Finger Lakes Rieslings on a Role!

Tasting Highlights: Finger Lakes Riesling
Nine noteworthy white wines from New York's Finger Lakes region offer excellent value
James Molesworth
Posted: Friday, October 31, 2008
Here's a selection of newly released Rieslings from New York's Finger Lakes region, covering the two most recent vintages.

The 2006 vintage produced wines in a drier, leaner style, thanks to a typically cool growing season. On the other hand, 2007 was one of the warmer years in recent memory for vintners in upstate New York, and the wines tend to show plumper textures and more tropical fruit notes (though they still retain a cool-climate personality overall).

As usual, value abounds in this overlooked region. New faces Red Tail Ridge and Shaw Vineyard headline this set of wines.


RED TAIL RIDGE Riesling Finger Lakes Dry 2007 Score: 88 | $25
Fresh, with nice cut and drive to the citrus peel, mineral and floral notes. Nice hint of anise on the lively finish. Very tasty. Drink now. 192 cases made. —J.M.


SHAW VINEYARD Riesling Finger Lakes 2006 Score: 88 | $17
Tangy and fresh, with slate, green apple and fig notes that stay nervy through the nicely concentrated finish. Drink now. 250 cases made. —J.M.


SHAW VINEYARD Riesling Finger Lakes Dry 2006 Score: 88 | $19
Good focus and drive, with a bracing edge to the lime, watermelon and green apple notes. Nice slatelike tang on the finish. Drink now. 200 cases made. —J.M.


LAMOREAUX LANDING Riesling Finger Lakes Semi-Dry 2007 Score: 87 | $13
This has nice cut for a semi-dry style, with anise, yellow apple and pear notes that stay persistent through the lengthy finish. Drink now. 997 cases made. —J.M.


WHITE SPRINGS FARM Riesling Finger Lakes 2007 Score: 87 | $13
Fresh, with driven lime and slate notes backed by a bright green apple note. Tangy, tasty finish. Drink now through 2010. 527 cases made. —J.M.


BLOOMER CREEK Riesling Finger Lakes Dry 2007 Score: 86 | $18
Juicy, with good fresh apple, lime and quince notes. Lively finish has nice length. Drink now. 107 cases made. —J.M.


HIGHLAND CELLARS Riesling Seneca Lake Oughterson Family Estates 2006 Score: 86 | $13
Plump and forward, with a mix of anise, braised fennel and green apple notes followed by a fairly rich, round finish. Drink now. 264 cases made. —J.M.


LAMOREAUX LANDING Riesling Finger Lakes Dry 2007 Score: 86 | $13
A little shy for a dry style, with modest citrus peel and honeysuckle notes. Focused, elegant finish has nice length though. Drink now. 714 cases made. —J.M.


RAVINES Riesling Finger Lakes Dry 2007 Score: 86 | $17
Focused, with good pippin and slate notes and a refreshing finish. Drink now. 1,500 cases made

Women in Wine at Esperanza Mansion

Esperanza Mansion will host Women and Wine, a winemaker dinner featuring Finger Lakes Wine Country, New York winemakers Amy Hoffman of Rooster Hill on Keuka Lake and Nancy Irelan of Red Tail Ridge on Seneca Lake. Esperanza Mansion’s Women and Wine event will be spectacular from start to finish as it offers the opportunity to enjoy a wine and food presentation full of wisdom and knowledge from the perspective of two accomplished award winning New York women wine makers in Finger Lakes Wine Country.

The Women and Wine dinner will take place on November 15, 2008 starting at 6:30PM at The Esperanza Mansion on Keuka Lake in the heart of Finger Lakes Wine Country. Complimentary Champagne and Hors D’oeuvres begin this culinary journey followed by a scrumptious ten course food and wine pairing dinner.

