened the bottle.  I was shocked to find aromas of bright bing cherry, vanilla and wet tobacco once I got past the earthiness.  On the taste was dark fruit and black cherry with a hint of plum. It had a quick cherry finish.

I was quite surprised at how nicely this wine did  age.

Search and you never know what you will find.  Recently while searching in my wine cellar for a nice red to have I came across and oldie - well not that old, but old enough - 7 years a 2003 Whitecliff Vineyards & Winery Sky Island Red. I didn't even realize I had a local wine that old in the house.  Quite honestly I was wondering how well it was holding up.

I contacted Michael Migliore the winemaker to tell him of my find and ask what was in the blend.  I know this particular wine of theirs is their Bordeaux blend.  This wine is blended with 78% Cabernet Sauvignon from Ackerman Vineyards in Long Island, 6% Whitecliff Vineyard Hudson Valley Merlot and 6% Whitcliff Vineyards Hudson Valley Cabernet Franc.

With no expectations I opened the bottle.  I was shocked to find aromas of bright bing cherry, vanilla and wet tobacco once I got past the earthiness.  On the taste was dark fruit and black cherry with a hint of plum. It had a quick cherry finish.

I was quite surprised at how nicely this wine did  age.

Round two of the San Diego Wine Mafia’s ( #SDWM on Twitter) tasting events definitely stepped it up a notch.  It was lovingly dubbed the “Syrah Smackdown” and though I’m not sure who was more smacked down (me or the wines), it certainly was fun and another learning experience for me, the novice of the [...]

Round two of the San Diego Wine Mafia’s ( #SDWM on Twitter) tasting events definitely stepped it up a notch.  It was lovingly dubbed the “Syrah Smackdown” and though I’m not sure who was more smacked down (me or the wines), it certainly was fun and another learning experience for me, the novice of the [...]