May is Riesling Month in the Finger Lakes

Great time to explore the world class Rieslings of NY's Finger Lake regions. Many wineries are offering special tastings and events as well as (in some cases) free shipping.
http://www.fingerlakeswinecountry.com/A-Riesling-To-Visit.aspx

Wouldn't you guess we are not getting up that way until early June.

Website looks interesting., thanks for the headsup.we too will probably not get there until June

THIS IS GREAT:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oI2fnCRProc&feature=channel_page

Coupla questions for ya, Ed

Have you tasted the red Newt Circle reisling yet? If yes, your impressions?
Is it available at retail? or just at the winery?

price?

I have not tasted it yet but look forward to it. I believe it will be available retail (huge production) and Dave was trying to hit the $10-11 price point.

Coupla questions for ya, Ed

Have you tasted the red Newt Circle reisling yet? If yes, your impressions?
Is it available at retail? or just at the winery?

price?

Jon,

Make your way over to Lenndevours blog: http://lennthompson.typepad.com/lenndevours/. Red Newt's new Riesling concept is discussed there. I haven't tasted it either. But I understand that the wine is intended to and will have noticeable RS.

I applaud Red Newt's new direction, which is to remove a few varietal wines from the list, pare down and focus on what they do best. Whenever asked, I advise wineries either to develop the Red Newt attitude or create second and third labels.

Thomas ..good to hear from ya..how are you?

thanks for the headsup..and the info
another interesting website, learn something new every day

Thomas ..good to hear from ya..how are you?

thanks for the headsup..and the info
another interesting website, learn something new every day

Yep, learning is good.

Say hello to Dana Decker for me. One day I have to pop in on him.

Thomas..You have been promising to drop in on Dana for years now..Whattya say the next time you are in our area, ya give me a buzz and you and I will get together..ok?

Thomas..You have been promising to drop in on Dana for years now..Whattya say the next time you are in our area, ya give me a buzz and you and I will get together..ok?

Yes, I know.

The next time I will be in the area is to judge at the State Fair Wine Competition on June 6. I get in Friday, June 5. That evening is possible for a get together, and maybe you can corral Dana for me.

Will give Dana a buzz and get back to you

Have you tasted the red Newt Circle reisling yet? If yes, your impressions?

I'm not Ed, but I stopped by Red Newt for lunch today (had gnocchi with a tasty roasted garlic cream sauce with pine nuts, kale, and sausage). Afterwards I tasted the Circle Riesling. I was told it's 3.2% rs, but the wine has a lot of acidity and the overall effect is of less sweetness than some other Finger Lakes Rieslings labeled as dry. The nose has herbal and citrus rind notes on the nose and lemon/lemon rind flavors on the palate. The overall effect is nice, and it's reasonably priced at $12 or so. I thought it a very good, balanced, everyday wine.

Thanks Steve..sounds like a wine i will be looking for..The gnocchi sounds good too..very pretty dining room at Red Newt

Steve, did you get to try the single vineyard Gewurtz?

Have you tasted the red Newt Circle reisling yet? If yes, your impressions?

I'm not Ed, but I stopped by Red Newt for lunch today (had gnocchi with a tasty roasted garlic cream sauce with pine nuts, kale, and sausage). Afterwards I tasted the Circle Riesling. I was told it's 3.2% rs, but the wine has a lot of acidity and the overall effect is of less sweetness than some other Finger Lakes Rieslings labeled as dry. The nose has herbal and citrus rind notes on the nose and lemon/lemon rind flavors on the palate. The overall effect is nice, and it's reasonably priced at $12 or so. I thought it a very good, balanced, everyday wine.

I hope he keeps the quality up for this line. Keenly priced FL riesling is a good idea - something that might compete with a dryish German QbA in value. There are producers that have kept their regular riesling prices in the $12 range: Hosmer, Lamoreaux Landing, Glenora spring to mind, so this isn't exactly paradigm breaking.

