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January 12, 2012
Dr. Frank gets top prize, Hudson Valley gets nice ratings, Paumanok gets great ink, and ice wine gets made. Life is good.
Cheers!
Jim Trezise |
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Dr. Frank Gewurztraminer a Smash | | |
Dr. Konstantin Frank Wne Cellars 2010 Gewurztraminer Reserve was rated "Best White Wine" in the prestigious San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, the world's largest competition of American wines with more than 5,500 wines evaluated by 60 expert judges. Dr. Frank's 2010 Muscat Ottonel also won a Gold medal at the competition.
The late Dr. Konstantin Frank pioneered the "vinifera revolution" in the eastern United States, proving that the delicate European grape varieties could survive and thrive in the cool climate of the Finger Lakes, just like they do in some European regions. As a result, virtually all of the 100+ wineries in the Finger Lakes now produce some vinifera wines, as do hundreds of wineries in other New York regions and eastern states. His grandson Fred Frank is the third generation to head the winery, with Fred's daughter Meaghan, a recent Cornell graduate, slated to join the family business in the near future. Dr. Frank wines have won hundreds of Gold medals in major competitions, and is the most widely recognized New York brand on a national level.
Finger Lakes Gewurztraminers are clearly popular with the California judges in this competition, since a couple years ago another great Gewurz from Keuka Spring Vineyards took "Best White Wine" as well.
This year's other winners included four Best of Class awards, four Double Gold, eight Gold, 38 Silver and 32 Bronze medals. The Best of Class winners are Coyote Moon 2010 Marquette, Goose Watch Golden Spumante and 2010 Diamond, and Woodbury White Renard.
Double Gold medals went to Goose Watch 2010 Traminette, Keuka Spring Vineyards 2010 Vignoles, Swedish Hill Riesling Cuvee, and Woodbury 2010 Niagara.
Gold medal winners were Casa Larga Vineyards 2009 Riesling Ice Wine, Coyote Moon Fireboat Red, Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards 2010 Homestead Riesling and 2008 Cabernet Franc, Swedish Hill 2010 Dry Riesling, Wolffer Estate 2008 Caya, and Woodbury Blush Renard.
The Chronicle event always kicks off the new competition season, starting the annual treasure trove of New York Gold, which is always available on our web site (www.newyorkwines.org). Next up is the great Florida International, where I have judged for about 20 years. Stay tuned for more Gold. |
| Hudson Valley Featured in Wine Enthusiast | | |
The Hudson Valley is one of the most historic wine regions in the country and the closest to New York City, yet it often gets overlooked by wine media and trade. Recently the Wine Enthusiast magazine gave a shout-out to the region with ratings of more than 20 wines and scores ranging from 85 to 89.
Millbrook Vineyards 2010 25th Anniversary Pinot Noir was the top scorer at 89, with its 2010 25th Anniversary Chardonnay rated at 88. Other wines with scores of 88 included Oak Summit Vineyard Pinot Noir and Whitecliff Vineyard 2010 Reserve Chardonnay, with 87 points going to Millbrook 2007 Proprietor's Special Reserve Cabernet Franc and 2009 Proprietor's Special Reserve Chardonnay, Hudson-Chatham 2010 Casscles Vineyard Reserve Baco Noir, and Whiteliff Vineyard Cabernet Franc.
The complete list of ratings and other information about the historic Hudson Valley is available at hudsonvalleywinecountry.org, the web site we funded with our regional branding program several years ago. |
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Paumanok Chenin Blanc a Hit; Long Island Invades London | | |
Paumanok Vineyards on Long Island began the year, literally, with some positive plugs for its 2011 Chenin Blanc, a superb, elegant wine. The first mention, on January 3 in the Wall St. Journal on line, came from Lettie Teague who had stopped by to wish the Massoud family a happy New Year (and to buy some of their Chenin Blanc). The context was about Drinking Locally in 2012. The second appeared in What's Cookin' blog which described Tajarin with Porcini Mushrooms as "a perfect pairing for Paumanok Chenin Blanc.
Meanwhile, wines from Paumanok, Channing Daughters, Lenz and Wolffer Estate are becoming popular in the United Kingdom, thanks to the efforts of Sue Chambers who has been importing them. Sue participates in our trade show booth at the London International Wine Trade Fair, and has clearly made major progress.
Among recent successes are placements at Limewood, a five-star hotel near Southampton; Terra Vina, owned by Gerald Basset (MS, MW, OBE) who won Best Sommelier in the World in 2010 and Decanter Man of the Year a few years ago; Pollen Street Social, one of the hottest restaurants in London's West Edn; and Lucknam Park Hotel near Bath, a five-star country house hotel with a Michelin-starred restaurant and cafe.
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The Ice Wine Cometh--Finally! | | |
Ice wine from New York and other places received nationwide coverage this week thanks to an article by John Flesher of the Associated Press on this year's long wait until the grapes could be picked.
To legally be labeled Ice Wine, the grapes must be picked when they're actually frozen on the vine (as opposed to picking them earlier and then freezing them). Often that happens in December, sometimes even around Thanksgiving, but this year's string of unseasonably warm weather delayed everything. I was quoted (accurately) as saying, "What's ironic about the ice wine harvest is it's one of the few times when people actually say, 'Great, it's going to be bitter cold'. We were kind of twiddling our thumbs, but it finally came together."
So on a cold Tuesday morning early in January, picking crews scoured the vineyards for the tiny, ugly, frozen grapes which will become the nectar of the gods. And one of New York's premier ice wine producers, Casa Larga Vineyards, is once again hosting the NY Ice Wine Festival on February 18 featuring seven producers of true Ice Wine.
How sweet it is. |
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"Beer is made by men, wine by God."
--Martin Luther |
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