The New York Cork Report Tasting Table -- January 4, 2012

By Lenn Thompson, Executive Editor

This is the last "Tasting Table" that we'll publish here on the NYCR. Going forward, wines like these will each be reviewed as standalone posts. This is a long edition, but I wanted to get caught up a bit in the tasting notebook and start anew before we get too far into 2012.

Atwater Vineyards 2008 Vidal Blanc ($14*): Crisp Granny Smith apple and green melon aromas. Juicy, fresh palate with loads of green apple and pear flavors. Acidity provides good cut and balances the RS well. Simple but snappy and delicious.

Bloomer Creek Vineyards 2009 Auten Vineyard 2nd Harvest Riesling ($22*): Aromas of apple blossom, pears, yellow apples, lavender and a bit of Champagne-like yeastiness. Super-ripe fruit flavors -- apple, pineapple, golden raisins and guava -- with grapefruit-y acidity that frames that fruitiness, but doesn't quite focus it.

Bloomer Creek Vineyards 2009 Morehouse Vineyard 1st Harvest Riesling ($18*): Unique nose of fig, almond, pear, membrillo and sea shore leads into a complex and ripe palate. Big fig flavors with red apple skin and nutty-salty notes. Some residual sugar, but is balanced by well-incorporated acidity. Unique expression of Finger Lakes riesling.

Comtesse Therese 2006 Aquebogue Estate Cabernet Sauvignon ($25*): The nose delivers woodsy, spicy aromas with blueberry, licorice and cherry compote. Cherry cola, blueberry and plum on the palate with quite a bit of cedar and a distinct caramelized sugar note. Decent fruit, but too much oak.

Damiani Wine Cellars 2010 Dry Riesling Davis Vineyard ($22): Lemon-lime and river rock lead the way on a pretty, classy nose, with citrus blossom and faint honey notes behind. Grapefruit and lime on the attack with peach and lemon-lime joining the party on the crisp mid-palate. Crisp, dry and a bit bony. Citrusy, slate-y finish. Enough fruit to avoid over-austerity.

Dr. Konstantin Frank 2010 Muscat Ottonel ($20*): Classic muscat nose -- floral, candied lemons and Fruity Pebbles. Very floral on the palate with lemon drop candy and pear Jelly Belly. Medium-sweet but not syrupy. Just enough acidity. Probably best on its own or maybe fresh fruit dessert?

Dr. Konstantin Frank 2010 Sauvignon Blanc ($20): Varietally correct nose of grapefruit, lemon and fresh-cut grass. Hay and citrus on the palate with light grassiness and sweet grapefruit flavors. A bit dilute on the mid-palate through the medium-length finish.

Duck Walk Vineyards 2010 Pinot Grigio ($15): The nose shows aromas of canned peaches in syrup, pineapple and papaya with a lightly floral highlight. Palate shows big acid that is a bit disjointed. Candied peach and tropical fruit flavors dominate with some zesty grapefruit character. A bit citrus pithy on the finish.

Duck Walk Vineyards 2010 Rose ($15): Aromas are straightforward with strawberry and cranberry fruit. A bit watery on the attack leading into fruity red berry flavors. Mostly dry with a crisp finish. Fresh, but very one-note.

Fox Run Vineyards 2009 Riesling ($14*): Mostly pear on the nose with a little peach and citrus. Friendly style with some residual sugar and good-but-not-electric acidity. Pear and peach fruit flavors and a surprising walnut nuttiness on the medium finish.

Hermann J. Wiemer 2009 Riesling Dry Reserve ($25*): Floral on the nose with notes of herbal tea, pear and gala apple. Beautiful laser beam of acidity focuses pear and sweet lime flavors accented by pretty floral flavors. Subtle richness on the mid-palate but that acidity balances the wine very well. Finish is long with lemon and grapefruit citrus flavors.

Heron Hill Winery 2009 Dry Riesling ($14*): Delicate nose of hay and flowers. Palate is very floral, almost perfume-y with hints of peach and mango. Great acidity and a faint slate note. Solid value.

