Wine-pages Glasgow Festival of Wine Pre Offline (Cail Bruich, Glasgow): Mid gold colour. Fairly intense, nutty nose, feeling very evolved. Something a bit marsanne like on the nose. Fair palate. Bit of a spritzy zesty lemon note on the attack. This is fading and drying out. There's something very familiar about the flavour, but I can't pin it down. There's a rather odd combination of length and falling short at the same time. Possibly a hint of oxidation, but that might just be the Rkatsiteli. Really quite curious: it's definitely not dead, but it's not entirely alive either. The moral seems to be: drink your Finger Lakes Rkatsiteli before it gets to ten years old.
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Well, I had intended to keep this in the cellar for a year or two to see how, if at all, NY Rkatsiteli would develop. But, you know how it happens - the right meal doesn't present itself, then the bottle gets shoved to the back, and here we are 7 years later. So. Would you have guessed Premier Cru Chablis? Me neither, but this was the spitting image - lemon curd, apple, thyme and other herbs, bracing acidity. Maybe a little lost in the mid-palate, but c'mon - 7 year old Rkatsiteli! Worth saving? I'm not going to hold a bin in my cellar for more, but it certainly evolved in a positive way. I see you out there in cellartracker-land: 55 more bottles in cellars. You could do worse than to pull yours now. (I mean, no one has a case of this, do they?)
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Lovely nose of guava and pineapple. Medium bodied on palate with a slight oily viscosity that is not unpleasant. Dry with no noticeable r.s. Fruit with some floral (white flowers) on palate, though fruit is more acidic than the tropical aromas suggested. Really enjoyed this and it could have cellared longer.
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My riesling-loving aunt visited and tried this; loved it. I got the leftovers two days later and they were still fruity--lost some crispness but still delicious.
Some grapefruit, some melon, and interesting qualities that are hard to place. It seemed to go from light in body to medium and back again. Also seemed a little bracing like a sauvignon blanc, but with more fruit than minerality, and no grass--like a California sauvignon blanc.
I'm intrigued and wish I had another bottle to try fresh.
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More grapey than I remember it, but still a lot of delicious citrus and white flower characteristics. Still, I think this has lost some of the delicious vibrancy of its youth
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My first experience with the grape. High in acidity; some of the green apple and lemon flavors of Riesling, the spice and lychee of Gewurztraminer, and the grapefruit quality of a Sauvignon. But there's a little bitterness on the finish which didn't much please me.
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Has a nose like a part riesling, part guvertz to me. Nice green apple, pears, and minerality on the palate. Has a spicy kick to it but not like pepper, can't put a finger on it. I am a big fan of Dr. Frank's wines but at this price point I would pass.
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Nice effort. Rose petals, tropical fruit and lemon on the nose. It drinks like an off-dry Riesling. Wonderful "picnic at the park" wine, but too expensive at $25.
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The only reason I'm not rating this in the 90's is that it's a very unique wine and is not for everyone. That aside, you should absolutely give this a try. Since it can often be found under $20, it's worth the experiment. And how much fun is it to have a varietal to share with friends that no one has ever heard of?
On the nose, there's a combination of flavors indicative of SB and Gewurtz: guava, grapefruit, petrol, and perhaps some asparagus (I know, that's often a bad thing, but it really works here). While not an "oily" wine on the palate, it does have a decent body and does coat the mouth. It seems almost off-dry, but it's really just the luscious, tropical fruits giving that impression. This went really well with an Asian themed dinner.
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First Rkasitelli for me. Light to medium body,nose of floral, pear,taste was an atack of zingy citrus, pear, grapefruit, lemon. Flavors are strong and focused. Maybe a little too much acidity. Very intense for a white. Had a glass before dinner, without food and wasn't enjoying it too much. Was much better with food. Stuffed chicken, pasta, parm cheese.
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What a difference a year has made for this bottle. This was a wonderful surprise as I opened this today to blind my boss on it. There was excellent minerality and the citrus flavors were clean and pure with a light hint of melon on the back end. As the wine warmed up it blossomed into a beautiful light to medium bodied wine that was both interesting and easy to drink. This would be a great wine to try for those who are looking to try something new...besides Sauvignon Blanc.
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This has a muscat meets riesling nose of tropical fruit, white flowers and cheap perfume. Well balanced with a tiny touch of rs and good acidity. This is a bit simple and the fruit is a bit too overt, but this is a pretty charming wine and has a nice mouthfeel. The flavors aren't my cuppa, but i love the texture and overall style of the wine.
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A summer Dinner (Chez JJclips): Very interesting. Not only my first time trying Rkatsiteli, I'd never heard of Rkatsiteli. Very riesling like, with hints of Gruner, and definately in that German/Austrian vein, with some subtle differences. The acidity was lower then in those two countries. The fruit was of rinds and hints of more citrus flavors. More curious then good at first, I did warm to this bottle over a glass. Worth trying.
