Posts Written OnSeptember 11, 2013

Harvest 2013: Chardonnay for Sparkling Wine at Fox Run Vineyards

This morning, the team at Fox Run Vineyards hand-picked 3.75 tons of chardonnay that will become the winery’s blanc de blanc sparkling wine. It came in at 18 brix.   According to vineyard manager, John Kaiser , the vines were more fruitful than it appeared. “We had a huge crop last year and expected this year to be smaller, but we still ended up with more,” he said. The juice will be 100% barrel fermented and then transferred to stainless steel on heavy lees to continue to develop.

Dr. Konstantin Frank Vinifera Wine Cellars 2012 Dry Riesling

This was the second wine I tasted during last week’s virtual tasting of 2012 Finger Lakes rieslings, and it was a welcome step up. Dr. Konstantin Frank Vinifera Wine Cellars 2012 Dry Riesling ($15) offers intense aromas of grapefruit and lime are accented by notes of citrus blossom, wet river rock, smoky gun flint and just a touch of botrytis. The palate is more peachy, but still shows bright citrus fruit — mostly grapefruit — and a minerally vein that runs from start to finish. Crunchy acidity provides great focus and verve. The medium-long finish is dry, but not harshly so.…

5 Questions with… Kelby Russell, Red Newt Cellars

The New York Cork Report recently had the opportunity to sit down with Newark, NY native Kelby Russell, Winemaker at Red Newt Cellars. After graduation from Harvard, Russell found himself as an intern at Fox Run Vineyards and under the tutelage of Peter Bell. While there he was able to make a few wine pilgrimages and work around the world in New Zealand (Whitehaven Winery, Marlborough), Tasmania (Pipers Brook Vineyard) and Australia (Yalumba Winery, Barossa Valley). Armed with a variety of experiences Russell joined the Red Newt team as Winemaker a little over a year ago. In addition to the…