Posts Tagged“2012”

Heron Hill Winery 2012 “Morris Vineyard” Reserve Pinot Blanc

Heron Hill Winery 2012 “Morris Vineyard” Reserve Pinot Blanc ($18*) offers a delicate nose of Bartlett pear, mango drizzled with lime juice and green melon. Medium bodied and showing a bit of mid-palate sweetness, the palate is dominated by green apple and tropical fruits. That residual sugar brings nice weight and a nice nudge of acidity drives a juicy finish that lingers with subtle sweetness and distant lemon verbena herbal note. Producer: Heron Hill Winery AVA: Finger Lakes Harvest Date(s): September 11, 2012Brix: 21.5 ABV: 12.5% RS: 1.48% TA: 6.1 g/l pH: 3.26 Production: 235 cases Release Date: October 4, 2013 Price: $18* (3 out of 5, Very good/Recommended)

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The 2012 Finger Lakes Vintage: Finally, the Hype is not Hyperbole

“Don’t judge me by the size of my parents’ house.” These were the words a friend said to me in ninth grade before I came to hang out. He was concerned that I might judge him based on the opulence in which he was being raised. He worried I would assume he was just like his house: extravagant, showy, boasting of power. He needn’t have felt that way. No one should have to apologize for their parents’ success; we can simply hope it won’t make them lazy and entitled. The house is not the person. Circumstances change. I couldn’t help…

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Silver Thread Vineyard 2012 Blackbird

Well-priced, fresh and food friendly, Silver Thread Vineyard 2012 Blackbird ($22) is a blend of 68% cabernet franc, 21% merlot, 11% cabernet sauvignon — and you can smell taste all that cab franc. Black cherry and red raspberry aromas are accented by savory notes of grilled herbs and mushroom. The medium-bodied palate features similar character with a earthy umami edge and a finish that begs another bite of food. We enjoyed it with smoky grilled pork chops recently. Producer: Silver Thread Vineyard AVA: Finger Lakes Barrel Program: 8 months in American oak Production: 340 cases Price: $22

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Kemmeter Wines 2012 Sheldrake Point Vineyard Riesling

Kemmeter Wines 2012 “Sheldrake Point Vineyard” Riesling ($24) is a classy, expertly balanced riesling from what will likely go down as a classic riesling vintage in the Finger Lakes — one that shows ripeness and intensity without the flabby softness of some other warmer seasons. Mixed citrus — tangering, lemon and lime — aromas are layered with notes of pear, green apple, papaya and wet river stones on an expressive-but-restrained nose. Medium bodied with subtle sweetness that is balanced by juicy acidity, the palate shows intricate citrus and pomme fruit flavors that match the nose. There is a precision and…

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Billsboro Winery 2012 Pinot Gris

Billsboro Winery‘s 2012 Pinot Gris ($16) is an under-stated wine that shows delicate aromas of mandarin orange and pink grapefruit backed by lightly floral notes and and interesting blanched-almond quality that emerges as the wine warms. Light-bodied and with just a bit of residual sugar (1%) that shows on the mid-palate, it’s fresh and lightly fruity with apricot, grapefruit and citrus blossom flavors. The finish shows a bit of pithy citrus that combines with vivacious acidity to help it finish dry and refreshing. Producer: Billsboro Winery AVA: Finger Lakes RS: 1% ABV: 11.5% TA: 9.4 g/L pH: 2.86 Production: 274 cases Price: $16* (3 out of…

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Paumanok Vineyards 2012 Petit Verdot

Though still a somewhat rare oddity, varietal petit verdot has become a bit more common here on Long Island — and many of them are delicious in their intensity. Unfortunately, many of them are also quite expensive, up to $100 per bottle, making them less accessible for many customers. Enter Paumanok Vineyards 2012 Petit Verdot ($28) — not cheap, but the rare under-$30 local example. It also might be my go-to burger wine this summer. Want to experience young petit verdot? It’s all here with aromas of blueberry, black licorice, molasses, banana peel, white pepper and violets. All of the…

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Channing Daughters Winery 2012 “Sylvanus Vineyard” Blaufrankisch

I’ve since become quite fond of the grape, but I have Channing Daughters Winery and winemaker Christopher Tracy to thank for introducing me to blaufrankisch (also known as lemberger) with the winery’s 2003 bottling. That 2003 was 100% Blaufrankisch, but over the years, Tracy has blended it with merlot some years and with this Channing Daughters Winery 2012 “Sylvanus Vineyard” Blaufrankisch($28) he blended in 25% Dornfelder. Meaty and fruity, the nose shows layers of black-and-blue berry fruit, briar, violets and spice. Medium-bodied and ripe, the palate shows concentrated dark fruit flavors framed by both fresh acidity and grippy tannins. Spicy note linger…

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Macari Vineyards 2012 “No. 1” Sauvignon Blanc

Macari Vineyards winemaker Kelly Urbanik Koch made one of my favorite wines of last summer, from sauvignon blanc. This wine, Macari Vineyards 2012 “No. 1” Sauvignon Blanc ($27) is a completely different animal, however. Half the fruit for this wine was skin fermented in a 500L barrel and the other half was left on the skins for one night in a stainless steel tank. Notes of canary melon, fresh hay, white flowers, Meyer lemon and tangerine mingle on a nose that is muted right out of the fridge but opens up a bit more as it warms to room temperature. Broad and…

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Dr. Konstantin Frank 2012 Gewurztraminer

  I’m not sure why exactly, but Finger Lakes gewurztraminer doesn’t get nearly the attention that it should. It sits firmly in riesling’s racy, trendy shadow, but the category consistently impresses with varietal character and depth — all with the kind of acidity that makes Finger Lakes whites so appealing. Dr. Konstantin Frank 2012 Gewurztraminer ($15) delivers what can be great about Finger Lakes gewurz at a great price point. Big lychee-meets-rose pedal aromas dominate the nose with underlying notes of candied lemon peel, pear and just a bit of peach pit. Broad and mouth-filling, but with nice focus, the…

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Treleaven Wines 2012 Semi-Dry Riesling

  Peachy and floral on the nose with notes of gritty pear and a touch of clover honey, Treleaven Wines 2010 Semi-Dry Riesling ($15) is a fresh, friendly example of Finger Lakes riesling. The mouth-watering, crunchy palate offers similar pear and peach fruit character with honeysuckle and citrus overtones. Subtle sweetness fills out the mid-palate, leading into a nearly dry, grapefruity finish with plenty of cut. Harvest Date(s): October 2 ABV: 11.3% RS: 3.5% TA: 12 g/L pH: 2.9 Production: 1,991 cases Price: $15* (3 out of 5, Very good/Recommended)

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