By Lenn Thompson, Executive
Editor

Here are seven wines that have crossed the
NYCR tasting table in recent weeks but will not be reviewed as part of a
stand-alone post. As always, these are notes almost verbatim from my
tasting notebook:

Channing Daughters Winery 2008 Sauvignon ($24): Ripe pear, peach, apple and lemon fruit aromas blend with nutty oak character and subtle herbal quality. Medium-bodied but rich, the palate shows pear and grapefruit with subtle nutty-spicy oak. Finish is long with a peachy note. A bit more acid would really bring this one alive. Rating: 86

Damiani Wine Cellars 2008 Barrel Select Cabernet Franc ($30): Black cherry and dusty blackberry nose with nice sweet herbs, vanilla and disappointingly charcoal-like oak. More black cherry on the palate. The herbal qualities are a bit overwhelmed by oak/charcoal. Medium bodied with a nice fruit core, with lowish tannins and subtle acidity. Too much oak for my tastes. Rating: 82

Keuka Spring Vineyards 2008 Gewurztraminer ($17): Melon and ginger lead the nose with a little lychee and understated floral aromas. Gingery and spicy with more melon-citrus character. Just off-dry with a long finish that delivers watermelon and spice. Good value. Rating: 86

Onabay Vineyards 2007 Great Blue Heron: Plum and sweet red raspberry on the nose with black licorice and  some definite oak that expresses itself as black coffee and well, oak. Medium-bodied with medium-intense tannins, red raspberry and red cherry with more coffee and licorice. A little earthiness emerges on the medium-long finish. Like the acidity. Don't love the heavy dose of oak. Rating: 84

Wagner Vineyards 2008 Dry Riesling ($13): Intensely minerally with river stones on the nose with citrus blossom, green tea and grapefruit-lime aromas. Dry and crisp, fruit flavors of melon, grapefruit and lime bring depth to a truckload of wet rock. Medium-length finish. Great acidity. Great value. Rating: 87

Wagner Vineyards 2008 Select Riesling ($13): Peachy nose with dried apricot and dried fig notes and just a little lemon-lime citrus character. Decidedly off-dry but with good acidity. Surprisingly feather-light palate given the sweetness. Stony edge that cuts through the fruit basket. A little dried fruit again on the end of the medium finish. Rating: 85