Discovering Finger Lakes Chardonnay

Another wine day has come and gone and I did my bit part by celebrating #ChardonnayDay with two of the Finger Lakes finest.  Also cemented my feelings about what is considered the world's most popular white grape varietal. Of course, those that know me, know that it means forget the oak with it's buttery, toasty, vanilla, butterscotch and creamy profile and give me Chardonnay aged in stainless steel or just a touch of acorns.  I've now come to realize why Chardonnay was not near the top of my favorite white wines.  It actually sat well situated on the very bottom of my list.  It's also a bit surprising that I would not favor well oaked Chards when I do have a liking for oaky red wines.  Someday, I may write a post about what I think the reason is, but it may be a two or three part series and I'm just not ready for that, yet and I'm no Evan Dawson.  Oh, by the way, let me plug his book here.  Title is "Summer In A Glass" - The Coming of Age of Wine in the Finger Lakes.  This past September the book was named International Wine Book of the Year. Contains great stories about wineries and the winemakers that have made the Finger Lakes a producer of world class wines. Now a little bit about the two Chardonnays I opened for today's celebration.
Early afternoon, after finishing my duties in lawn care, I opened a Ravines Wine Cellars Chardonnay 2011 ($18). I recently tasted this wine at our Keuka in Bloom wine tour.  As I very often do, anything I like in the tasting room, comes home.  Sometimes, especially with Chardonnay, that does not always come out the way I thought it will, but this time I think it was better.

Ravines has won recognition as a quality-driven winery dedicated to producing crafted and elegant food-friendly wines. The winery has won numerous medals in international wine competitions, received great reviews in major wine publications and can be found in many wine shops and fine restaurants throughout New York state.
This Chardonnay was aged for a short time in oak, but as I stated above, lightly oaked is passing the grade.  Aromas were full of apple, citrus, some peach and melon with very small hints of toast. More peach in mouth, a little citrus and some slate like taste led to a smooth finish, leaving long taste of citrus and slate.  Aromas and taste did not suggest any real oak influence and that is OK by me.  I was forced to pair this with left over mild BBQ chicken, but found the match was excellent.
For a second choice, I had to pair a Heron Hill Ingle Vineyards Chardonnay Unoaked 2011 ($16) with Shirley's 20 minute turkey meatloaf.  This wine, I did not taste, on our last tour.  I had made up my mind weeks in advance that I would bring this Chardonnay home.  Don't ask why, the wine just intrigued me.  After all,  it does say UNOAKED and I have never been disappointed by wines from Heron Hill.
Heron Hill gets most of its grapes from 12 acres of grapevines onsite and from the owner’s Ingle Vineyard, where there are nearly 20 acres of vinifera grapevines. Located on Seneca Point, on the west side of Canandaigua Lake, Ingle Vineyard is the only vinifera vineyard on that lake. Varieties grown include Riesling, Chardonnay, Cabernet Franc, and Pinot Noir. The vineyard is located on the home property of the Ingles, who maintain the vines themselves and with their staff. Sustainable methods are utilized and have been for nearly 40 years.
Color was more like a Sauvignon Blanc or Vinho Verde, very light with just a greenish like tint, but the aromas were very powerful.  Lots of pineapple with some grapefruit and a little melon and floral aromas on the nose.  In the mouth was more of the same with some added peach and clementine.  A hint of honey like sweetness and a silky mouthfeel leads to a medium to long crisp finish with a little added lemon and mineral.
Today was an excellent day to discover Finger Lakes Chardonnay.  Both wines excelled and are Very Highly Recommended.

Ravines Wine Cellars Gewürztraminer 2012

Usually, if I am having leftovers for dinner, wine is not an option.  Unless, its a left over Italian dish, which seems to be quite easy to pair a wine with.  Two days after matching a Finger Lakes Gewürztraminer with a tuna casserole, I was ordered to empty the fridge of any left overs for dinner.  Shirley gets in these "I'm not cooking moods" once in a while. So, I chose the left over casserole.  But, I wanted a wine.  My choice was another Finger Lakes Gewurzt.  This time a Ravines Wine Cellars Gewürztraminer 2012.($19). Gewürztraminer has probably become my second favorite Finger Lakes wine.  Like Riesling, Gewürztraminer is very food friendly and an excellent summer patio wine.  Ravines Gewürztraminer is no exception.

