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