Updated: 11/11/2010 - 2:29 PM

Tasting Notes
Winemakers' notes on new releases

BEDELL CELLARS/COREY CREEK VINEYARDS
2008 Cabernet Franc Cherry, red fruit, plum and baking spice aromas on the nose. A rich, round and soft palate showcases ripe tannins, juicy acidity and hints of white pepper and cranberry, framed by toasty oak on the finish.
2008 Gewurztraminer Aromas of yellow and white rose petal, clove and the slightest hint of lychee. The palate is fresh, offering honeydew melon, white peach and starfruit flavors. The trademark oily texture is offset by lively acidity and a slight bitterness and spice on the finish.

BELLA VITA VINEYARDS
2009 White Merlot Bright, light-salmon hue with sweet peach and raspberry aromas. Soft, round, juicy peach and berry flavors with structure and a full, rich texture. Serve chilled as an aperitif or an excellent accompaniment to picnics and barbecues. Pair with seafood, poultry and spicy ethnic cuisines.
2009 Chardonnay Vinified without the influence of oak, this wine allows the fruit to take center stage. Aromas of honey and fig followed by expressive grapefruit, lemon and pear flavors. Serve chilled with grilled fish, steamed mussels or assorted cheeses.
2009 Riesling A bright wine with crisp apple, citrus and peach aromas. Off-dry, with a rich mouth feel and good acid balance. Stands up well to spicy foods, Chinese chicken salad or cheese soufflé.

CASTELLO DI BORGHESE
Sauvignon Blanc 2009 Stainless-steel fermented. Bright, spring-yellow hue. Lime zest, cut grass and gooseberry on the bouquet. Thirst-quenching, with flavors of orange, lime, papaya and peaches. Dry, with a full mid-palate and lingering citrus and mineral finish. Serve with scallops, bluefish, roast chicken with herbes de Provence, oysters and goat cheeses.

CLOVIS POINT
2007 Chardonnay Stainless-steel fermented for freshness and aromatics. Bright and clean flavors and aromas of ripe peach and golden apples make this wine fruit -driven and refreshing.
2007 Barrel Fermented Chardonnay Rich flavors of ripe pear with clean, fresh, spicy aromatics with golden apples blend with elegant French oak aroma. Balanced and sophisticated, enjoyable with food or just sipping.
2009 Rosé 100% Cabernet Franc. Dry, with beautiful color and light, delicate aromas of strawberry and pink grapefruit. Structured and flavorful, this wine is not a blush. Crisp, clean and refreshing wine for backyard parties.
2007 Cabernet Franc Bottled after only eight months in oak. Aromatic and lively. Blueberry and coffee with underlying oak aroma.

CROTEAUX VINEYARDS
Merlot 181 Rosé Light and delicate, dancing with tropical guava and mango flavors, with a beautiful pale-salmon color.
Merlot 314 Rosé A medium-bodied rosé with mellow citrus and melon flavors, a tinted cantaloupe color and lingering finish.
Merlot 3 Rosé Barrel fermented and aged in older French oak. Full malolactic fermentation makes this unique rosé rich and full-bodied, with layers of vanilla, a hint of praline and a finish that evolves over time.
Cuvée Sparkle Made in the French Charmat style. Dry, crisp and fruity, with soft, effervescent bubbles. Lively fruit flavors finishing with a subtle touch of tangerine.
Sauvage Merlot Rosé Fermented with wild, natural yeast. An elegant wine with honeysuckle aromas and delicate flavors of pears and peaches. A soft, seductive rosé.
Ruby Cabernet Franc Rosé Deep and rich, with flavors of red cherries, cranberries and the unmistakable rustic qualities of Cabernet Franc. Fermented on the skins for 22 hours. A rosé for red wine lovers.
2007 Chet's Rouge Merlot Flavours of black cherry and red currants with a silky smooth finish. Drinking nicely now, this wine will age gracefully for the next five to seven years.

LIEB CELLARS
2009 Bridge Lane Rosé Bold aromas of ripe strawberries and watermelon followed by delicate floral nuances and a hint of ruby red grapefruit and honeydew melon. Crisp and dry fruit-forward flavors. A quintessential summer wine, perfect for barbecue, salads, light fare or outdoor sipping.

MARTHA CLARA VINEYARDS
2009 ‘5-O' Rosé Light strawberry in color, with a diversity of vivacious flavors such as rhubarb, citrus peel, strawberry, watermelon and peppercorn. A great sipper any time of year. Serve with light pasta dishes, gumbos, panninis, seafood, fresh cheeses, grilled veggies, tomato salad, pizza or all by itself.

THE OLD FIELD VINEYARDS
2008 Chardonnay “Mostly Steel” Fermented 90% in stainless steel, 10% in French oak. Offers a fruity nose with lemon citrus, honeydew melon, plump orange rind and a zesty, palate-cleansing, dry finish.
2008 Chardonnay, “Barrel Fermented” Great structure from French oak fermentation, with flavors of caramel and hints of minerality and creaminess infused with pear, cantaloupe and apple.

OSPREY'S DOMINION
2007 Merlot Classic black plum aromas that mingle with blackberry preserves, sweet cedar, smoke and vanilla. The medium tannins provide nice, but not overly aggressive, grip and structure.
2007 Cabernet Franc Forward-fruit aromas of raspberry, with subtle notes of cinnamon spice and summer herbs that speak of its Bordeaux heritage.
2009 Semi-Dry Riesling Aromas of apricot and citrus fruits overlay a crisp acidity balanced by a honey-sweet finish. Can be enjoyed as an aperitif with spicy Asian cuisine.
2009 Vin Gris Rosé of Cabernet A dry rosé style wine, an excellent summer sipper.