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Weekend Dinner (JJCLIPS2): I always find this wine to be interestingly enjoyable. Clean and refreshing palate of citrus zest and minerals. The nose was lacking a bit this time around. Fell somewhere between a Gruner and a bone dry Riesling.
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This was a gift and we opened it yesterday with dinner. This wine had a lot going on and was a pleasant surprise. Aromas of cut grass and lemon zest. Well balanced and on the racy side. It was a dry wine with notes of fresh herbs, citrus and water chestnut. 89 points.
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An interesting nose with peach, kiwi fruit and clay. Quite fresh on the palate, but with a mouthfilling quality. Nice and fresh example, very much in the mould of the Georgian rkatsiteli wines I tried last year.
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Floral aromas, citrus on the nose. Light-medium bodied, dry, citrus (grapefruit, pineapple) on the palate. Moderate minerality. Finish was shorter than previously tasted bottle. Still quite enjoyable.
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notes: little bit of spritz, so that's fun. pale color, floral/pear/peach on the nose, nice mouthfeel, medium-long finish, nice acidity, goes down easy, a little bit buttery? maybe some malo-lactic going on? at around 20 bucks, its qpr suffers a little, but all around a decent wine.
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I read somewhere that the rkatsiteli grape is related to riesling, and this wine has some riesling characteristics. The wine has a heavier mouthfeel than German rieslings but stops just short of being viscous. From the moment that the wine hits the tongue strong citrus fruit flavors are present with a mineral undertone. The wine is very aromatic with fine acidity. The flavors are strong enough that you could enjoy this wine on its own but is not too strong to accompany all but the most subtle-flavored dishes.
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Brought this with us to a seafood restaurant where it paired great with a raw oyster appetizer. The honey and apple notes of the wine complemented the saltiness and crispness of the oysters.
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Pale lime color. Pungent nose that smells like a cross between a Gewurtztraminer and a Sauvignon Blanc with notes of lychee nuts and fresh grass. The wine has good fruit with flavors of lime, melon, grapefruit and cucumber. Quite crisp with stinging acidity but retains a sense of delicacy and elegance on the balanced and mineral-laden finish with a good tip of the tongue intensity. A unique wine that drinks easily and pairs beautifully with sushi and seafood.
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New Year's Eve. Very nice, reisling-like with a dose of minerality, crisp lemon, honey, and tropical fruit notes. Clean and refreshing acidity. Delicious little white that I would definitely drink again.
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Clear, golden appearance. Explosively aromatic with nose of pineapple, florality, and stone minerals. Dry and medium-bodied on the palate tending more toward grapefruit rather than pineapple with the stone minerals. Moderate acidity finishing. Good with scallops and wild rice. This version of an Rkatsiteli has some Sauv Blanc characteristics but is really unique. Highly recommended.
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A deliciously quaffable little white wine that's light-bodied and full of fresh zest with hints of melon and lime. Quite good with oysters and herring at the Oyster Bar in Grand Central, NYC
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Let me start off by saying that this was supposed to be a treat. I was severely let down. This fingerlake wine is supposed to be one of (if not) the only producer of this varietal in America. With a boring nose that comes off like a weak Gewürztraminer and tasted like a sub-standard Sav Blanc. If you can avoid paying $22 for this bottle....I'd recommend picking up a Kim Crawford...you'll be happier in the end.
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6/3/2018 - cstir wrote:
Cellared wine; still has acidity; slight touch of oxidation; fruit flavor was muted; probably should have consumed several years ago.
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4/17/2018 - Berge65 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Hints of cannabis
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6/10/2016 - andrewstevenson.com wrote: 83 Points
Wine-pages Glasgow Festival of Wine Pre Offline (Cail Bruich, Glasgow): Mid gold colour. Fairly intense, nutty nose, feeling very evolved. Something a bit marsanne like on the nose.
Fair palate. Bit of a spritzy zesty lemon note on the attack. This is fading and drying out. There's something very familiar about the flavour, but I can't pin it down. There's a rather odd combination of length and falling short at the same time. Possibly a hint of oxidation, but that might just be the Rkatsiteli. Really quite curious: it's definitely not dead, but it's not entirely alive either. The moral seems to be: drink your Finger Lakes Rkatsiteli before it gets to ten years old.
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9/18/2013 - stubbie999 Likes this wine:
Well, I had intended to keep this in the cellar for a year or two to see how, if at all, NY Rkatsiteli would develop. But, you know how it happens - the right meal doesn't present itself, then the bottle gets shoved to the back, and here we are 7 years later. So. Would you have guessed Premier Cru Chablis? Me neither, but this was the spitting image - lemon curd, apple, thyme and other herbs, bracing acidity. Maybe a little lost in the mid-palate, but c'mon - 7 year old Rkatsiteli! Worth saving? I'm not going to hold a bin in my cellar for more, but it certainly evolved in a positive way. I see you out there in cellartracker-land: 55 more bottles in cellars. You could do worse than to pull yours now. (I mean, no one has a case of this, do they?)
