Glenora

Seneca Lake (West - Dundee)
5435 Route 14
Dundee, NY 14837

800-243-5513
info@glenora.com
glenora.com

Hours: 10am-6pm Sun-Thurs, 10-7 Fri & Sat
Fee: $1, Reservations: not required

Let me set the tone for our Glenora experience. Driving up, we could see the noteworthy location on the lake. Great views. Someone was even getting married at the gazebo in the distance. The tasting room is perched on the top of the hill, which has even better views. It's too bad the experience went downhill once we walked inside.









An employee breaking down boxes at the front bar greets us and directs us to the cash register area. Look toward register area. It is a rickety card table festooned with seasonal tablecloth (think pumpkins) sectioned off from the rest of the room with a red velvet rope. We pay our $1 tasting fee and are instructed to stick out our hand to be stamped. Huh? Realizing the hand-stamping is not optional, I dutifully obey and walk through the busy, touristy gift room into the slightly less busy and touristy tasting room. I see small children and adults milling about and realize they have good reason for the hand stamps. It's so the kids and cheap adults don't con them into pouring wine.

It's only once we pass the circus in the main room that I realize something. I hear country music. And feel it, for it is being played at an unnecessarily loud level. Because it is country music I recognize, I know it is at least 15 years old. Our young host (May I see some ID? Seriously.) is unfazed and explains the tasting menu. We choose six wines, leaning heavily toward the reds... assuming based on our experience so far that the whites will be sweeter than what we prefer. At the start of our tasting, a roving cheese-tray employee appears with wasabi-horseradish something. I pass because I foolishly think wasabi would ruin my palate (should've gone with the cheese). But the group next to us dives fingers first into the tray, by-passing the toothpicks at the height of the Swine Flu scare. More cheeses came around; this time they were fruit-infused (raspberry, grape?). No thanks, I'm good.

Glenora's tasting experience allowed us to gain perspective. We could now truly appreciate the quality wine and tastings, elsewhere. It did get my first ever "Bottom of the Barrel" award. Overall, the wines were not so flawed that a newcomer to wines would be distressed. They were safe, mellow wines designed to appeal to the tastes of the masses. And our favorite wineries will be less crowded because of that.









Selections from tasting menu (purchases in bold):
Dry Riesling 2008 - $17.99. Though watery, this wine had good flavors. The value isn't there, especially when we had just come from a fantastic sampling of Rieslings at Wiemer.
Meritage - $24.99. Bordeaux blend dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon. Found it to be "just meh".
Sangiovese - $16.99. Definitely one we wanted to sample since no one else had it on the tasting menu. It had a pleasing aromas but not enough complexity. This was one of the two better wines.
Syrah - $16.99. A Double Gold winner. Average, not a lot of flavor; good tannins. For this price, I really expect more personality. The second of the better wines.
Cabernet Franc - $15.99. A Gold Medal winner. Did not like this one. Oaky and a lot more fruit present than needed to be.
Brut 2002 - $24.99. Another Gold Medal winner. (Who are these judges? Not that I'm passing judgement, just curious.) Blend of Pinot Noir and Concord, excuse me... I meant Chardonnay. Couldn't get past the Concord grape smell and taste. Not recommended.
Glenora Port - $16.99. Hey, look. They have port on their menu. This is different. And it uses 8 year old brandy from their sister winery. Let's try it. Tasting notes just read "NO." I was idiotically hopeful.

Other wines on the tasting menu:
Whites & blends: Chardonnay, Seyval Blanc, Pinot Blanc, Gewurztraminer, Dry Riesling, Lake Series.
Pinot Noir Rose
Semi-Dry & Sweet: Cayuga, Chardonnay and Niagara. Classic Blush. Bobsled Red and Jammin' Red. (I wish I were making this up.)
Reds & blends: Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Yellow Cab.
Fruit Series: Blueberry Breeze, Raspberry Rose, Cranberry Chablis and Peach Passion.
Sparkling, Port and Ice Wine

Wiemer

Seneca Lake (West - Dundee)
3962 Route 14
Dundee, NY 14837

800-371-7971
wiemer.com

Hours: 10am-5pm M-Sat, 11-5 Sun
Fee: $3 & $5, Reservations: not required

Herman J. Wiemer Vineyard was started by a German winemaker in 1973 with the first vintage released in 1979. At the time, Wiemer was one of the few wineries using vinifera (European) vines. The practices and traditions inherent to European winemaking carried over to these vineyards, creating series of wines that are well-crafted with balance, complexity and unique aromas and flavors. Everything from pressing to labeled takes place on premises. Wiemer employs environmentally-friendly practices.









Great tasting room in the barn - the old barn wood contrasts fantastically with the tall stainless steel tanks and white "barn within a barn". The staff (winemaker's wife Maressa, regrettably a Yankees fan) was friendly and offered side-by-side pours to compare vintages, which was immensely helpful in pinpointing preferences. I'd read great things about their Rieslings (HJW, Magdalena, Dry Reserve & Late Harvest all scored 89 points or higher in Wine Spectator). My favorite of the Rieslings was the regular Dry Riesling. I found the HJW to be too austere and the Magdalena flowery and too feminine, but still some of the best we sampled during our trip. Overall, Wiemer's selections of wines were a wonderful treat and will warrant a return visit next time we're in the area.