In 2000 Morten and Lisa Hallgren purchased a 17 acre parcel of land on a glacier-carved hillside on the Eastern slopes of Keuka lake. This land is located at the widest part of the lake which allows grapevines to receive maximum benefit from its temperature-moderating effects, it has a good slope which keeps the mineral rich soils well-drained, and is situated between two deep ravines, which drain cold air from the land during the winter. These ravines are the namesake of the winery.
Ravines has won recognition as a quality-driven winery dedicated to producing crafted and elegant food-friendly wines, has won numerous medals in international wine competitions, received great reviews in major wine publications and can be found in many wine shops and fine restaurants throughout New York state.
Lisa has created a seasonal schedule of food & wine pairing events for customers to enjoy during visits to the tasting room.

I wasn't expecting much of a difference in the Ravine's wine from the Keuka Spring Gewürztraminer in my last post, and that is what I got.  The wineries are about 20 miles apart, although I am not sure if the grapes used by Ravines were from the northern end of Seneca Lake.  The wines were very similar.
Aromas of melon, some apple, hints of peach and floral notes with some citrus were very pleasant.   Some honey like thickness in the mouth with a little less citrus and melon.  Very nice floral like finish still paired well with the tuna.  This wine will also pair very well with spicy asian dishes, pork, ham, chicken and shellfish. Very versatile and food friendly, Ravines Wine Cellars Gewürztraminer is a pleasant summer wine.  Highly Recommended 

Keuka Spring Pre-Emption Vineyard Gewürztraminer 2012

First night home after our "Keuka In Bloom" wine tour I got to choose one of my wines for dinner.  Shirley cooked up one of my favorites, tuna casserole and I uncorked a Keuka Spring Pre-Emption Vineyard Gewürztraminer 2012 ($22).  I chose this wine because of the many amazing wines I tasted at Keuka Spring, this was one that I came away totally infatuated with and just couldn't wait to open.

For over 25 years, Keuka Spring Vineyards has been consistently recognized for excellence.  Their friendly and knowledgeable staff looks forward to guiding you through a tasting of their award-winning wines. Their wine list includes wines for every taste, handcrafted from vineyard to bottle. They have one of the best selections of red and white wines in the Finger Lakes. Located on the East side of Keuka Lake, they offer one of the most fantastic scenic views of Keuka Lake from the outdoor patio and deck.

Aromas were all melon with honeysuckle and hints of peach and lychee. In the mouth the aromas came alive with a little mineral and grapefruit added.  A medium to long finish with bits of honey and melon paired nicely with the more mild flavor of the casserole.  This wine will also pair very well with spicy asian dishes, pork, ham, chicken and shellfish. Very versatile, a pleasant summer wine, but a little pricey.  Highly Recommended
photo credit: Finger Lakes Times

