Wagner

Seneca Lake (Central North - Lodi)
9322 Route 414
Lodi, NY 14860

607-582-6976
wagnervineyards.com

Hours: 10-5 M-Sun
Fee: $1, Tours: set times, Reservations: Not required

Just up the road from Penguin Bay, Wagner is one of the older wineries on Seneca Lake. Their vineyards envelope the tasting building, which enjoys views of the eastern shore of Seneca Lake. Folks say they haven't changed much since opening. This is a good thing if you enjoy wines with a touch of sweetness. Wagner's dry wines lean toward semi-dry; same for semi-dry to sweet. They do sweet wines well - my favorite wine of the ten samples was the Vidal Blanc Ice, a dessert wine reminscent of Sauternes.

There's also a brewery and beer tasting for the non-wine drinkers the group.












Selections from tasting menu (purchases in bold):
Dry Riesling 2007 - $13. A little thin, but otherwise fine. Pleasing citrus flavors. Residual sugar 0.23%. 3.5/5
Cabernet Franc 2006 - $15. Dusty berry and spiced nose, restrained berry flavors. Low tannins, lighter color than expected. No residual sugar. 3/5
Merlot 2004 - $16. Very similar to the Cab Franc flavors, but drying with a touch more fruit. No residual sugar. 2.5/5
Melody 2007 - $8. Too sweet and light. Peach, citrus. Residual sugar 0.8%. 1.5/5
Semi-dry Riesling 2007 - $13. Nice flavors, but not my style. Residual sugar 2.0%. 2.5/5
Sunset Red - $n/a. Aroma of sweetened Red Delicious apples. Concord grape dominates flavor - bleh! Red blend best served chilled. Residual sugar 3.5%. 0.5/5
Niagara - $7. One of the grapes native to the region, tends to be aromatic and fruity. Off-putting aroma - cat pee? Sickly sweet. Definitely not my style. Residual sugar 6%. 0.5/5
Vidal Blanc Ice 2006 - $22. Varietal is an old French hybrid. Very similar to Sauternes but a touch more unrefined sweetness. Grapes are commercially frozen rather than waiting for frost to freeze crop (which gives the winemaker control over harvest and reduces costs). Taste difference between the two methods is said to be minimal. 3.5/5
Chardonnay 2007 - $11. Flat, unappealing; possibly because this wine was added on after the reds and dessert wine. No residual sugar. 1.5/5
Reserve Pinot Noir 2007 - $25. Better than Penguin Bay's, not a good value. Light style, still tight. 2.5/5












Other wines on the tasting menu:
Gewurztraminer Semi-dry & Dry 2007 - $12
Riesling Select 2007 - $13
Chardonnay Barrel-Fermented 2007 - $11
Reserve Chardonnay 2007 - $14
Vintner's Chardonnay - $12 (1.5L)
Seyval Blanc 2006 - $8
Cayuga White 2007 - $8
Delaware 2008 - $7
Vignoles 2008 - $8
Reserve Red, White & Blush - $7
Alta B Red, White & Blush - $6
Riesling Ice 2007 - $22
Vignoles Ice 2007 - $22
Celebration Cuvee 2005 - $15. Sparkling.
Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 - $15
Meritage 2007 - $22

Penguin Bay

Seneca Lake (Central South - Hector)
4565 Route 414
Hector, NY 14841

607-546-5115
penguinbaywinery.com
info@penguinbaywinery.com









Hours: 10-5:30 M-Sat, 11-5:30 Sun
Fee: under $5, Tours: No, Reservations: Not required

Casual tasting room located on the main road surrounded by vines with views of the lake. Winery produces value-minded, well-crafted wines. Go for the riesling & gewurztraminer. Try the sparkling wines while you're there; not many wineries produce them.