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8/13/2013 - KSWinegeek wrote: 87 Points
Thought this would be too old, but that is not this case.
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5/29/2011 - Winecat wrote: 78 Points
A little too sweet for our taste
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11/5/2010 - wineswiller wrote: 88 Points
Lovely nose of guava and pineapple. Medium bodied on palate with a slight oily viscosity that is not unpleasant. Dry with no noticeable r.s. Fruit with some floral (white flowers) on palate, though fruit is more acidic than the tropical aromas suggested. Really enjoyed this and it could have cellared longer.
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9/4/2010 - ZinTinTin wrote:
My riesling-loving aunt visited and tried this; loved it. I got the leftovers two days later and they were still fruity--lost some crispness but still delicious.
Some grapefruit, some melon, and interesting qualities that are hard to place. It seemed to go from light in body to medium and back again. Also seemed a little bracing like a sauvignon blanc, but with more fruit than minerality, and no grass--like a California sauvignon blanc.
I'm intrigued and wish I had another bottle to try fresh.
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8/13/2010 - cma82 wrote: 87 Points
More grapey than I remember it, but still a lot of delicious citrus and white flower characteristics. Still, I think this has lost some of the delicious vibrancy of its youth
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2/27/2010 - JackLynch00@gmail.com wrote: 85 Points
My first experience with the grape. High in acidity; some of the green apple and lemon flavors of Riesling, the spice and lychee of Gewurztraminer, and the grapefruit quality of a Sauvignon. But there's a little bitterness on the finish which didn't much please me.
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10/18/2009 - Ombibulous wrote: 85 Points
Don't know if I've had this varietal before. But I like it! Fresh, juicy, and tangy. Very good, expecially for under $20 (84.5).
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5/20/2009 - Tuffdawg wrote: 85 Points
Has a nose like a part riesling, part guvertz to me. Nice green apple, pears, and minerality on the palate. Has a spicy kick to it but not like pepper, can't put a finger on it. I am a big fan of Dr. Frank's wines but at this price point I would pass.
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4/19/2009 - Alekos wrote: 88 Points
Nice effort. Rose petals, tropical fruit and lemon on the nose. It drinks like an off-dry Riesling. Wonderful "picnic at the park" wine, but too expensive at $25.
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2/6/2009 - Trajadoja wrote: 89 Points
The only reason I'm not rating this in the 90's is that it's a very unique wine and is not for everyone. That aside, you should absolutely give this a try. Since it can often be found under $20, it's worth the experiment. And how much fun is it to have a varietal to share with friends that no one has ever heard of?
On the nose, there's a combination of flavors indicative of SB and Gewurtz: guava, grapefruit, petrol, and perhaps some asparagus (I know, that's often a bad thing, but it really works here). While not an "oily" wine on the palate, it does have a decent body and does coat the mouth. It seems almost off-dry, but it's really just the luscious, tropical fruits giving that impression. This went really well with an Asian themed dinner.
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1/18/2009 - J2K wrote:
First Rkasitelli for me. Light to medium body,nose of floral, pear,taste was an atack of zingy citrus, pear, grapefruit, lemon. Flavors are strong and focused. Maybe a little too much acidity. Very intense for a white. Had a glass before dinner, without food and wasn't enjoying it too much. Was much better with food. Stuffed chicken, pasta, parm cheese.
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7/30/2008 - Kirk Grant wrote: 89 Points
What a difference a year has made for this bottle. This was a wonderful surprise as I opened this today to blind my boss on it. There was excellent minerality and the citrus flavors were clean and pure with a light hint of melon on the back end. As the wine warmed up it blossomed into a beautiful light to medium bodied wine that was both interesting and easy to drink. This would be a great wine to try for those who are looking to try something new...besides Sauvignon Blanc.
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7/10/2008 - nwk wrote:
This has a muscat meets riesling nose of tropical fruit, white flowers and cheap perfume. Well balanced with a tiny touch of rs and good acidity. This is a bit simple and the fruit is a bit too overt, but this is a pretty charming wine and has a nice mouthfeel. The flavors aren't my cuppa, but i love the texture and overall style of the wine.
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7/2/2008 - hutch wrote: 85 Points
A summer Dinner (Chez JJclips): Very interesting. Not only my first time trying Rkatsiteli, I'd never heard of Rkatsiteli. Very riesling like, with hints of Gruner, and definately in that German/Austrian vein, with some subtle differences. The acidity was lower then in those two countries. The fruit was of rinds and hints of more citrus flavors. More curious then good at first, I did warm to this bottle over a glass. Worth trying.
