March 28, 2015

Dr. Frank Riesling wins again, a treasure trove of New York Gold, NY Drinks NY, and a New York Wine Sampler debuts

Cheers!

Jim Trezise

Triple Crown for Dr. Frank Riesling, Plus New York Gold Galore

Dr. Konstantin Frank 2013 Semi-Dry Riesling is on a major roll, winning Best Riesling at the huge Finger Lakes International Wine Competition, after starting the year as Best White Wine (of any type) back to back at the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition and then the Florida International. I don't know of any other single wine that has make such an incredible showing--and the year of competitions is just getting started.

Chateau Frank Celebre sparkling wine won a Double Gold, with Gold medals going to Dr. Frank 2013 Dry Riesling, 2013 Riesling Reserve, 2013 Late Harvest Riesling, and 2014 Gruner Veltliner.

In addition, 21 Brix Raspberry won Best Fruit Wine, and Sheldrake Point 2014 Riesling Ice Wine topped that category.

New York wines won a total of 528 medals including 22 Double Gold, 35 Gold, 266 Silver, and 205 Bronze.

Additional Double Golds went to Americana 2013 Riesling; Baiting Hollow 2013 Riesling; Black Willow Classic Diamond; Chateau Lafayette Reneau Roaring Red; Colloca Estate 2013 Riesling; Hazlitt 1852 White Stag; Hosmer 2013 Cabernet Franc; Idol Ridge 2014 Vidal Ice Wine; Johnson Estate 2013 Vidal Ice Wine and Concord; Knapp Brut; Leonard Oakes 2013 Vidal Blanc Ice Wine; Penguin Bay 2013 Riesling and Percussion; Sparkling Pointe 2005 Brut Seduction; Swedish Hill 2013 Riesling; Thirsty Owl 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Ice Wine; Ventosa 2011 Cabernet Franc; Vineyard View 2012 Cabernet Franc; Wagner 2013 Fathom 107 and 2012 Semi-Dry Riesling.

Gold medals were awarded to 21 Brix 2013 Chardonnay and Blueberry; Americana 2013 Crystal Lake; Anthony Road 2012 Riesling; Atwater Estate 2013 Cabernet Franc - North Block Six; Baiting Hollow 2013 White Satin, 2013 Cheval Bleu and 2013 Savannah Rose; Bella-Brooke 2013 Brianna; Bet the Farm 2013 Late Harvest Vignoles; Castel Grisch 2013 Riesling Ice; Colloca 2013 Pinot Noir; Fox Run 2014 Chardonnay; Honeymoon Trail 2013 Bear Riesling; Hosmer 2013 Pinot Noir and 2013 Riesling; Hunt Country 2013 Vidal Blanc Ice Wine; King Ferry 2011 Reserve Cabernet Franc and 2013 Late Harvest Vignoles; Martha Clara 2013 Estate Reserve Riesling and 2012 Estate Reserve Pinot Noir; Pellegrini Vintner's Pride Finale Bin #1331; Point of the Bluff 2012 Riesling Icewine and 2013 Semi-Dry Riesling; Prejean 2013 Goldfinch Vineyards Riesling and 2013 Goldfinch Vineyards Chardonnay; Red Newt 2014 Kelby James Russell Dry Rose; Rooster Hill 2013 Chardonnay; Starkey's Lookout 2012 Whirling Dervish; The Winery at Marjim Manor Cherry Concerto; and Toro Run 2013 Dry Riesling.

Meanwhile, Wine Spectator awarded scores of 90 to Forge 2013 Finger Lakes Riesling Les Allies; Hosmer 2012 Cayuga Lake Vintners Reserve; and Sparkling Pointe 2005 Brut Seduction.

Wine & Spirits also gave some great reviews to Hermann J. Wiemer 2012 Late Harvest Riesling, Joseph Vineyard, and Ravines 2012 Cabernet Franc (both 93), plus Damiani 2012 Riesling (92) and Knapp 2013 Dry Riesling.

Finally (for this week), Atwater 2013 Dry Rose (made from Merlot) won a Double Gold medal as the first-ever Rose Competition in northern California.

New York wines are on a roll!

NY Drinks NY (cont'd)

The New York Wine & Culinary Center in Canandaigua was the first stop for a group of young New Yorkers (from the City, that is) last Sunday, as they began their three-day tour of the Finger Lakes with a locavore/locapour luncheon. And what a way to start:

First Course: Grilled Chicory Salad tossed with Brined Root Vegetables & Keeley's Across the Pond Cheese

Second Course: Apple Cider Molasses Bostrom Farms Brined Pork Tenderloin over Red jacket Orchards Apple & Finger Lakes Gold Potato Rosti

Third Course: Spiced Cranberry & Maple Semifreddo layered with Ginger Snaps & Brittle

And of course New York wines to match. The menu also listed 8 "Featured Farms & Vendors", including the awesome Bostrom Farms pork producer which makes the world's best smoked off the bone ham.

It was a great introduction for our 10 City guests representing media, wine stores, and especially restaurants like the famous Alain Ducasse, Gramercy Tavern, and David Burke. Their three days savoring the geography, meeting the people, and tasting the wines of the Finger Lakes, Niagara and Lake Erie regions will make them ambassadors for the wines among their peers in the Big Apple.

We are grateful to the Genesee Valley Regional Market Authority, with support from the New York State Department of Agriculture & Markets, for the grant that made this program possible.

New York Wine Samplers Unveiled

After three years of planning and hard work, our friend Frederic Bouche of Ports of New York in Ithaca and his business partner Harvey Reisig of Cornell have launched New York Wine Samplers.

These are four-packs of 50ml bottles of wine, with the initial offering including a selection of four different Finger Lakes Cabernet Francs, four Single Vineyard Rieslings from one producer, and four Ice Wines from different producers. The selections will change and expand in the future.

Samplers provide new opportunities for wineries, restaurants and consumers in a number of different ways. Wineries can offer them in tasting rooms as well as to their wholesale and retail accounts for sampling and sales. Restaurants can use the small bottles--about 1/15th of normal bottle--as single servings, particularly of ice wines and other dessert wines which are normally offered in small portions. Consumers can use the samplers to compare different wines of the same type, whether from different producers or different vineyards.

More information is available at www.newyorkwinesamplers.com.

Words on Wine...

"In water one sees one's own face; but in wine one beholds the heart of another."

--French Proverb