Selections from tasting menu (purchases in bold):
Pinot Grigio 2007 - $16. Lush, well done pinot grigio. Dry, strong pear aromas.
Surfside Chardonnay 2007 - $14. A dry, stainless steel fermented. Crisp & fruity. Not my style, but a nice wine.
Gewurztraminer 2007 - $18. Just a touch of sweet, very nice. Aromatic, spicy wine done in Alsatian style.
Blanc de Blanc Champagne - $14.99. Really enjoyed this semi-dry sparkler. Style and flavors reminded me of the Riondo prosecco.
Valvin Muscat 2007 - $16. Dessert wine from Muscat grape. Sweet, luscious. Good wine for my dad, who has recently discovered muscat. Crisp.
Rose of Chambourcin 2007 - $11. Light, clear red with delicate flavors and aromas.
Pinot Noir 2006 - $17. Great smoky nose, smooth but finish isn't strong.
Maroon Four - $14. Great nose on this dry, barrel-aged Shiraz-style blend. Tart with odd, unappealing finish.
Cabernet - $14. Cabernet Sauvignon/Franc blends of the '04 & '06 vintages. Light enough to be approachable. Purple-red color. A nice example of the varietal in this terrior.









Other wines on the tasting menu:
Naturel Champagne - $18
Pinot Noir Brut Rose Champagne - $18. Dry
Percussion (semi-dry white blend) - $12. Semi-dry white blend.
Riesling 2008 (semi-sweet) - $15. Semi-sweet.
Golden Spumante Champagne - $13. Semi-sweet.
Tuxedo White - $9.50. Sweet blend of Niagara and Diamond grapes.
Humboldt Red - $11. Semi-dry red blend of Rougeon and Isabella grapes.
Tuxedo Red - $9.50. Sweet, Concord grape.

Finger Lakes

Headed to the Finger Lakes for a long weekend. Visiting lots of wineries along Seneca and Keuka Lake. Full report and photos to follow.

Port

Mainly served as a dessert wine, port is a fortified wine from Portugal. The flavors, aromas and production method vary by style and include white, ruby and tawny port. Each port producer has a defined style, known as the house blend, so you may try several types of ruby or tawny port before you find a favorite.

Tawny port - barrel-aged, wine picks up the nuances of the oak barrels imparting nutty flavors and aromas. Tawnies can be served before or after a meal.
Ruby port - bottle-aged and does not generally improve with aging. This is a young, fruity wine perfect for after dinner pairings with dark chocolate and berries.
White port - very similar to a ruby port except white grapes are used. Great as an apertif.

Fine by itself as an after-dinner drink, port also cooperates with food. These wines pair well with mild, hard cheese like Manchego or a tangy, salty blue cheese (a perfect pairing to the sweetness of a ruby or white port).

White Port


Niepoort Dry White Port
$18
Lighter body, rich golden color. Sweeter than other white port (Rozes) while aroma isn't as strong. Sampled recently at Domaine Hudson. 3.5/5


Rozes white reserve port
$20
Soft aromas with walnut note. Sweeter nose than Niepoort. Caramel gold color. Rich, full flavor - decadent. Walnut flavors with long finish. Moderate sweetness. My favorite of the two white ports. 4/5

Tawny, Ruby & Late-Bottled Port


Graham's 10 year Tawny Port
$30
Beautiful orange-brown color. A little hot. Nutty & vanilla flavors on a light body. Pairs wonderfully with Manchego cheese and hazelnut dark chocolate. Ideal for an after-dinner drink, especially after a large meal because it is not as heavy or sweet as a ruby or white port. 4/5


Fonseca Porto Late Bottled Vintage 2001 Unfiltered
$22-30
This ruby port is very refined. A nice change from our everyday, $12 bottle ruby port which is much sweeter. Rich and smooth. 3.5/5


Fonseca Porto Bin 27
$18-23
Powerful nose of brambly, rich & concentrated fruits. Raspberry burst finish on the palate. A little hot but a very nice wine. Complex. 4/5




Dow's Late Bottled Vintage Porto 2003
$20
Striking nose. Much sweeter than Fonseca Bin 27. Softer, more delicate nose. Smooth finish, not too hot. My favorite of the three ruby ports. 4.5/5

Tiny Bubbles - Sparkling Wine

Candoni Prosecco Brut
Veneto, Italy - $12
This is a drier style and doesn't have the explosion of flavor of the Riondo. Both were sampled during the 2008 Raft-up with appetizers and the consensus was that the Riondo was a better bottle. 3/5

Riondo Prosecco
Veneto, Italy - $14
Favorite sparkler with light aromas. Green apples flavors and pleasant tartness, good acidity. Flavors burst through, a very unique prosecco. Good summer sipper or apertif. Heard it can be found in NYC for $8 bottle... 5/5

Piper Sonoma Brut
Sonoma County, California - $13
Initial fruitiness opens into apple and citrus flavors. Another 2008 Raft-up wine.