PALMER VINEYARDS
2009 Pinot Blanc Apple notes are balanced by a soft vanilla finish. Perfect for summer sipping.
2009 Sauvignon Blanc This classic New World style explodes with notes of grapefruit, fresh-cut grass and passion fruit.
2009 White Riesling A balanced and fruity style for easy drinking. Subtle flavors create a harmonious match to fresh fruits and light lunches.
2009 Select Reserve White A delicate combination of green apple, grapefruit and spice. A silky smooth and well balanced blend of Gewurztraminer, Pinot Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay.
2009 Rosé Merlot Fresh strawberry notes accented with spice and floral aromas. The bright natural acidity makes it an ideal pairing for pasta salad and light cheeses.
Sunrise/Sunset A deliciously refreshing blush wine. Slightly sweet; serve chilled. A great picnic wine.
Gallagher's Private Reserve Red Table Wine This Bordeaux-style blend exudes dark berry fruit and soft rich tannins. A perfect match for prime red meat.
Select Reserve Red Bordeaux-style blend with rich texture and flavor, a perfect candidate for cellaring. Enjoy with duck or smoked bluefish.

PECONIC BAY WINERY
Nautique Blanc de Blanc Sparkling Each of the three components of this wine enhances its fruit-forward qualities. Pinot Grigio contributes citrus and orange peel, Riesling adds to the complexity with grapefruit and peach nuances, and Chardonnay serves as the pear and apple framework. A vibrant, complex wine with carbonation enhancing the volatile fruit components.

RAPHAEL
2009 Grand Cru Sauvignon Blanc Intensely aromatic, elegant and delicious, this wine offers thirst-quenching flavors of grapefruit, passion fruit, herbs and minerals. A perfect complement to seafood, poultry, fresh cheeses and vegetarian cuisine.
2009 Riesling A beautiful nose of honeysuckle, ripe peaches, green tea and lemon grass. The finish is crisp with bracing acidity and flavors of lime zest, wet stones and a saline minerality. Vegan-friendly.
2007 Estate Merlot Merlot is on its own in this wine, providing full flavors, velvety ripe tannins and a unique saline minerality in the classic North Fork style. Blackberries, cassis, tobacco and thyme swirl around funky layers of vanilla and smoke.

SHINN ESTATE VINEYARDS
2009 First Fruit This 100% Sauvignon Blanc has classic flavors of ripe pear, mineral and herbs, combining to create a wine best paired with local fish and shellfish. Made from the first fruit harvested every year.
2007 Brut Sparkling Wine Made from 100% Chardonnay grapes in a crisp and lean style. It shows fresh acidity, bright aromatic fruit and lightly toasted bread. Enjoy as an aperitif before dinner or alongside cheeses, smoked and cured meats, shellfish or just about anything else.
2009 Anomaly Winemaker Anthony Nappa handcrafted this Pinot Noir from small quantities of locally sourced fruit. This white wine made from red grapes displays a full body, showing white cherry and strawberry fruit, leaving you with a long finish and a zing of acidity.
2009 Luminous Winemaker Anthony Nappa handcrafted this Riesling from small quantities of fruit sourced from vineyards on Seneca Lake. This bright wine has natural sweetness with aromas of honeysuckle and citrus blossoms, expressing golden apple and guava fruit.

SUHRU WINES
2009 Pinot Grigio Pale straw in color with a flowery fragrance, hints of grapefruit and Red Delicious apple apparent in the aroma. Firm acidity gives a mouthwatering appeal. It has a pleasant mid-palate balance with a clean, refreshing finish. The perfect cocktail wine that primes the palate for food. Pairs well with seafood, light pasta dishes and rice courses.

VINEYARD 48
2007 Chardonnay Elegant aromas harmonize with creamy Chardonnay notes. Crisp and vibrant, with highlights of vanilla and melon, as well as fine yeast notes and lively acid.
2007 Chardonnay Reserve Brilliant, light in color, 100% barrel-fermented. Offers toasted vanilla from oak that dominates this plush wine with hints of pear and pineapple. Pairs well with any seafood dish.
2007 Riesling An exuberant nose of concentrated pear and apple. Its finish is long, with honey overtones. Made in the classic German style, it's a great accompaniment to spicy ethnic foods.
2009 Sauvignon Blanc Straw yellow, with a zesty, clean nose, hints of lime and mint. Fresh and bright, with distinct highlights of grapefruit and minerals. This wine has zing and stays vibrant to the end.
2007 Merlot Reserve Ripe and intense, with a smooth texture, offering cherry, licorice with hints of tobacco and chocolate but still an echo of earth and spice that take you back to the soil.
2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve A wine with finesse, possessing black currant and graphite flavors as well as a hint of green herb. Pairs well with steak and sharp cheese.
2007 Cabernet Franc
Reserve An aromatic wine with dark berry, cherry, mushroom and grass aromas that lead to more in the mouth. An earthy character develops, meshing well with tannins.

WÖLFFER ESTATE VINEYARD
2009 Classic White Blend Pale yellow, with a huge aroma and perfume full of lychee, ripe papaya, fresh apple and lime notes. Vibrant with fresh clean fruit, white peach and zesty minerality and acidity. The balance between lush alcohol, pure fruit and crisp acidity makes this a complex wine that stays very focused and elegant.
2009 Wölffer Estate Rosé Pale salmon with a golden glow. The aroma is wonderfully fresh, with gooseberries, wild strawberries, fresh peaches and limes. The mouth-feel is lively yet elegant, with clean, crisp fruit and beautiful minerality. The acidity is well balanced by the fruit. Great notes of blueberries and ripe grapefruit, with a long, lip-smacking finish. Dry, light and very refreshing but complex enough to be a great companion with food.