Albariño Day Selections

Today is #AlbariñoDay throughout the world and I am having my own little world sipping on this delightful white Spanish wine.  I have already reviewed Albariño wines from Don Olegario and Condes De Albarei leading up to today.  I took today off from doing yard work and a few other "honey dew" chores to sit back, relax, listen to good music and taste a few glasses of Albariño.  The sun is shining, Ella is singing and the wine is now completing the day.
Today, I am opening a Martin Codax 2011($13) for my afternoon lazy time and tonight, with a dinner of Cioppino (shrimp, scallops, clams and mussels simmered in marinara sauce and served over angel hair pasta) I will open a La Cana 2011($14).
Martin Codax Albarino takes its name from a 13th century Galician minstrel whose poems evoke the gallant love and passion for the sea. The canticles by "Martin Codax" are the oldest of all the Galician-Portuguese poems to preserve their original music. The manuscript where they are recorded, known as the "Vindel Parchment", is preserved in the Morgan Library in New York.
The Martin Codax has a very light yellow color with aromas of green apple, floral notes, some peach and lemon.  Nice acidity and minerality with taste of green apple and lemon zest leading to a very crisp, dry refreshing finish. I wish every afternoon can be this enjoyable, but chores must be done sometime. 
With dinner just a few hours away, I opened my bottle of La Cana Albariño for a little taste in order to allow me to finish this post.
This wine is part of the Jorge Ordoñez  Selection. Ordoñez is one of the best ambassadors of Spanish wines in the world. He has developed his project of producing his own wines from different Spanish denominations of origin. They are wines of extraordinary quality and personality, particularly, Albariños from La Cana.
Again the color was light straw like and had aromas very reminiscent of some of my favorite Rieslings.  Aromas were full of peach, melon and lemon with floral hints of honeysuckle and sweet alyssum and even a little pineapple. Lots of melon and lemon in the the mouth with a very nice crisp and cinnamon apple like finish. 
This is going to be so good with dinner tonight.
Both wines are excellent examples of this delicious and food friendly wine from the Rias Baixas region of Spain.  Fantastic summer wine that will pair very nicely with all types of seafood, light cheeses, summer salads and herb crusted or BBQ chicken.  Both are Very Highly Recommended.
Now back to the patio

Condes De Albarei Albariño 2011

With Albariño Day now upon us it's time to open another bottle of this delightful Spanish white wine from the Rias Baixas region.  This one, Condes De Albarei Albariño 2011 ($10), I purchased at a local wine shop just for the occasion.

Adegas Condes de Albarei, located in the Val do Salnés sub-zone, is a cooperative of 400 members. Three styles of wine are produced (all 100% Albariño), including one aged in Galician oak. Wines are marketed under the Condes de Albarei and Salneval brands.

The Albariño was served with a dinner of ocean perch steamed in a little water and lots of bok choy and onion. This very light and tasty white fish was a very nice match for the wine.

Aromas were filled with sweet apple, peach, lime and some floral notes.  A tasty palate was filled with peach, apple, some tropical fruit and a little grapefruit with some honeydew melon. I also got a little stone or slate in the mouth.  The finish was nice with some citrus and melon.  Good acidity with soft refreshing flavors, makes for a very versatile wine that will pair well with shellfish, white fish and summer salads.

Later in the evening, I finished the bottle of wine on the patio.  Albariño is a perfect summer wine for just sipping and watching the sun go down.  The Condes de Albarei is very inexpensive and Very Highly Recommended.

Day In The Finger Lakes 7 - Keuka In Bloom

First weekend in May, the weather is beautiful, I don't want to mow the lawn, fix the steps, plant the flower garden, paint the shed, till the veggie garden or clean my room.  Since I have nothing to do, what a wonderful chance to take off to Keuka Lake and pick up a few potted plants.  Oh, by the way Shirley, a few of the wineries on Keuka Lake are giving away free potted flowers and potted herbs.  I promise to only go for the plants, but can you be my designated driver?
That was so easy!!!

view of Keuka Lake courtesy Dr. Franks

 Saturday, Shirley and I spent one glorious day visiting some of my favorite wineries on the Keuka Lake Wine Trail, picking up some of my favorite Finger Lakes wines (and a few surprises) and receiving some gorgeous plants for Shirley's herb garden and even better plants for the flower garden which is my responsibility.  This is an annual event where we can treat ourselves to the best of magnificent Keuka Lake at the height of springtime. At each winery, not only did we sample wonderful wines and juice (Shirley was DD) and enjoy herb-inspired foods, but we also received one flower and one herb, each in a 4” pot and ready to plant (courtesy of Moon Valley Plant Co.), tour all seven wineries and return home with fabulous wines, great recipes and 14 herb and flower plants just in time for Spring gardening!

