Wilson Wine on its way

Placed an order of three of Wilson's 2007 Tori Zinfandel this evening as part of a group order. We've gone through all our bottles of older Tori vintages. Looking forward to opening the first bottle soon after the shipment arrives to assess how long we'll hold the other two.

Currently sipping

Glazebrook Sauvignon Blanc - Great buy ($11) from Costco. Love it with guacamole; could be a favorite summer wine.
Ravines Meritage 2006 - a Finger Lakes trip wine, $25. Great on its own, but held up to prime rib and horseradish mashed potatoes thanks in part to the acidity and restrained fruit flavors.
Clos Pegase Cabernet Sauvignon 2004 - a "ready to drink" California trip wine. Not as good as I remembered, but that means nothing since I build up anything from that trip. Paired it with a nice tenderloin last night. (We are eating well lately.)
Goats do Roam Rose - tasty little $10 gem from South Africa. The weather was beautiful mid-week around the beginning of the month so we had an inspired, unplanned dinner of cured meat, cheeses, olives, bread and olive oil. I felt a rose was needed to celebrate the warming weather and unconventional dinner al fresco. Enjoyed it more than the French rose that was poured second.

Signs of Spring

Over the weekend, we grabbed an afternoon bite at Harry's Seafood Grill on the Riverfront. It was one of those days where I was craving seviche and a crisp, white wine. A glass of 2008 Buitenverwachting Beyond Sauvignon Blanc from South Africa was the perfect foil for the scallop and poblano seviche. Lunchmate/fiance felt it worked well with his oysters from Oregon and British Columbia. Pleasant, grassy aroma and fresh lemon and lime flavors dominate with glimpses of green pear and lemongrass to create a bright, clean wine with balanced acidity with a medium range finish. At $7.50 a glass, it is one of the less expensive white wine options on the menu and still delivers. (Wine Enthusiast gave the 2007 vintage 90 points.) It retails for around $11 so next time I'm out with my wine shopping list, you can bet it will be on the list.

Finger Lakes - Best of the Whites

Best Whites
1. Anthony Road
2. Atwater












Best Riesling
1. Ravines 2007 Dry
2. Wiemer 2007 Dry
3. Lamoreaux Landing 2008 Dry
4. Atwater 2008 Dry

Best Gewurztraminer
1. Anthony Road 2008
(Lamoreaux Landing 2007, Penguin Bay 2007)

Best Chardonnay
Ravines












Best Pinot Gris/Grigio
Anthony Road Pinot Gris 2007

Best Sauvignon Blanc
Ravines 2008













Best Sparkling
1. Swedish Hill (Penguin Bay) - "Blanc de Blanc"
2. Weimer - "Blanc de Noir 2003"

Best Dessert/Sweet
1. Anthony Road - "Sweet Dream"
(Standing Stone - "Vidal Ice" or "Chardonnay Ice", Wiemer - "Late Harvest Riesling 2008", Wagner - "Vidal Ice")

Best White: Other
Lamoreaux Landing - "Estate White"

Finger Lakes in the news

In celebration of Wine Spectator's recent article highlighting the Finger Lakes ("Single Vineyard Craze in the Finger Lakes" by James Molesworth, 3/31/10 issue), a bottle of Heron Hill's Ingle Vineyard Cab Franc '06 is decanting for dinner tonight. I was beside myself with giddiness when I read the article last week. Some of my favorite Finger Lakes wineries were mentioned (Wiemer, Ravines!, Lamoreaux Landing) and the publicity makes me oddly proud (and excited for their well deserved publicity).

The best thing about opening a bottle from a wine trip is the memories that resurface. Conversations with winemakers and winery staff, visuals of the countryside, connections with fellow wine lovers and, of course, thoughts of all those bottles you wish you could have brought home.

Cheers!

Finger Lakes - Best of the Reds

Best Reds
1. Standing Stone
2. Lamoreaux Landing

Best Pinot Noir
1. Ravines 2007
2. Lamoreaux 2007
3. Wiemer 2006












Best Cab Franc
1. Ravines 2007
(Atwater 2006, Lamoreaux Landing - "Barrel Aged" & Heron Hill - "Ingle Vineyard")

Best Cabernet Sauvignon
Penguin Bay (blend, no vintage)

Best Merlot
Standing Stone

Best Lemberger (blend)
1. Anthony Road 2007
2. Rooster Hill 2007












Best Red: Other
1. Lamoreaux Landing - "76 West"
(Anthony Road - "Devonian Red", Atwater - "Stone Bridge Red", Prejean - "Marechal Foch 2008")

Rooster Hill

Keuka Lake (West - Penn Yan)
489 Route 54 South
Penn Yan, NY 14527

315-536-4773
roosterhill.com
info@roosterhill.com

Hours: 10am-5pm Mon-Sat, 11-5 Sun
Tasting Fee: $6









Our last winery! We drove out of the way late Sunday afternoon to reach Rooster Hill. A friend's mother had been a year before and recommended it. Heck, after the last winery, I was determined to leave on a positive note.

The Rooster Hill tasting room sits halfway up the steep hillside with views of Keuka Lake. Homey, comfortable tasting room with helpful, knowledgeable staff. Our wine pourer guided us in the right direction with suggestions from the tasting menu. Overall, it was a positive experience with average wines. It was such a hike from our temporary home base that only out of my stubbornness and a desire to visit as many wineries as possible did it make it onto the itinerary.









Selections from tasting menu (purchases in bold):
Dry Riesling 2008 - $15.99. Crisp, lime and light apple. Light body, high acid. Smooth. Prefer the Gewurzt. "Luscious, dry crisp wine... flavors of tangerine, lemon and white pepper. Dusty hint of slate and minerals. Citrus fruit keeps it fresh and vibrant."
Estate Gewurztraminer 2007 - $19.99. Delicate, dry style with solid acid to bring it through to finish. "Ripe with intense spice... floral bouquet is prominent. Layered with fruit."
Estate Pinot Noir 2007 - $15.99. Tannins and spice without a lot of fruit; still tight. "Delicate... cherry fruit and strawberry... soft tannins. Finish is crisp and clean."
Estate Cabernet Franc-Lemberger 2007 -$19.99. Blend of 70% Cab Franc, 30% Lemberger. Lovely nose of herbal fruit, vanilla finish; nice tannins. "Lush wine... bold blackberry, cherry... complexity and depth... layers of spice, hint of mint. Oak adds touch of vanilla and smoky bacon."
Estate Cabernet Franc 2007 - $19.99. Smoky and meaty. Nice weight and balanced tannins. "Open and easy-going, medium-weight mix of tobacco, black cherry and spice notes."
NV Port - $15.99. Cab Franc blended with brandy. Chocolate-y, sweeter than expected and a touch hot. "Dark fruit aroma... plum and black cherry."












Other wines from the tasting menu:
Chardonnay 2008
Estate Gewurztraminer 2008
Estate Semi-Dry Riesling 2007
Silver Pencil 2008
Traminette 2007
Rosecomb Red
Cabernet Sauvignon 2007
Meritage 2005