Posts Tagged“blaufrankisch”

Heron Hill Winery 2008 Blaufrankisch

By Lenn Thompson, Executive Editor Though on the oakier — and pricier — end of the Finger Lakes Blaufrankisch spectrum, the Heron Hill Winery 2008 Blaufrankisch ($35) is worthy of a taste when you visit their tasting room with stunning views of Keuka Lake. Not content making a juicy, fruity, peppery wine, the folks at Heron Hill always push the envelope with this grape. At first, the nose seems like it will be dominated by chocolate and smoky oak, but those aromas don't completely obscure those of red cherry, cranberry, black pepper, clove, tarragon and mint. Hefty on the palate,…

Heron Hill Winery 2007 Blaufrankisch Reserve

By Lenn Thompson, Editor-in-Chief I think that I'm like most wine geeks in that I like wines that make me think. I don't mean all the time. Not every wine. Sometimes we just want wines that we can drink, have with our meal, and enjoy throughout the course of an evening. But on other occasions, I want a wine to stop me in my tracks and demand further consideration and pondering. Even rumination. This Heron Hill Winery 2007 Blaufrankisch ($35) is a wine that had me thinking. And wondering. We'll get to that in a minute though. First, a little…

What’s In a Name? If It’s Blaufrankisch, More Than You Think

By Evan Dawson, Finger Lakes Correspondent When you meet Heron Hill's winemaker, do not make the mistake of calling him "Tom." That is not his name, and he'll correct you. Before I spoke recently with Thomas Laszlo, I was warned by a writer friend not to call him by the wrong name. "He's pretty serious about it," I was warned. To Thomas' credit, he acknowledges being a little edgy about his name. "My mother was very particular with names. She always pushed for Thomas, so it's Thomas!" he says with a subtle laugh. He's just as particular with names as…

Channing Daughters Winery 2005 Mudd

Channing Daughters Winery's winemaker, Chris Tracy, is a magician with white wines. For the most part though, I find his reds a notch or (and sometimes two) below the level of those beautiful whites. He's no less creative with the reds though. Take this Channing Daughters Winery 2005 MUDD ($40) a blend of 48% merlot (from Sam McCullough’s Vineyard in Aquebogue), 36% cabernet sauvignon (from Mudd Vineyard in Southold) and 16% Blaufrankisch (from CDW's estate in Bridgehampton). I don't know many winemakers who would take a Bordeaux-styled blend of merlot and cabernet and throw 16% Blau, which is most commonly…

WTN: Channing Daughters Winery 2006 Blaufrankisch (The Hamptons)

Channing Daughters Winery, and its winemaker Chris Tracy, are known for doing things a little differently. Instead of talking Bordeaux, they talk about Northern Italy. Instead of focusing on merlot, white wines are the focus. And instead of growing (and making) mostly French varieties, they grow whatever grows best in their vineyards. Sometimes the novelty of their wines is just a gateway. It gets people interested in their wines and then the wines deliver above and beyond their novelty. But sometimes the wines don’t over-deliver. Sometimes they are just nice novelties. Nothing more. Nothing less. I’ve long been a fan…