Posts Written OnApril 14, 2010

Channing Daughters Winery 2008 Due Uve

By Lenn Thompson, Editor-in-Chief Sometimes wine geeks — myself included — overthink wine. It's all too easy get caught up things like varietal typicity, age-worthiness and a wine's ability to taste fresh several days after being uncorked. Fact is, unique blends are just that — unique, not wrong or odd. A wine doesn't always have to evolve and improve in our cellars for 20+ years in order to be good. Not every wine has to be mind-blowing or awe-inspiring. Sometimes, wine need only be satisfying and delicious. Take Channing Daughters Winery 2008 Due Uve ($20) for example. It's 68% merlot…

What’s Gewurz That Could Happen? In the Finger Lakes, a Complement to Riesling

By Evan Dawson, Finger Lakes Editor Photo courtesy of Keuka Spring Vineyards In a previous life, Sheldrake Point Vineyard general manager Bob Madill was undoubtedly a drill sergeant. "Give me 20. Down. Now." In this incarnation, he drills a regional philosophy into the minds of his colleagues and customers. "Aromatic. White. Wines." It carries the rhythmic punch of machine gun fire.  The challenge, of course, is that while grapes like gewurztraminer and gruner veltliner might perform at a world-class level in the Finger Lakes, most customers remain far more familiar with the ubiquitous merlot and cabernet sauvignon. Wine producers will…