WTN: NYS (and 1 Niagara) wines

Local group met, theme being NY State and Canadian wines. Fred hosted, put out salmon spread, hummus, and tapenade; later he grilled sausage and chicken

2017 Salmon Run (Dr. K. Frank) Rose (Finger Lakes)
Soft, edge of sweetness, red fruits. B-/C+

Rest were blind

2017 One Woman Rose (North Fork)
A bit crisper than the FL rose (would have guessed other way around), herby. B-

2016 One Woman Gruner Veltliner (North Fork)
Moderate acids, pear and citrus, not very Gruner ish but tasty. B

2015 Norman Hardy Chardonnay (Niagara )
Buttery oak, vanilla, modest acids, big but short. I though NF Chard C+

2015 Duck Walk Pinot Grigio (Hamptons)
A wine to make you appreciate Sta. Marg. Low acid, sweet, short. C+

2014 Eminence Road “Elizabeth’s Vineyard” Cabernet Franc (Finger Lakes)
Mine, had some time in decanter. Raspberry green tobacco and herbs, balanced and fun. B+

2015 Hearts and Hands Pinot Noir (Finger Lakes)
Fresh, crisp cherry, some herbs. B+/B

2014 Onabay Cabernet Franc (North Fork)
Light, acids a little disjointed, but some nice cranberry fruit. B-

2015 Eminence Road “Elizabeth’s Vineyard” Cabernet Sauvignon (Finger Lakes)
Soft cassis, some herb. I guessed NF Merlot B/B-

There was a terrible Merlot, but I didn’t write down name. Somehow I thought someone said it was Pinot Project, but that makes no sense.

Fun night, though I would have preferred if there wasn’t a downpour during walk home

Grade disclaimer: I'm a very easy grader, basically A is an excellent wine, B a good wine, C drinkable. Anything below C means I wouldn't drink at a party where it was only choice.Furthermore, I offer no promises of objectivity, accuracy, and certainly not of consistency.

Sounds like a visit to Eminence Road is in order once we move!

Looking forward to having more access to New York wines. Not much to be found here, though we had a really good Bedell Cab Franc (North Fork, I think) a few years ago that Andrea liked so much that she asks me about every 6 months if I've found any yet.

Thanks for the notes.

While Eminence Road uses Finger Lakes grapes, the actual winery is a tiny operation in a town called Long Eddy down on the Delaware River (not really in the Finger Lakes). They probably have better distribution in the NYC area than around Ithaca, but the wines are good.

Thanks, Joe. I'm sure I'll be doing plenty of wine shopping in the city, too.

(And the upper Delaware looks like a nice place for a cycling trip! I got to know the stretch between Frenchtown and New Hope pretty well the year I lived in NJ...)

Thanks, Joe. I'm sure I'll be doing plenty of wine shopping in the city, too.

(And the upper Delaware looks like a nice place for a cycling trip! I got to know the stretch between Frenchtown and New Hope pretty well the year I lived in NJ...)

Ah, another cyclist. It just so happens I'm going to be in Ithaca for a couple days later this month, with some cycling planned. You are moving to a good area for riding (winter excepted). Now that I am in NJ know the roads around New Hope as well (I sometimes do a loop Princeton-Lambertville, through the Sourlands), but most of the time I need to deal with the sucky traffic, etc. in Essex Co., where I live.

I continue to stand by Fox Run Cab Franc, the only NY red in my area.