These wines were received as tasting samples.
In this post we continue our exploration of the wines of North Fork Long Island AVA with a tasting of three wines from Bridge Lane. In an earlier post we started our exploration with a tasting of three wines from Lieb Cellars, who also make the Bridge Lane wines.
Bridge Lane is described by Lieb Cellars as their second label. Wines from the Bridge Lane range are sourced from the Lieb Cellars’ estate vineyards, but carry the New York State AVA designation. This designation positions the brand for growth by allowing the team to source additional grapes from other New York AVAs as demand for the label grows.
The first thing I noticed on the Bridge Lane labels is the illustration of a bottle, a box and a keg. Yep, Bridge Lane puts it right out front. Their wine is available in 750 ml bottles, 3L boxes and 20L kegs. I admit, it made me pause. It’s been years since I have considered wine in a box. As you might guess I like to pull that cork at least as much as the next wine drinker, but I’ve also learned not to pre-judge wine closed with a screw cap and packaging in other than a 750 ml bottle is on the rise. Box wines stay fresh longer after being opened, the packaging cost less and is lighter-weight which means a lower cost to ship. All of these things are good for wine drinkers, and the environment, but it still comes down to the wine. It must be good. Honestly, I was prepared to be disappointed by these wines. I was not.
2016 Bridge Lane Sauvignon Blanc — pale yellow in the glass with generous melon and tropical fruit aromas. Similar melon and tropical fruit flavors follow with the addition of just a hint of cut grass and a citrusy finish. This wine is bright and flavorful, with a light body and nice acidity. 12% abv. 1100 cases produced. $18.
2016 Bridge Lane Chardonnay — pale yellow in the glass with ripe pear aromas. Pear and melon flavors with a bit of roundness in the mouth and nice acidity make for a pleasing, easy to like white wine. No oak, no problem. 12.5% abv. 1100 cases produced. $16.
2016 Bridge Lane Rosé — pale salmon in the glass with generous white flower, strawberry and tropical fruit aromas. The flavors are a refreshing blend of strawberries and raspberries with a squeeze of citrus with a light body and nice acidity. Very refreshing. 11.9% abv. 3000 cases produced. $18.
The second thing I noticed about the Bridge Lane wine bottle labels is that, like the Lieb Cellars range of wines, the Bridge Lane wines have wrap-around labels that provide consumers with lots of information about the wine. Another consumer-friendly packaging choice.
All three of these wines from Bridge Lane offer good quality for the price. The Bridge Lane Sauvignon Blanc is flavorful and has just a hint of that expected grassy Sauvignon Blanc character to tease you. The Chardonnay is a tasty, straight forward and refreshing white wine without the influence of oak aging. And the rosé, a blend of Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Malbec, Pinot Noir and Petit Verdot is the most delicate of the group, but oh those aromatics. These are perfect wines for a picnic or for summertime sipping. If you can put your hands on these Bridge Lane wines, or those from Lieb Cellars, you might just be the first of your friends to pour wines from North Fork Long Island AVA. How cool would that be?
Thanks to the folks at Lieb Cellars and Bridge Lane for introducing us to the wines of North Fork Long Island AVA.
Cheers!
