November 26, 2011

             Ravines is hot, as are some other New York wines with new scores and medals, and on December 2 enjoy a great meal for a great cause            

            Cheers!          

            Jim Trezise

 Ravines' Rave Reviews

                  Ravines Wine Cellars on the east side of Keuka Lake is racking up the recognition these days, first with its 2009 Dry Riesling selected as the best white wine for Thanksgiving by the New York Times panel...now with that same wine being listed as #72 (with a score of 90) in the Wine Spectator's 2011 Top 100 Wines...and even more recently with its 2008 Cabernet Franc selected by the Boston Globe as a terrific wine for this holiday.  Congratulations to Morten and Lisa Hallgren for all their hard work and commitment to quality.  (www.ravineswinecellars.com).

                Elsewhere, the year-end edition of Wine & Spirits magazine gave scores of 90 to Chateau Frank 2006 Finger Lakes Blanc de Blancs, and House of Sherwood 2005 North Fork of Long Island Blanc de Blanc--two great sparklers for the holidays.

                New York wines also got more mentions as Thanksgiving wines, from Hermann J. Wiemer Gewurztraminer on Martha Stewart's Thanksgiving Special to Howard G. Goldberg's recommendations in the New York Times of Long Island wines ranging from Lieb Cellars 2007 Blanc de Blanc to Macari 2010 Sauvignon Blanc, Coffee Pot Cellars 2008 Merlot, and Grapes of Roth 2009 Late Harvest Riesling, reflecting the many wonderful flavors this holiday offers.  True, it may be over--but there are lots of great leftovers!

               New York wines captured a total of 87 awards at the recent Jefferson Cup competition, including four Jefferson Cup Awards, five Jefferson Cup Nominees, and 28 Medals of Excellence--or a total of 37 top medals.

               The Jefferson Cup Awards went to Chateau LaFayette Reneau 2010 Finger Lakes Dry Riesling; Hazlitt White Cat and White Stag; and Swedish Hill Winery 2010 Finger Lakes Late Harvest Vignoles. 

               The Jefferson Cup Nominees (similar to Double Gold in other competitions) included Chateau Frank 2006 Finger Lakes Blanc de Blancs; Chateau LaFayette Reneau Seyval-Chardonnay and 2010 Finger Lakes Pinot Noir Blanc; Inspire Moore 2010 Wisdom; and Swedish Hill Viking Red.

                The Medals of Excellence (equivalent to a Gold Medal) were awarded to Chateau Frank 2005 Finger Lakes Brut and 2006 Blanc de Noirs; Chateau LaFayette Reneau 2010 Finger Lakes Late Harvest Riesling and 2009 Barrel Fermented Chardonnay; Dr. Konstantin Frank 2010 Finger Lakes Pinot Gris, 2010 Finger Lakes Gruner Veltliner, and 2009 Finger Lakes Reserve Gewurtztraminer; Fox Run Vineyards 2010 Finger Lakes Dry Riesling; Glenora Wine Cellars 2003 Finger Lakes Brut, 2010 Finger Lakes Meritage, and 2010 Finger Lakes Dry Riesling; Goose Watch Winery Cream Sherry and 2010 Finger Lakes Diamond; Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards 2008 Finger Lakes Cabernet Franc, 2008 Finger Lakes Cabernet Sauvignon, and Bramble Berry; Hunt Country 2010 Finger Lakes Cayuga and Cream Sherry; Inspire Moore 2010 Finger Lakes Change and 2010 Finger Lakes Love; Knapp Winery 2010 Estate Grown Vidal Ice Wine; Lakewood Vineyards 2010 Finger Lakes Dry Riesling; Lamoreaux Landing 2010 Finger Lakes Yellow Dog Vineyard Riesling, 2010 Finger Lakes Red Oak Vineyard Riesling, 2010 Finger Lakes Semi-Dry, and 2008 Finger Lakes Chardonnay; Swedish Hill 2010 Finger Lakes Riesling, and Viking White.

                Held in Kansas City, MO, the Jefferson Cup competition is run by our friend and judge (at our New York Wine & Food Classic) Doug Frost, one of few people in the world with both Master of Wine and Master Sommelier degrees.              

              Deb Whiting Foundation will be the recipient of 100% of the proceeds from "The Swanky Five Times Swine Inauguarl Kick-Off Dinner" on December 2 at 6:30 pm at Red Newt Bistro. 

                 A culinary visionary and locavore passionista, Deb Whiting transformed the food scene of the Finger Lakes, and her legacy continues as Red Newt Executive Chef Brud Holland teams up with Chef Samantha Buyskes (Simply Red Events and Culinary Center) on a scrumptuous eight course meal (if you include the pre-dessert and post-dessert dessert-like courses which surround the main dessert), with a particular emphasis on different treatments of pork. 

                 In Deb's tradition, it is incredibly creative and fascinating.  Tickets are $100 and available at debrawhiting@eventbrite.com.  More info: www.rednewt.com.  

  "Wine makes every meal an occasion, every table more elegant, every day more civilized."

                                                   --Andre Simon