Selections from tasting menu (purchases in bold):
Dry Riesling 2007 - $17.50. A combination of the three Riesling vineyards, including austere HJW & flowery Magdalena. Crisp, dry with flint. Not a lot of sweet, balanced. Great nose. Texture is a touch oily. Very good flavor of apple and citrus with sharp acidity. Clean finish. 0.9% RS
Semi-Dry Riesling 2007 - $17. Oily texture; sourced from the Magdalena vines. Very well done. "Semi-dry Rheingau style... ripe, expressive nose featuring fresh floral notes of citrus and lime fruit. Complex minerality and subtle finish." 2.4% RS
Late Harvest Riesling 2008 -$23. The well balanced acidity brings the wine through; not cloyingly sweet. Spatlese style. "Apricot and honey flavors. Rich and full bodied." 4.5% RS. The 2007 vintage received 89 points in WS.
Gewurztraminer 2007 - $19. Heavier style. A touch sweeter than what I prefer. Picked up on the floral aromas, citrus flavors and finish. Smooth. Also aromas of "peaches, apples and melons perfumed with rose petals." 1.7% RS
Blanc de Noir 2003 - $26. Blend of 85% Pinot Noir and 15% Chardonnay. Very delicate and great bubbles. Not my style as the flavors mimic the Niagara/Concord grapes, too fruity. "Apple and citrus on the nose... exotic maturity, nut flavors supported by a harmonious structure."
Dry Riesling Reserve 2007 - $23. Similar to the HJW (sourced from that vineyard). Much like the Dry Riesling 2007 but without oily texture and more acidity. "Hand-picked... from oldest low yield vineyard. Elegant... with brilliant fruit and long, lingering finish." 0.7% RS. This vintage received 89 points in WS.
Pinot Noir 2006 - more fruit driven with nice berry flavor. Pleasant, fine tannins. Ready sooner than the 2007 vintage. (Bonus taste to compare the two vintages.)
Pinot Noir 2007 - $18.50. Sharp, lean and not fruit forward. "Medium-bodied, smooth, dry... French oak. Black cherries in nose and taste... light tannins."
Estate Red 2006 - $16. Blend of Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Lemberger and Pinot Noir. A darker style than the Pinot Noir with sharpness and good acidity. A nice wine but tight. Pink-red color. Tobacco aroma was easy to pick up on. Well-structured.
Cabernet Franc 2006 - $17.50. Nice mid-palate with Red Delicious apple peel finish. "Firm and velvety tannins, well defined acidity.
Cabernet Franc 2007 - Very similar to the 2006, but wound tighter. Previous vintage has benefit of an extra year in the bottle; opened up more and had a light color. The 2007 had a darker color approaching light magenta and surprising fruit flavor. Will definitely be good with some cellaring.

Other wines on the tasting menu:
Chardonnay 2007
Pinot Noir Rose 2006
Frost Cuvee 2008
Cuvee Brut 2006
Chardonnay 2005
Select Late Harvest Chardonnay 2007

Ravines

Keuka Lake (West - Hammondsport)
14630 State Route 54
Hammondsport, NY 14840

607-292-7007
ravines@citilink.net
ravineswine.com

Hours: 10am-5pm
Fee: $3 & $5, Reservations: not required

Ravines produces restrained, terroir-specific wines that follow the example of the fine Burgundian and Bordeaux wines. This was my favorite winery out of the 15+ we visited over the weekend. You have two options for wine tasting: with or without chocolate. It's never a question for me... so I enjoyed pairings of wine with the artisan chocolates from Hedonist, sharing nibbles with Brian. The chocolate pairing is well worth the nominal fee.









The second floor tasting room overlooks Keuka Lake. While the room buzzed with activity around our group, I was oblivious after my first sip of Chardonnay. The wines were so impressive that I think I did a happy dance more than once. Our host, Lisa, was super sweet and knowledgeable. After much effusive praise over the wine and chocolate (sesame seed and sea salt being my favorite), we found out we shared a common bond: Neuchatel chocolate. It was such a great whirlwind of an experience that my tasting notes were left behind.









Selections from tasting menu (purchases in bold):
Dry Riesling 2007 - $16.95. Elegant style with a great nose and lush tree fruit (apple & pear) flavors with a citrusy edge and minerally finish. Wonderful example of a well-made, truly dry Riesling. Bought three bottles!

Argetsinger Vineyards Dry Riesling 2007 - $24.95. I had heard great things (91 pts in Wine & Spirits) about this single vineyard Riesling and wanted to see how it compared to the regular Riesling, but it was not on the tasting menu. Lisa was kind enough to offer a bonus pour for comparison. It is a much more restrained style - elegant with lean fruit, good minerality and zingy acidity. While I can appreciate this elegant wine, the lush style and flavors of the Dry Riesling '07 were more appealing to my palate. (The Argetsinger vineyard on Seneca Lake is one of the the oldest vineyards in the area. Older vines typically produce wines with more personality.)

