Lenndevours Talks Hudson Valley Baco Noir

Len Thompson of Lenndevours wrote a triple review of Baco Noirs from the Hudson River Region. It's a very worthwhile post, and talks about what is fast becoming a signature grape of the Hudson Valley.

The article drew instant comments, which are still ongoing. Here's the beginning of the article, then you'll have to go to his sight to read the rest.

From LENNDEVOURS:

November 11, 2008
Three Hudson Valley Baco Noirs
Last night, as a part of my Week of 3s project, I tasted three different Baco noir wines from three different Hudson Valley wineries.

These were actually the first Baco noirs I had ever tasted and after the tasting I'm still not sure that I quite know what to expect from the hybrid variety. They were all quite different.

So what is Baco noir exactly? It's a cross of Folle Blanche (a French vinifera wine grape) and an unknown American grape from the Vitis riparia family. It first created by French wine hybridizer Maurice Baco, so that's where the name comes from.



According to Wikipedia:

At one time Baco noir was commonly grown in France, but by European Union regulation, the commercial use of hybrid grape varieties is restricted. In 1951 the variety was brought to the cooler viticulture regions of the United States, such as New York, Michigan, Mississippi, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and Oregon. In New York, there are an estimated 240 hectares of Baco noir currently grown.

As I sat down to taste these wines from Hudson-Chatham Winery, Warwick Valley Winery and Benmarl Winery, I had no idea what to expect. Most red hybrids don't hit my palate quite right, but I'm always opened minded.

READ THE REVIEWS OF ALL THE WINES AT:
http://lennthompson.typepad.com/lenndevours/2008/11/three-hudson-valley-baco-noirs.html


The Hudson Valley Wine Goddess also joined in on the comment section, which is also worth reading.