Posts Tagged“rose”

Keuka Spring Vineyards 2013 Wiltberger Vineyard Field Blend Dry Rose

Last year, Keuka Spring Vineyards winemaker August Deimel crafted one of the NYCR tasting panel’s top two 2012 roses, so when he sent  the 2013, it didn’t take me long to get it in the tasting queue. Keuka Spring Vineyards 2013 Wiltberger Vineyard Field Blend Dry Rose ($17) is completely different from that stellar 2012.  It’s a field blend — a blend of lemberger, cabernet franc, merlot — and smells of trawberries and cream with hints of peppery spice and spring flowers. The dry, medium-bodied palate is richer than the 2012, with watermelon and red cherry flavors backed by more of that…

Continue Reading

Wolffer Estate Vineyard 2013 Rose

There is little doubt that Wolffer Estate Vineyard‘s rose is the unofficial wine of the Hamptons — or at least the Memorial Day-to-Labor Day Hamptons season. You’ll find it all over — on restaurant lists, at events, by the pool, at the beach and out on boats. It’s seemingly everywhere. And winemaker Roman Roth makes a lot of it — more than 17,000 cases this year, which dwarfs the total production of most Long Island wineries. Wolffer Estate Vineyard 2013 Rose ($17*) is made with 58% merlot, 24% chardonnay, 11% cabernet franc 6% pinot noir and 1% cabernet sauvignon and shows…

Continue Reading

Kelby James Russell 2013 Dry Rosé

  The label certainly tells you who made this wine. Red Newt winemaker Kelby Russell put his name right on the label of Kelby James Russell 2013 Dry Rosé ($16), which was made at Red Newt from 100% cabernet franc grapes. White cherries and red raspberries dominate the nose with a hint of watermelon and notes of black pepper, cabernet franc dusty earthiness and a squirt of lime. Fresh and balanced, the medium-bodied palate is driven by red berry fruits with another sprinkling of pepper and woodsy, savory spice. A bit of red apple peeks through on the medium-short finish,…

Continue Reading

2012 New York Rosé: Some Standouts, But Mostly Mediocrity

When I endeavored to write the New York Cork Report’s first-ever comprehensive vintage/style report, I deemed rosé the target. Rarely profound, mostly affordable and made by a wide array of New York wineries — it just seemed like a good place to start. I’d treat it almost like a practice run for more “serious” categories in the future. But, mid-way into the tasting, I realized that rosé was anything but an easy a place to start. I was joined for this tasting by three members of the local wine community — Andrew Rockwell, Laboratory Director at Premium Wine Group, Regan Meador,…

Continue Reading

What We Drank (July 24, 2013 Edition)

Todd Trzaskos: Alamos 2011 Malbec Yes, it’s a “big brand” wine. Yes, drinking Malbec is trendy. Yes, it’s inexpensive, and not a “special” wine. And Yes, it is good. I’m willing to bet that quite a few folks recognize this wine, and may have enjoyed it themselves on occasion. It was one of those evenings where we needed something tasty but not challenging, would be pleasant with leftovers, and would help pull down the average on the weekly wine budget. It met these needs admirably, with a quality that is above average. Ripe, lush, plum fruit, good freshness, and not…

Continue Reading

Announcing NYCR Tasting Reports: Starting with 2012 Rosé

One of my top goals for this website in 2013 is the addition of vintage and tasting reports that span regions for a variety of grapes or styles of wine. The idea of a comprehensive tasting (or tastings) for — say 2010 merlots or 2012 rieslings — isn’t a new one, but I don’t know of anyone else doing it for New York wine. The logistics and mechanics of doing these tastings are a bit daunting for a website published by part-time-but-passionate lovers of local wine — not to mention the writing of the reports — but I feel strongly…

Continue Reading

Bedell Cellars 2011 “TASTE” Rose

Rose isn’t relegated to spring and summer duty in my house. We drink it year round and as long as its dry (or nearly so depending on how balanced any residual sugar is), we’re usually pretty happy. I don’t expect transcendence from rose. Maybe that’s wrong of me and I should expect more — at least on occasion — but I really just want rose to be balanced and food friendly. But, on occasion I find rose that is just a bit more than that. Bedell Cellars 2011 “TASTE” Rose ($18) is one of those wines because of its texture,…

Continue Reading

Macari Vineyards 2011 Rose

Mostly a kitchen-sink saigniee, the Macari Vineyards 2011 Rose ($15) also has just over 10% steel-fermented chardonnay blended into it. Fruity aromas of watermelon, red cherry and peach dominate straightforward nose. Medium-light bodied, the fresh, lively palate brings similar, slightly candied, fruit flavors with a faint savory/herbal edge. A peppery note on the medium-short finish is unique. Producer: Macari Vineyards AVA: North Fork of Long Island ABV: 12.2% Price: $15*   (2.5 out of 5, Average-to-Very Good)

Continue Reading

Shinn Estate Vineyards 2011 Rose

Simple aromas of watermelon and strawberry seem to fade on the palate, which lacks fruit, particularly for the amount of skin and seed tannin here. Though fresh, with nice acidity, it seems bitter and unbalanced. Better with food, this is decidedly not a beach or poolside sipper. Shinn Estate always goes for a bolder, ‘non-wimpy’ style of rose, but perhaps 2011 wasn’t the year to accomplish that. Producer: Shinn Estate Vineyards AVA: North Fork of Long Island ABV: 13.3% Price: $16*   (2 out of 5, Average)    

Continue Reading