Ravines Chardonnay 2007 - $18.95. Color me impressed. This is not a varietal I usually reach for. I find the majority of Chardonnay to be heavy-handed and over-oaked. This wine was anything but. It is an elegant, balanced Bordeaux-style wine offering up pear, citrus, fig and hazelnut aromas. (The search to sniff out the fig particulary excited me.) Great acidity with just the right amount of oak. Ravines uses a traditional Italian drying technique, appassimento, to create rich, lush flavors from only the best Chardonnay grapes.

Sauvignon Blanc 2008 - $17.95. An unusual and enjoyable example of Sauv Blanc! Bright aromas of lemon and wet stones. Bracing, but balanced acidity and strong Alsatian minerality create a tight framework for the lemon, lime and tropical fruit flavors. Crisp and intense with an extended finish. Elegant, reserved but with a laser-like focus. Best with food. Picked up two of these goodies.

Gewurztraminer 2008 - $24.95. The Finger Lakes region is an ideal growing area for this persnickety cool-climate grape. This happens to be one of the wines I don't have much memory for. Really wish I hadn't forgotten those notes.










Dry Pinot Rosé 2007 - $14.95. This wine gets its salmon hue from the amount of time the juice and skins of the Pinot Noir grape are in contact. Great for sipping with or without food, summertime is a great time to enjoy this dry, delicate wine.

Meritage 2006 - $24.95. A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot grapes aged in toasted French oak barrels, the Meritage is classic Bordeaux style wine bursting with fruit. Pleasant tannins. This was the favorite wine for a member of our group.

Cabernet Franc 2007 - $18.95. Another lusciously soft wine with beautiful fruit and spice with a solid finish. I preferred the style of this wine only slightly over the Meritage '06.

Pinot Noir 2007 - $22.95. Hands down the best Pinot Noir of the whole trip. Given the time to taste all of the area Pinot Noirs, I would bet this would still be the best example of the varietal and terroir. A fine example of a Burgundian style Pinot Noir! Light red color with violet and brown undertones. Aromas of rose and clove with raspberry, cherry and touch of vanilla. Earth and smoke aromas emerge as the wine breathes. Great nose! Elegant and soft flavors of cherry and Red Delicious apple peel; long berry finish. Tart and earthiness in background. Lush but moderated mouthfeel. Spice comes out toward the end. After the second day, the wine presents more soft fruit and earthiness. Lots of complexity! Light tannins with an almost imperceptably bitter finish. Loved it so much I bought three bottles.

Other wines on the tasting menu:
Dry Riesling 2006
Pinot Gris 2007
Keuka Village White 2007

Atwater

Seneca Lake (Central South - Hector)
5055 Route 414
Hector, NY 14841

800-331-7323
atwatervineyards.com

Hours: 10-5 M-Sat, 11-5 Sun
Fee: $3 Tours: No, Reservations: Not required

Atwater Vineyards was a winery I'd been looking forward to visiting. It received a noticeable amount of positive press - local and national - with a special nod to the great Rieslings and affordable Gewurztraminers. The wines and tasting room staff delivered on these expectations. The tasting started off on a great note with Riedel glasses (assuredly not the norm). Our host kept an unhurried pace offering recommendations on wines to try based on our personal preferences. The Cab Franc and newly released Dry Riesling were some of the group's favorites. The steely Gewurzt also stuck out for its unique style.

Highly recommend this winery for the wine and the views. There is a picnic space overlooking the vineyards and lake which I'd imagine would be excellent in warmer, less rainy weather. Bring some cheese, olive oil and a baguette to pair with your favorite wine!









Selections from tasting menu (purchases in bold):
Gewurztraminer 2007 - $16. Steely style with 0.4% residual sugar. "Heady Gewurz loaded with aromas of citrus and white flowers exploded with flavors of grapefruit and ginger." Rated 85 points in WS. Loved this style; only steely Gewurz on the lake.
Dry Riesling 2008 - $16. So light and delightful. Aromatic and unique. Grown on slate soils from mature vines. Peach, herb and lime flavors.
Pinot Noir 2007 - $17. Aged 8 months in French oak, this wine has an enjoyable resinous nose, light body and flavors. Cherry and sandalwood flavors with great texture.
Stone Bridge Red - $12. Beautiful color. A low tannin, easy drinking value red wine. Blend of Marechal Foch, Cabernet Franc and Corot Noir grapes. Cherry and plum flavors make it an ideal summer sipper to complement grilled meats.
Meritage 2006 - $18. Smoky, fruit nose leads to well balanced tannins with some tartness. A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc creates a dark fruit (cherry, plum, black raspberry) profile that begs for hearty meats.
Cabernet Franc 2006 - $18. Another wine with a great nose. Balanced acid and tannins, solid finish with pleasant cherry flavors.









Other wines on the tasting menu:
Chardonnay 2007
Stone Bridge White
Pinot Gris 2008
Vidal Blanc 2007
Riesling 2007
Cabernet-Merlot 2007