Steve, did you get to try the single vineyard Gewurtz?

Nope, I didn't know about it, and I only stopped quickly on my way out to taste the Circle, which I'd heard about. There was a large group from a bus filling much of the tasting room, so I didn't linger.

I did get to try the 2008 Damiani Gewurztraminer from tank, though. I thought it very good, it's nicely scented but not overbearingly perfumed as some Gewurzes are, and it was well-balanced as well. I don't think it will change when bottled, but I don't have a lot of experience with that.

Damiani is one of my new FL favorites, Only discovered them about 2 years ago..They do a very nice job,both whites and reds..They were also very nice and accomodating when I needed some wine for Christmas gifts

Thomas ....just got off the phone with Dana..He will do his best to get together with us that Friday night..I wd be delighted to host and pour from my cellar..Dana said he wd happy to host as well and we cd drink some goodies from his back room..Dana said it has been a looooong time since he has seen you..

Jon

Damiani is one of my new FL favorites, Only discovered them about 2 years ago..They do a very nice job,both whites and reds..They were also very nice and accomodating when I needed some wine for Christmas gifts

I think that they've only been selling wine since the 2004 vintage; at least the earliest wine I had from them was the 2004 Cab Franc back in September 2007. I've liked their reds, and am less familiar with their whites. The reds are early drinkers and have broad appeal both to regular and to infrequent wine drinkers. When I stopped the other day, the 2006 reds struck me as ready to drink now. I particularly liked the 2006 Meritage. The 2007 reds they were pouring (Pinot Noir, Merlot, Reserve Merlot, and Meritage) all need some time [edited to add: maybe a year or so - I don't think these are long-term agers]. Consistent with the vintage, there's more tannic structure to them. They were sold out of 2007 Cab Franc and the 2007 Cab Sauvignon isn't out yet.

Steve..I think Damiani's strength lies in their reds but their whites shd not be overlooked..I have liked their Sauv blanc and chards and my duaghter, who has a sweet tooth , likes their Dolce Bianco

I have their 2005 Cab Franc in the cellar, bought in 2007 on our first visit to Damiani..Wasn't looking for any reds the last time I stopped in there, was guiding my daughter Samantha through the minefields of FL whites. I preferred the Cab Franc to their Cab Sauv back in 07..didn't taste any reds in 08..will probably hit Seneca again this summer when Sam come in for a visit..will probably also stop at Lamoreaux Landing and see John Z and his wife at Silver Springs, a little south of Damiani on the east side of Seneca before heading up the west side to visit Hermann Weimer.

Steve..I think Damiani's strength lies in their reds but their whites shd not be overlooked..I have liked their Sauv blanc and chards and my duaghter, who has a sweet tooth , likes their Dolce Bianco

Jon,

Thanks. I'll definitely keep them in mind in the future, especially after trying the Gewurz.

Steve..I think Damiani's strength lies in their reds but their whites shd not be overlooked..I have liked their Sauv blanc and chards and my duaghter, who has a sweet tooth , likes their Dolce Bianco

I have their 2005 Cab Franc in the cellar, bought in 2007 on our first visit to Damiani..Wasn't looking for any reds the last time I stopped in there, was guiding my daughter Samantha through the minefields of FL whites. I preferred the Cab Franc to their Cab Sauv back in 07..didn't taste any reds in 08..will probably hit Seneca again this summer when Sam come in for a visit..will probably also stop at Lamoreaux Landing and see John Z and his wife at Silver Springs, a little south of Damiani on the east side of Seneca before heading up the west side to visit Hermann Weimer.

John: check out the '07 T23 Cab Franc at Lamoreaux Landing. No wood, very drinkable and well priced. They usually do a nice gewurztraminer, too.

Joe..Last time I tasted LL's Cab Franc, I was underwhelmed but will try it again this Summer..Their Gewurtz is an annual buy for me