Tastingtable

By Lenn Thompson, Executive Editor

These are tasting notes for some wines that have been tasted at the NYCR tasting table but won't be reviewed in standalone posts. As always, these notes come almost directly from my notebook.

1-half Bashakill Vineyards 2010 Wood Duck Chardonnay ($15): Fruit from Seneca Lake. Nose is almost all raw oak with just a bit of apple and lemon behind. Great acidity and mouthfeel on the palate, but also a lot of oak covering up most of the apple, pear and citrus fruit.

4

Hermann J. Wiemer 2009 Dry Riesling ($18): Big slate aromas with juice pear and hints of lime zest. The palate shows more lime along with some pear and green apple. Slate is less obvious. Crackles with acidity and shows a long time-meets-river rock finish.

3-half Hermann J. Wiemer 2009 Late Harvest Riesling ($23): Aromas of starfruit and green apple — with just a bit of flinty slate. RS is obvious on the palate but is balanced well. Forward sweet lime flavors along with starfruit, fennel frond and slate. Not quite as focused as I'd like, but still very good.

3-half

Lenz Winery 2005 Merlot-Malbec ($35): Malbec character is obvious on the nose. Beautiful aromas of blueberry compote, vilolets and anise with subtle notes of clove and cured meat. Sweet spice, blackberry and cherry greet the palate. The tannins are on the lighter side, but there is nice acidity here. Nutty oak quality with more of that gamey meatiness and hints of pepper.

2-half Lenz Winery 2008 Blanc de Noir ($15): A still, 100% pinot noir rose. Vague red berry aromas with a leesy, yeasty note. Straightforward cherry-strawberry flavors. Somewhat like a flat rose sparkler. Some freshness but nothing special. 

3 Red Newt Cellars 2009 Lahoma Vineyards Riesling ($20): Somewhat lean nose of lime, flint and yellow apple. Off dry but shows a nice acidic edge that slices through intense apple flavors and more subtle notes of lime and pear. Long, apple-y finish, but a bit less complex than other single vineyard wines.

4

Red Newt Cellars 2009 Sawmill Creek Riesling ($20): Big nose with pretty jasmine-white teas overtones with lime, lime blossom and green apple aromas. The palate starts with tart granny smith apple before evolving into lime and flowers. Great acidity that helps it finish linear and long, with hints of quince. Terrific balance and a real value.

2 Red Newt Cellars 2009 Semi-Dry Riesling ($14): Very light on aromas, with only subtle apple skin and lime zest notes. Good acid and balance but flavors reminiscent of candied fruit cocktail. Weird bitter note towards the finish.

3 Red Tail Ridge Winery 2009 Semi-Dry Riesling ($16): Lighter nose of green and yellow apple and peach. Good balance and in a crowd-pleasing style. Simple but tasty flavors of ripe apple and peach. Acid is just fresh enough. Drink now or soon.

3 Red Tail Ridge Winery 2010 Dry Rose ($17): Sweet red cherries and strawberries dominate the nose with light strawberry husk and cranberry aromas. Clean, bright red berry flavors with subtle weight and silky softness. Fresh, well-incorporated acidity brings focus to the ripeness of the vintage. One of the better roses I've tasted from 2010.

1 Ventosa Vineyards 2009 Rosato ($16): Made with sangiovese. Nose brings dried autumn leaf and blood orange. Palate shows good acidity, but not much flavor or elegance. Clunky and disjointed.

 

Tastingtable

By Lenn Thompson, Executive Editor

These are tasting notes for some wines that have been tasted at the NYCR tasting table but won't be reviewed in standalone posts.