Browsing CategoryFinger Lakes

Heron Hill Winery 2008 Ingle Vineyard Cabernet Franc

By Lenn Thompson, Executive Editor The image of Finger Lakes red wines as typically underwhelming — especially compared to the regions often outstanding white wines — has begun to evolve in recent years — mostly thanks to two warm vintages (2005 and 2007) and a handful of producers really pushing the quality envelope. The region is getting its due for its red wines too now — at least here and there. Here's a wine from the more "normal" 2008 vintage that further proves how silly it is to generalize when it comes to wine. Heron Hill Winery 2008 Cabernet Franc…

Heron Hill Moves to Screwcaps for Most Wines

In a matter of weeks, Heron Hill Winery customers will find many of the winery’s wines closed under screwcap. The winery recently completed the installation of a screwcap bottling line (pictured above) that owner John Ingle described as “not an insignificant investment.” Ingle described the plan for Heron Hill wines in simple terms: The wines that need to be preserved for as long as possible — with no change or evolution that comes from gradual oxidation — will be bottled under screwcap. The wines that Heron Hill considers to be capable of evolving into something greater will be bottled under…

A Different Perspective on “Wine on Tap”: It’s Working. And is Growing.

By Mark Grimaldi, Director, Marketing and Events The subject of wine on tap (WOT) has always been one for debate, especially here on the New York Cork Report. Having been involved with kegged wines since they first started to become commercial a few years ago, I am now even more a proponent, seeing just how successful it is becoming. Some still see it as a downfall for our industry,

Adventures in Home Winemaking: Finger Lakes Oak

By Julia Burke, Beer Editor Yesterday I bottled a Niagara Escarpment 2010 cabernet sauvignon made with New York oak — specifically, oak from the Cayuga Lake area of the Finger Lakes. I’m psyched about the incorporation of one more local ingredient into my wine, and since my source is supplying Finger Lakes oak to both commercial wineries and home winemakers with great success, I thought I’d report on my own experience. Shortly after the 2010 harvest I made a trip to Sheldrake Point Vineyards, where I had a wonderful tasting and conversation with winemaker Dave Breeden. When I asked about…

The New York Cork Report Tasting Table — August 5, 2011

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. Bouke Wines 2010 Rose ($16): Made with cabernet sauvignon and merlot.Aromas of pomegranate, cranberry and strawberry. The strawberry is more pronounced on the round, medium-bodied palate. Mostly red fruit flavors but a hint of leafy earthiness and cinnamon candy too. Good acidity balances ripe fruitiness well. Channing Daughters Winery 2010 Mudd Vineyard West Sauvignon Blanc ($20): 5% chardonnay blended in. Expressive nose delivers lime, grapefruit, honeydew melon aromas and light hints of…

On Cayuga Lake, a Copper Glow (and the Pizza Within) Attract New Customers

By Evan Dawson, Finger Lakes Editor The small French commune of Tain-l’Hermitage is known for its pitched vineyards that yield some of the world’s finest syrah. It is not nearly so well known as the birthplace of copper ovens. “France’s soil is good for more than just winegrowing,” explain Seth and Mary Jane Kircher, the husband-and-wife owners of The Copper Oven, a specialty pizza joint connected to Cayuga Ridge winery. “Our oven was born in Tain-l’Hermitage and we worked with a family in Maine who helped us with its final construction.” The oven is a marvel to behold, and that’s…

Hermann J. Wiemer 2009 Magdalena Vineyard Riesling

By Lenn Thompson, Executive Editor As much affection as I feel for the wines of New York State, there are only a handful of wineries with “any wine” status — status that means I will happily drink any wine from their portfolio. Hermann J. Wiemer is a winery with such status in my life. From their $12 Frost Cuvee — a clean, fresh blend of riesling, gewurztraminer, pinot noir, chardonnay and sauvignon blanc — to their $95 TBA-style riesling, the portfolio is a winner. Several of these wines will be reviewed on the NYCR over the next few weeks, starting…

Influence Wines 2010 Riesling

By Lenn Thompson, Executive Editor You may not know who Erik Bilka is, but chances are he’s helped make at least some of your favorite Long Island wines. Bilka, who launched Influence Wines in 2009, has been working at Premium Wine Group — a custom crush facility responsible for several Long Island labels — since 2001. In fact, he was employee #3 when he joined founder Russell Hearn and John Leo. Prior to joining PWG, he worked the 2000 harvest with Alice Wise as a Cornell Cooperative Extension vineyard assistant. Working at PWG, Bilka has worked with many consulting winemakers…

Op-Ed: “Expectations for New York Wine Are Higher Than Ever – Are We Ready?” Jim Silver, GM, Peconic Bay Winery

  In a 2004 speech on his educational programs, President Bush decried the “soft bigotry of low expectations” by the opposition party. The worthy phrase resonated with many. I wondered about such expectations in regard to New York wines, and how our wine industry would react if a mirror were held up to its wines and the reflection said “it’s great…for what it is…” That stinging phrase, “for what it is…” is the comment that sinks and supplants the “world class” argument every time, and I’ve tried to count how often I’ve heard it over the years. As if further…