Leonard Oakes Estate Winery 2013 Reserve Series Sauvignon Blanc

Lightly saline on the nose, with notes of lemony citrus, fresh-cut hay and grapefruit, Leonard Oakes Estate Winery 2013 Reserve Series Sauvignon Blanc ($17) is a snappy, refreshing sauvignon. The palate lacks a bit of concentration, but is bright, citrusy and mouthwatering — with a savory minerality that peeks through on a medium-long finish. Producer: Leonard Oakes Estate Winery AVA: New York State ABV: 12.5% Price: $17 (sample) (3 out of 5, Very good/Recommended)

Regan Meador, Southold Farm + Cellar: We Are Closed, But Not Finished.

Editor’s note: The following was written by Regan Meador, co-owner and winemaker at Southold Farm + Cellar, a true family-run small business that does not deserve the trouble the town and one over-zealous neighbor are causing his family. This probably won’t be the last post I write about this. More soon. As of July 9th, 2015 we have been asked by the Town of Southold to cease all operations or face fines and/or jail time. We are heartbroken, to say the least. Prior to purchasing the property in 2012 we had sought guidance with the town and have been completely…

Getting Rose Right: Finally, the Finger Lakes is Making Consistently Excellent Rose. Here’s Why

Photo via David Diaz, Damiani Wine Cellars No one is immune to bad ideas, and for years, the Finger Lakes had consistently bad ideas when it came to rose. It all seemed to culminate in one ill-fated February evening in 2014. You might be wondering why anyone was talking about rose in February, and you would be on to something. On the evening Thursday, February 27th, 2014, Fox Run Vineyards hosted an industry and media “Discover Dry Rose Grand Tasting.” Perhaps you recall that January and February of 2014 had been colder than an ex-lover, hammered by snow and raw…

Atwater Estate Vineyards 2014 Dry Rose of Merlot

There isn’t a lot of merlot grown in the Finger Lakes — and even fewer wineries doing worth while things with it. Atwater Estate Vineyards 2014 Dry Rose of Merlot ($25) isn’t unique for New York (Long Island is flooded by merlot-based rose every spring) but it does stand out from the Finger Lakes crowd. The aromas are lighter than you might expect, but light, pretty red cherry and floral notes are accented by subtle herbaceous edge. There is a bit more intensity on the palate, with similar straightforward red berry flavors, lively acidity and a lingering cherry-skin finish. Before you balk…

Dr. Konstantin Frank Vinifera Wine Cellars 2013 Reserve Riesling

Dr. Konstantin Frank 2013 Reserve Riesling ($25) offers intense, concentrated aromas and flavors of peach, pineapple and Golden Delicious apple that are accented up by notes of honey, spice and hay. Richly flavored and textured, there is a bit of sweetness up front, but a beam of juicy, nervy acidity scrubs the palate clean on a medium-long finish. Producer: Dr. Konstantin Frank Vinifera Wine Cellars AVA: Finger Lakes ABV: 12% TA: 8.4 g/L pH: 3.11 Production: 301 cases Price: $25* (3.5 out of 5 | Very Good, Recommended to Outstanding and Delicious, Highly Recommended)

Weekly New York Wine News — July 6, 2015

A big win for the NY wine environment and continuing concern for international trade. A nod to Dr. Frank, a farewell to a NY dedicated establishment, and a quick sip of old style cider. NEWS Genesee County Express – 6/30/2015 Some thoughts on an un-COOL labeling law that may cost NY and US wine producers dearly in the Canadian market. Wine Spectator – 6/30/2015 New York State Department of Environmental Conservation officially bans Fracking and Finger Lakes winemakers breathe a sigh of relief. Daily Pilot – 7/2/2015 Annual Independence Day domestic wine party picks the best representative from each state, and special…

How Awestruck Is Wooing Drinkers To Cider

About 5,000 people live in Walton, New York, an unassuming town on the edge of the Catskills whose main drag is lined with quaint brick buildings and come fall, so many scarecrows that it’s sometimes called ‘Scarecrow Capital of the World.’ Walton might also earn a prominent spot in the story New York’s modern cider boom as the home of Awestruck Ciders. I took the hilly, two-and-a-half hour drive to Walton recently after sampling some fizzy Eastern Dry, a vaguely tropical cider that was so poised  — and at $9 for a 750-milliliter bottle, so well-priced — that I thought the…

Weekly New York Wine News — June 29, 2015

Photo courtesy of Macari Vineyards New York wines get some play in high profile outlets recently, while a new establishment, new festival and new packaging take things beyond novelty. NEWS New York Times – 6/18/2015 Herman J. Wiemer dry Riesling 2014 makes Eric Asimov’s list of 20 great summer wines for $20. Wines and Vines – 6/23/2015 Sunlight into Wine takes on new meaning as New York wineries go green with solar power projects. Decanter – 6/24/2015 Howard Goldberg points out directions to Finger Lakes vacation destinations. Syracuse.com – 6/26/2015 Coyote Moon Vineyards in the Thousand Islands region is New York’s first…

Damiani Wine Cellars 2012 Barrel Select Cabernet Sauvignon

You won’t find a lot of varietal cabernet sauvignon wines in the Finger Lakes — with good reason. Generally speaking, later-ripening reds aren’t as well-suited to the region as other types of grapes. That said, Damiani Wine Cellars typically bucks that trend and makes some of the better cab in the region. Damiani Wine Cellars 2012 Barrel Select Cabernet Sauvignon ($45) isn’t as good as the outstanding 2010, but it still balances ripe fruit with oak and savory notes well. The nose shows a melange of aromas — sweet blueberry compote, blackberry, savory dried herbs, soy sauce, and dusty, earthy cocoa powder. Mouth-filling and slightly chewy,…