Pinot Noir

In ascending order of price, some recent Pinot Noirs with tasting notes from a Collier's Pinot Noir event below.



Meridian Santa Barbara County Pinot Noir
Santa Barbara County, California - $10
Buy several for the excellent value. Our house or party Pinot Noir. Clean berry, a little earth, vanilla. Floral aromas come out with food. Smoke. Flavors of blackberry, plum, interesting mocha with light spice. Light tannins & body. Smoky plum. Bitter finish. Better with food. Character comes out and forms a great complement. 3/5


Concannon Central Coast Pinot Noir Limited Release 2006
Central Coast, California - $15
Good earthiness with smoky sour cherry aromas and flavors. Soft. Not as complex as I'd expected or hoped for.

Erath Pinot Noir 2007
Willamette Valley, Oregon - $18
WS top value for 2008. Shows real class for moderate price. Light dusty rose color. Aromas of sour cherry, hay/straw, earthiness, light floral (rose). Light, but firm tannins. Light body. Flavors of light berry and red delicious apple peel opens to sour cherry and light spice in back of mouth. Elegant. Fruit flavors come out with food. Prefer more dynamic style, but a good summer wine. 3.5/5

Wild Horse Pinot Noir 2006
Central Coast, California - $20
Aromas of soft leather, slight barnyard, violets, red jammy berries & cherry. Soft tannins, low acid. Flavors of sweet red berry with woody aftertaste. Smooth finish. Average wine, not considered great value at price point. Lacks complexity of better Pinots. 3.5/5

Alamos Seleccion Pinot Noir 2006
Mendoza, Argentina
Aromas of sour cherry, red fruit, earthy, light barnyard & florals. Still tight. Dark, deep tannic berry flavors; earthy. Soft but steady tannins, cocoa bitterness. Not intense. Long finish, reserved & elegant. A better Pinot than most, especially if price is low. Lacks flavor alone; better with food when floral and spice notes come out. No strong faults. Less exciting than I prefer. 4/5

The following wines were tasted at Collier's on 4/15/08
Alfred Roco Pinot Noir 2006
Argentina - $12
Really liked. Spicy nose; great mouth feel - lush & soft. Spices in back of mouth almost like Zinfandel. Heavier weight than Cono Sur's Pinot Noir. Medium dark red color.

Picardy Pinot Noir 2004
Australia - $25
Aromas of barnyard, wet straw (interesting & intense), burning matches & smoke. Light body. Smooth on palate with some tannins. Berries come out with food. Style is truer to Burgundian wines.

Wild Hog Sara Lee's Vineyard Pinot Noir 2006
RRV, California - $32
Fruity & floral nose knock-out. Sweet aromas open up into herbal notes of menthol/mint. Anise & Spike spice rub aroma. More flavors of blueberry with side of the tongue spice with an overall heat. Not as smooth as previous wines and a thinner mouthfeel. Nose more interesting than flavors.

Stoller Dundee Hills JV Pinot Noir 2006
Dundee Hills, Oregon - $25
Light barnyard; light and elegant nose. Earthy, strawberry sweetness on palate. Most Burgundian of the tasting. Smoky, smooth, long finish. Rated 90 pts in WS. From the winemaker: Juicy raspberry, green tea & earth mingle enticingly.

Highfield Pinot Noir 2005
Wairau Valley, New Zealand - $32
Love it. Nose reminds me of Gary Farrell's Russian River Valley Pinot Noirs. Jam, smoke and spice on palate; fresh ripe fruit with an edge. Smooth, lush and sophisticated.

Hamilton Russell Pinot Noir 2006
South Africa - $33
Earthy aromas with accompanying sour barnyard and peat. Cheese brings out fruit; wine is great with food. Meaty, bacon fat aroma and flavor. Age up to 5 yrs.