• Carpaccio of blue fin tuna with green peppercorns & smoky tomato vinaigrette.
o Pairing: Rooster Hill 2006 Traminette
• Pan roasted sea bass with black truffle & rosemary infused olive oil.
o Pairing: Rooster Hill 2006 Seyval Blanc
• Rosemary skewered diver scallop with vanilla beurre noisette
o Pairing: Rooster Hill 2006 Gewurtztraminer
• Poached lobster medallions with warm pernod butter, caramelized fennel bruniose & chanterelles.
o Pairing: Red Tail Ridge 2006 Dry Riesling
• Intermezzo-Mayer lemon granite
• Creamed white asparagus & stone crab soup with white truffle oil.
o Pairing: Red Tail Ridge 2006 Chardonnay sans oak
• Micro burgundy amaranth salad with roasted red & yellow beets, Valencia orange, toasted pignoli & pomegranate vinaigrette.
o Pairing: Rooster Hill 2006 Pinot Noir
• Intermezzo- Champagne-blood orange sorbet
• Roasted quail with mission fig & bosc pear chutney
o Pairing: Red Tail Ridge Ridge Chardonnay barrel fermented
• Grilled Colorado lamb rack with curried yogurt.
o Pairing: Rooster Hill 2006 Merlot
• Kobe beef coulotte medallion bordelaise
o Pairing:Red Tail Ridge 2006 Pinot Noir
• Belgian dark chocolate truffle torte
o Pairing: Rooster Hill 2006 Port

The Women and Wine dinner is $90 per person. Reservations can be made by calling the Esperanza Mansion at 866.927.4400.

Wine on Ice Hotel Package Announced

With harvest mostly over and the weather getting colder the coundown has begun for Wine on Ice, January 23 & 24 at First Arena in Elmira (gateway to Finger Lakes Wine Country). Here is information on a great package deal from our friends at the Holiday Inn / Riverview in Elmira.

Experience “Wine on Ice” a winter sampling of the Finger Lakes’ best in wine, food, shopping and entertainment. Taste some of the finest wines Finger Lakes Wine Country has to offer and purchase your favorites. Entertainment will fill the air as local restaurants will offer their best dishes and don’t forget to visit the local craft vendors for that special gift. After the event return to the Holiday Inn Elmira Riverview to relax and join us in Anthony’s Lounge for our Friday or Saturday Entertainment. The next morning wake up after a great event and enjoy breakfast in Anthony’s Restaurant.

Package includes:

2 Tickets to the Wine on Ice Session of your choice
(Friday Night, Saturday Afternoon or Saturday Night)

Transportation to and from the event

Overnight Accommodations at the Holiday Elmira Riverview

Breakfast for two

Welcome basket in your room

Package Price $179.00

Call Hotel directly at 607-734-4211 to book your reservation.

Holiday Inn/ Riverview
760 E Water Street
Elmira, NY 14901
607-734-4211

PALATE, A Wine, Food, and Art Showcase

It's official! PALATE, A Wine, Food, and Art Showcase is coming to Finger Lakes Wine Country February 16 - 22, 2009. Tickets (we are calling them PALATE passes) are $50 per adult and will be available November 15 at all Wegmans stores. However we have put some tickets up for sale early online at LocalWineEvents. This week long showcase will feature winemaker dinners, wine and food pairings, beer tastings, museum exhibits, movie screenings, and special promotions. Click here for more information.

Finger Lakes Grape Stomping in New York City, I LOVE LUCY Style!

Well harvest is upon us and now is a wonderful time to come to Finger Lakes Wine Country for a fall getaway. The spectacular fall foliage and ripe grapes make this time of the year very special. Winemakers are busy crushing their grapes and starting fermentations and the tasting rooms are buzzing with visitors from all over the world. Many of the wineries have picnic areas, the state parks are open, and you can even make a glass pumpkin at The Corning Museum of Glass.

In case you live New York City and can't make it up to the Finger Lakes this weekend, we are going to be in Union Square for the Green Market on Friday for a Finger Lakes grape stomp. Stop by the tent anytime during the day (being hosted by our own Anthony Road Wine Company) for a real life I LOVE LUCY experience. You will get a chance to stomp some Cabernet Franc grown in the Finger Lakes.

See you soon. Either in New York City this Friday or in Finger Lakes Wine Country this fall.