We started our trek at Hunt Country Vineyards in Branchport NY, then worked our way south on the west side of Keuka Lake.  Before crossing over to the east side, we visited Dr. Konstatin Frank's Vinifera Wine Cellars and Heron Hill Winery.  Each winery presented a sample dish and paired it with one of their wines before we entered the tasting room for sampling a nice choice from their respective list of all available wines. Best of the east side wine pairing was a very tasteful jumbo shrimp served with a garlic/chive pesto at Heron Hill. The shrimp was paired with Heron Hill's 2011 Eclipse White, an aromatic, fruit-driven wine, lightly oaked to create a perfect balance and inviting match to a wide variety of foods. Eclipse White is a blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Gris and Pinot Blanc grape varietals.

Four of the seven participating wineries were located on the East side of Keuka Lake which gave us an opportunity to drive thru Hammondsport, recently voted America's coolest small town. East side wineries included, Ravines Wine Cellars, McGregor Vineyard, Barrington Cellars and Keuka Springs Vineyards. This was the first time for us visiting both Barrington and our last stop at Keuka Spings.  Ending our day at Keuka Springs was the highlight of our day.  The pairing of their Spring Tortellini Salad with Ham and Parsley served with fresh veggies and their Harvest Blush wine was fantastic.  Top that off with a magnificent view of the lake and a compliment of excellent wines in the tasting room, made for a fabulous day's end.

Usually Shirley has me take her to dinner after serving a day as designated driver, but this time as we passed Belhurst Castle, she turned my dinner offer down.   It seems, the food was that good and we both been enjoying the winery selections, that neither one of us was really that hungry at the time.  It also could have been that Shirley was feeling kinda bad about all the money she spent at the winery shops during the day, although I'm the one whipping out the charge card.  She did do a good job at filling an awful lot of her Christmas shopping list.

Shirley brought home the potted plants and gifts, but I filled my empty wine fridge with a couple of cases of Keuka Lake wine.  A few 2012 Rieslings, one of which I'm sipping on right now, some Gewurztraminer and surprisingly four Chardonnays and three rosé wines. I also have a few reds, including a 2008 Black Russian Red from McGregor.  I recently finished a 2006 I had been keeping and could not pass up on the '08, which I will keep for hopefully one to two years.

That was my Saturday.  It's going to be hot on Sunday and I have lots of yard work to do, but just thinking about which wine I'll open when I'm done, will help me through the day.  Then again, I just may quit early.

Don Olegario Albariño 2011

Can't believe it's already May and another International wine day is coming up soon.  On May 9th we will be celebrating Albariño Day.  It does pose a question as to "do we have too many wine days?"  So far this year, we had a Cab Franc day and a few weeks ago we celebrated Malbec Day.  Also coming up on May 23rd is National Chardonnay day.  My own opinion is that we do not have enough of these type of events.  For a blogger who likes to participate in these events, it gives me a chance to explore different wines for a few days leading up to the event.  I would suggest that we should celebrate the different wine regions around the world with a day or a week to explore their wines, but for now let's just open up a few of Rias Baixas finest and most noted grape, the Albariño.
Tonight it was a Don Olegario Albariño 2011 (SRP $18)

Disclaimer:  This wine was submitted for review

The fruit for Don Olegario Albariño comes from a single 12.4-acre vineyard in the Rías Baixas subzone of Val do Salnés. The valley’s proximity to the ocean and bordering mountain ranges, and the vineyards’ exposure and elevation, have built its reputation as the region’s finest winegrowing area. Of the five subzones in Rías Baixas, Val do Salnés was the first to focus on pure varietal Albariño wines produced in a fresh, modern style.

Color was a very bright and very light yellow with a little greenish hue.  At first sniff the aromas were all bartlett pear with some green apple and orange blossom.  As the wine opened up there was some added citrus notes and a little bit of anise like herb. Taste was more apple and grapefruit with some lemon which led to a nice refreshing citrusy finish.

A food-friendly wine that pairs well with all sorts of foods, Albariño will stand up to spicy Thai or Indian dishes, grilled fish, Mexican and even Chinese take-out.  For those that like a white wine with their cheese pizza, the Albariño is an excellent match.
Don Olegario Albariño 2011 - Very Highly Recommended