Winemaker Notes
Lime and green apple are held in sleek suspension by a stony minerality. With touches of pepper on the finish, it's full in the mouth and quite powerful. It succeeds as it is very expressive while maintaining its focus and precision.
Ideal pairings include asparagus (grilled), cheeses (blue, rich or stinky), pork (grilled, fried), scallops (sauteed), sushi, or Thai cuisine.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2019 Grüner Veltliner (from 2007 and 2008 vines on Seneca Lake near Hector) comes in with 5.9 grams of residual sugar, 6.28 of total acidity and 12% alcohol. Granting that they are not all here, this seems like one of the better performances for this grape from the winery. With touches of pepper on the finish, it feels reasonably full in the mouth and adds some power. It succeeds, though, because it is very expressive this year while maintaining its focus and precision. It has the structure to hold, and under screw cap, it should do pretty well.
Fun to say and delightfully easy to drink, Grüner Veltliner calls Austria its homeland. While some easily quaffable Grüners come in a one-liter—a convenient size—many high caliber single vineyard bottlings can benefit from cellar aging. Somm Secret—About 75% of the world’s Grüner Veltliner comes from Austria but the variety is gaining ground in other countries, namely Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and the United States.
As the most historic wine-producing region in New York state, winemaking in the Finger Lakes area dates back to the 1820s and today as a region, accounts for 90% of the state’s total wine production.
Its narrow and deep lakes created by the movement of Ice Age glaciers create an environment similar to the classic Riesling-loving regions of Europe, namely Germany and Austria. The Finger Lakes retain summer heat that incidentally warms up cold winter air, making it fall down from the lakes’ steep slopes. When spring comes, the lakes, already cooled by cold winter weather, stave off vine budding until the danger of frost has subsided. The main lakes of the zone, that is those big enough to moderate the climate in this way, are the focal points of prime vineyard areas. They include Canandaigua, Keuka, Seneca and Cayuga.
While Riesling has fueled most of the region’s success, today Pinot Noir and Cabernet Franc enjoy some attention.