Posts Tagged“2011”

Hudson-Chatham Winery 2011 Leon Millot

As I taste more wines made from hybrid varieties — particularly red ones — I’m starting to think that the problems I’ve had in the past with these wines is not so much a grape problem, but rather a winemaker/winemaking one. For many years, the winemaking talent in regions reliant on hybrids (mainly because they are on the viticultural fringe) has been a bit lacking when compared to the world’s top regions. Wines like baco noir and DeChaunac weren’t very good, sure, but neither were the wines made from merlot, chardonnay and riesling. I was talking this over with a…

Forge Riesling: The Most Debated Wine in the Finger Lakes, and Why Riesling Can Succeed in Oak

Before the final presidential debate, several members of the news media were accidentally emailed a debate recap by one of the campaigns. It described what an outstanding performance their candidate had just displayed. Of course, the review was written hours before anything, you know, actually happened. Spirited discussion is healthy, but prejudgment should be unacceptable, and that has affected the conversation about Forge Cellars‘ first vintage of riesling, the recently released 2011. So what’s the big deal? Well, this is the first Finger Lakes riesling (to our knowledge) aged entirely in oak, not stainless steel or some other container. Granted,…

Lamoreaux Landing Wine Cellars 2011 Gruner Veltliner

Gruner veltliner, a variety typically associated with Austria, is still new to New York, with only a handful of folks growing it and making it into wine.  But, the early returns have been interesting. Much like riesling, gruner seems to tell the tale of the growing season in a very direct, concise way. Lamoreaux Landing Wine Cellars 2011 Gruner Veltliner ($20) — the winery’s first commercial gruner release — is more lithe than the 2010 bottling that I was lucky enough to taste, but still has me excited for the grape’s potential in the Finger Lakes. Showing aromas of aloe,…

Sheldrake Point Vineyards 2011 Gewurztraminer

It can be difficult to escape riesling  maelstrom in the Finger Lakes. Riesling flies at you from every direction. It’s wonderful, but can be overwhelming too.  And, sometimes other varieties are unfairly under-promoted. That’s the second edge of the double-edged sword of ‘signature varieties.’ Chief among these sometimes-ignored grapes is gewurztraminer, which thrives in the region. Sheldrake Point Vineyards makes some terrific rieslings, but deserves perhaps more attention for consistent excellence with gewurztraminer. It seems that, no matter the growing conditions, winemaker Dave Breeden crafts deliciousness, even if the style changes year to year. Sheldrake Point Vineyards 2011 Gewurztraminer ($18) is a…

Macari Vineyards 2011 ‘Katherine’s Field” Sauvignon Blanc

Macari Vineyards is always one of my go-to producers for Long Island sauvignon blanc, particularly the Katherine’s Field bottling, which is made without oak. It always tells the tale of the growing season and doesn’t try to mimic sauvignon from the Loire or New Zealand or California. Macari makes Long Island sauvignon blanc. 2011 was a cooler year and one marked with heavy hurricane-related rain late in the season. Macari Vineyards  “Katherine’s Field” Sauvignon Blanc ($23) shows the coolness of the vintage, with melon, grapefruit, lemon zest and thyme notes and a lighter-bodied style, with fresh, clean acidity and surprising length. A…

Tousey Winery 2011 Riesling

It’s pretty easy to find riesling wines in the Hudson Valley. Many of the producers put the out every year. And most of those buy juice from the Finger Lakes to do it. Riesling grown in the region itself is rare, but Tousey Winery 2011 Riesling ($23) is one such wine. Not nearly as aromatic as you might expect, the nose offers light aromas of peach and grapefruit, along green almond and a faint earthiness. Punch grapefruit flavors lead the way on the palate, bolstered by just-under-ripe peach and juicy, mouth-watering acidity. As the wine warms to room temperature, the…

Macari Vineyards 2011 Rose

Mostly a kitchen-sink saigniee, the Macari Vineyards 2011 Rose ($15) also has just over 10% steel-fermented chardonnay blended into it. Fruity aromas of watermelon, red cherry and peach dominate straightforward nose. Medium-light bodied, the fresh, lively palate brings similar, slightly candied, fruit flavors with a faint savory/herbal edge. A peppery note on the medium-short finish is unique. Producer: Macari Vineyards AVA: North Fork of Long Island ABV: 12.2% Price: $15*   (2.5 out of 5, Average-to-Very Good)

Shinn Estate Vineyards 2011 Rose

Simple aromas of watermelon and strawberry seem to fade on the palate, which lacks fruit, particularly for the amount of skin and seed tannin here. Though fresh, with nice acidity, it seems bitter and unbalanced. Better with food, this is decidedly not a beach or poolside sipper. Shinn Estate always goes for a bolder, ‘non-wimpy’ style of rose, but perhaps 2011 wasn’t the year to accomplish that. Producer: Shinn Estate Vineyards AVA: North Fork of Long Island ABV: 13.3% Price: $16*   (2 out of 5, Average)    

Silver Thread Vineyard 2011 Dry Riesling

It’s impossible to over-state the impact the cooler 2011 growing season played, but I’m enjoying what new co-owner and winemaker Paul Brock is doing with the wines at Silver Thread Vineyard.  He is making fresh, clean wines that are delicious on their own but that perhaps shine brightest with food —  all at good price points. In other words, exactly the types of wines I reach for every day. With bright, fresh aromas of citrus blossom, lime, grapefruit and flinty slate,  Silver Thread Vineyard 2011 Dry Riesling ($16) showcases the winery’s apparent new direction quite well. Grapefruit flavor bursts on…

Shinn Estate Vineyards 2011 “First Fruit” Sauvignon Blanc

You can learn a lot about a region’s vintages simply by tasting its unoaked whites wines — especially wines from producers that you trust and that aren’t big into in-winery manipulations or additions. Shinn Estate Vineyards 2011 “First Fruit” Sauvignon Blanc ($23) tells the story of a cool, wet and grey season most famously marked by the passing of Hurricane Irene right over Long Island. Herby and somewhat vegetal on the nose — think bell pepper — the nose also shows pear and pear skin, hints of grapefruit and hay aromas. Grapefruit flavors peek through a garden of herbs and green vegetation,…