FingerlakesI’ve long been a fan of Finger Lakes riesling (no shock there) gewurtztraminer, and to a lesser extent, chardonnay — but few reds from the region have ever done much for me. They tend to be "green" with simple flavors and less-than-ripe tannins.

2005 could change all that.

The 2005 growing season was almost universally outstanding throughout New York, and according to the National Weather Service in Buffalo, the Finger Lakes region had its fourth warmest summer in 100 years, making it great for ripening reds in this usually much cooler area.

While rain leading up to and during harvest made for less than ideal conditions, the Finger Lakes vineyards were apparently not as affected as Long Island’s. Maybe we’ll see some great cabernet franc, merlot and pinot noir from the 2005 vintage. It can only add to the region’s reputation and hopefully open more doors for them as well.