Lenz Winery 2004 Estate Selection Merlot (*23): Rich nose that displays black cherry, blackberry and plummy fruit with hints of leather, black pepper and earthy spice. Medium bodied, with nice acidity that boosts the medium-soft tannins. Mature mouthfeel. Plummy with blackberry accents and an earthy edge. Medium-long finish with a distinct blueberry note. On day two open, a minty herbal note emerges. Great value.

Red Newt Cellars 2008 Curry Creek Vineyard Gewurztraminer ($38*): Lighter floral aromas accent pear, apple and candied ginger aromas with jasime and lychee on a layered nose. Wears it's 14.7% abv very well. Ripe, lush fruit up front with pear and citrus notes. Spice, flowers and lychee support and bring nuance. Mouth-watering finish shows a bit of melon as well.

Red Newt Cellars 2009 Lahoma Vineyards Riesling ($20*): Feathery aromas of lime, start fruit and faint flintiness. Definitely off-dry style, but great acidic edge that slices through fresh apple, star fruit and lime flavors. Long, apple-y finish. Well balanced, if just a bit one-dimensional.

Red Tail Ridge Winery 2010 Chardonnay "Sans Oak" ($12): Ripe, sweet-smelling yellow apples and starfruit on the nose. Light to medium bodied and very juicy. Apple-starfruit combo on the palate as well, with citrusy acidity and a clean, mouth-watering finish. Simple, but tasty and very well priced.

Red Tail Ridge Winery 2009 Dry Riesling ($19*): Juicy pear on the nose with a squirt of lime and a sprinkle of candied ginger. Dry, but not austere, on the palate with good but not quite crackling acidity. More juicy lime on the palate with apple, pear and lime candy. Long finish. Well done.

Robibero Family Vineyards 2008 Pinot Noir ($17*): Red cherries, cola, black tea and spicy oak on the nose. Soft and silky palate with low tannins and just enough acidity. Straightforward red berry fruit is a bit hidden by oak, but only barely. Good for the price.

Robibero Family Vineyards 2010 "87 North" ($13*): Blend of 50% Cayuga and 50% Vidal. Big honeydew melon aromas on the nose with a little citrus and pear. Pears and melons dominate the palate too, which shows bright, citrusy acidity. Not long, but finishes cleanly with pears and apples. Simple, but fresh.

Robibero Family Vineyards 2010 Riesling ($16*): Very peachy nose with subtle floral and lemon-lime aromas. Peach dominates the palate as well with sweet citrus and fennel notes. Off-dry but not clunky or cloying. Good acidity that doesn't quite scrub the palate clean. Medium-short finish that is all peaches.  

Tousey Winery 2010 Chardonnay ($16*): Taut on the nose with yellow apple and pear, with a bit of butterscotch and caramel apple. Bit dilute on the palate with good acidity. wood is subtle and comes across as caramelized sugar/vanilla. Lacks fruit somewhat. Fresh finish.  

Ventosa Vineyards 2007 Saggio ($26): Blend of cabernet sauvignon, merlot, cabernet franc, syrah and sangiovese. Nose is surprisingly un-fruity for the vintage with tobacco, dark earth, and oak overwhelming some dark fruit aromas. Lacks fruit on the palate as well. Chewy, tight tannins. Some cherry cola flavor but a lot of oak and earth. Very dry. More fruit emerged on the second day, but by third day the wine had faded overall. 

Zugibe Vineyards 2009 Pinot Gris ($15): White flowers, pears and apples mingle on the fresh, clean nose. Nice pear and white flower flavors on the palate with a little honey. Sizzling acidity -- almost too much -- and slightly off-dry on the mid-palate. Somewhat short finish but pear skin and orange peel notes.

Comments

[Steve]

R.I.P. Tasting Table. You have served us well.

[Paul Z]

I'm sure I already know this, but why are some of the prices starred?

[Lenn Thompson]

Paul: If a reviewed wine was a sample, I indicate that with a *.

You raise a great point though -- that is no where near obvious. Will correct that going forward!

[Jens Lisa]

Very nice information you mention here. Price level you mentioned here about last few years its so related and true. Can't argue with you. Thanks!