2007 Heron Hill Ingle Vineyard Riesling Icewine

2007 Heron Hill Ingle Vineyard Riesling Icewine

2007 Heron Hill Riesling IcewineThis dessert wine is made from a small section of Ingle Vineyard’s younger vines (15 years old) and the grapes are harvested when frozen then hand-sorted.

In the glass, it’s strikingly golden with juicy tropical fruit, honey and jammy fig aromas. This is a rich and intense wine that’s not overly sweet and offers ripe apple flavors and a nice level of acidity.

Glad I secured four bottles of this delicious wine when I last visited Heron Hill as it’s now sold out.

Pairings: Cheese course, stone fruit or caramel desserts

Style: Sweet / Dessert Wine

Grape Type(s): Riesling

Region: Finger Lakes, NY, USA

Price: $49.99 (375ml)

2009 Ravines Wine Cellars Pinot Noir

2009 Ravines Wine Cellars Pinot Noir

The 2009 Ravines Wine Cellars Pinot Noir is a beautiful ruby in the glass. The nose is of red berries and cherries. In the mouth, the ripe cherries continue with some earthy, smoky notes with underlying oak from the French oak barrels the wine sees.  Soft tannins and pleasant velvety texture. Very Burgundian in style.

Not sure there are American Pinot Noirs, outside of some Russian River wines, that are better than this little gem.

Pairings:  Salmon, pork, roast chicken or duck. Very food-friendly wine.

Style: Red

Grape Type(s): Pinot Noir

Region: Finger Lakes, NY, USA

Price: $23

May is Riesling Month in the Finger Lakes

May is Riesling Month in the Finger Lakes

Photo Courtesy of Finger Lakes Wine Country

Being a fan of Riesling, I’m excited about May being Riesling Month.  Being a huge fan of Finger Lakes Rieslings…read article.

Cheers,

Veronique

The Finger Lakes for Wine Lovers

Photo Credit: Heron Hill Winery

I’m a huge fan of the Finger Lakes and its outstanding wines.  Here is an article of mine on traveling to the Finger Lakes and which wineries to visit along the way published by Jersey Bites.

Cheers,

Veronique

 

2008 Heron Hill Ingle Vineyard Pinot Noir

2008 Heron Hill Ingle Vineyard Pinot Noir

The Ingle Vineyard Pinot Noir is pale in the glass but medium-bodied and bright with juicy berries and cherries on the palate.  There’s a silky mouthfeel to this wine and there are notes of fir, pumpkin pie spice and cracked pepper.  Classic Burgundy in style and delicious at this price point.

Style: Red Wine

Grape Type(s): Pinot Noir

Region: Finger Lakes, NY

Around $20

2008 Dr Konstantin Frank Dry Riesling

2008 Dr Konstantin Frank Dry Riesling

I decided to pair this Finger Lakes wine with scallop ceviche I was serving as a starter at my last dinner party and it was a super choice.

When I poured the 2008 Dr Konstantin Frank Dry Riesling, it was straw colored in the glass.  I thought I’d made an error and opened a sweet Riesling judging by the honey color of the wine, but upon tasting it, I was pleased by the tartness and acidity I found.  In the mouth, this wine offers Fiji apple, ripe lemons and wet steely stones.  Great acidity and length on the finish.

Nice summer wine to add to my repertoire of affordable Rieslings.

Around: $15.

2009 Red Newt Circle Riesling

2009 Red Newt Circle Riesling

I met Red Newt Cellars co-founder, Debra Whiting at the New York Wine Expo this year and loved how passionate and proud she is of this well-crafted Riesling.

The 2009 Circle Riesling is ideal in any setting with its 3.2% residual sugar.  Great on a Tuesday night with Thai take out or paired with lobster in a spicy red sauce on the weekend.  The fact that this Finger Lakes Riesling is affordable is just another perk and makes it possible to order by the case for most wine lovers to have on hand for any occasion.

The wine is crisp, bright and juicy with the right amount of acidity.  On the nose, the aroma is peaches and nectarines.  In the mouth, it’s Meyer lemons with honey and Fiji apple undertones.  The finish is clean and slightly sweet and makes me look forward to the next sip.

Wine Spectator 86 points.

Around $13.

Riesling Hour – Tasting the Finger Lakes

Riesling Hour – Tasting the Finger Lakes

Riesling Hour Wines

Who’s ever done an online wine tasting? Why not join Finger Lakes Wine Country, me and hundreds of wine fans on Twitter and Facebook on 5/26 all while enjoying a fabulous glass (or two) of Finger Lakes Riesling: www.rieslinghour.com/#flxwine

Follow the Riesling conversation at:

www.facebook.com/fingerlakeswinecountry on Facebook or search @flxwine on Twitter

Let me know if you decide to sip with us!

2007 Anthony Road Sweet Dream

2007 Anthony Road Sweet Dream

2007 Anthony Road Sweet Dream

Using Vignoles grapes (French-American hybrid), Anthony Road Wine Company is able to create a dessert wine that’s balanced with a nice level of acidity to cut through the honey and ripe peach flavors and long finish. 8.6% residual sugar.

Around $15.99 (375ml).

2008 Heron Hill Late Harvest Vidal Blanc

2008 Heron Hill Late Harvest Vidal Blanc

I really enjoy late harvest wines, so was excited to try the 2008 Late Harvest Vidal Blanc.  It offers a honeyed and lush ripe fruit flavors and has a nice spicy finish and 11.7% residual sugar level that I loved.

Style: Late Harvest / Dessert Wine

Grape Type(s): Vidal Blanc

Region: Finger Lakes, NY

Around $17.99 (375ml)