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7/2/2008 - jjclips2 wrote: 85 Points
Weekend Dinner (JJCLIPS2): I always find this wine to be interestingly enjoyable. Clean and refreshing palate of citrus zest and minerals. The nose was lacking a bit this time around. Fell somewhere between a Gruner and a bone dry Riesling.
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6/21/2008 - jdrach wrote:
Nose: Pink grapefruit and honeydew. Taste: Melon, pink grapefrit. Mild, a bit oaky in finish. Pairs with spicy food.
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6/17/2008 - Vino Me wrote: 89 Points
This was a gift and we opened it yesterday with dinner. This wine had a lot going on and was a pleasant surprise. Aromas of cut grass and lemon zest. Well balanced and on the racy side. It was a dry wine with notes of fresh herbs, citrus and water chestnut. 89 points.
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5/21/2008 - andrewstevenson.com wrote: 89 Points
An interesting nose with peach, kiwi fruit and clay. Quite fresh on the palate, but with a mouthfilling quality. Nice and fresh example, very much in the mould of the Georgian rkatsiteli wines I tried last year.
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5/5/2008 - wineswiller wrote:
Floral aromas, citrus on the nose. Light-medium bodied, dry, citrus (grapefruit, pineapple) on the palate. Moderate minerality. Finish was shorter than previously tasted bottle. Still quite enjoyable.
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3/30/2008 - VinoVeritasVosLiberabit wrote: 82 Points
notes: little bit of spritz, so that's fun. pale color, floral/pear/peach on the nose, nice mouthfeel, medium-long finish, nice acidity, goes down easy, a little bit buttery? maybe some malo-lactic going on? at around 20 bucks, its qpr suffers a little, but all around a decent wine.
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3/24/2008 - ddarienzo wrote:
Delicious with truffled crab salad and lobster risotto
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3/1/2008 - ewill wrote:
Alcohol: 12%
I read somewhere that the rkatsiteli grape is related to riesling, and this wine has some riesling characteristics. The wine has a heavier mouthfeel than German rieslings but stops just short of being viscous. From the moment that the wine hits the tongue strong citrus fruit flavors are present with a mineral undertone. The wine is very aromatic with fine acidity. The flavors are strong enough that you could enjoy this wine on its own but is not too strong to accompany all but the most subtle-flavored dishes.
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2/23/2008 - mozart23 wrote:
Brought this with us to a seafood restaurant where it paired great with a raw oyster appetizer. The honey and apple notes of the wine complemented the saltiness and crispness of the oysters.
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1/1/2008 - dream wrote: 89 Points
Pale lime color. Pungent nose that smells like a cross between a Gewurtztraminer and a Sauvignon Blanc with notes of lychee nuts and fresh grass. The wine has good fruit with flavors of lime, melon, grapefruit and cucumber. Quite crisp with stinging acidity but retains a sense of delicacy and elegance on the balanced and mineral-laden finish with a good tip of the tongue intensity. A unique wine that drinks easily and pairs beautifully with sushi and seafood.
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1/1/2008 - decaturwinedude wrote: 89 Points
New Year's Eve. Very nice, reisling-like with a dose of minerality, crisp lemon, honey, and tropical fruit notes. Clean and refreshing acidity. Delicious little white that I would definitely drink again.
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12/8/2007 - wineswiller wrote:
Clear, golden appearance. Explosively aromatic with nose of pineapple, florality, and stone minerals. Dry and medium-bodied on the palate tending more toward grapefruit rather than pineapple with the stone minerals. Moderate acidity finishing. Good with scallops and wild rice. This version of an Rkatsiteli has some Sauv Blanc characteristics but is really unique. Highly recommended.
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10/6/2007 - kenito799 wrote: 88 Points
Aromatic, floral. Crisp, lots of apricot and orange blossom. Great unique NY wine.
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9/10/2007 - mikeyrad wrote: 89 Points
Consistently one of the best wines of the Finger Lakes. Pineapples, kiwis, tropical fruits balanced with ample acidity.
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7/18/2007 - Alekos wrote: 89 Points
intense fruit, spices, pineapple and mango notes. very pleasant balance. tons of flowers on the nose.
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6/6/2007 - dream wrote: 88 Points
A deliciously quaffable little white wine that's light-bodied and full of fresh zest with hints of melon and lime. Quite good with oysters and herring at the Oyster Bar in Grand Central, NYC
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6/1/2007 - jeffreym123 wrote: 87 Points
some lemon - very riesling like taste, with a gewurzt nose. interesting.
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5/6/2007 - Kirk Grant wrote: 85 Points
Let me start off by saying that this was supposed to be a treat. I was severely let down. This fingerlake wine is supposed to be one of (if not) the only producer of this varietal in America. With a boring nose that comes off like a weak Gewürztraminer and tasted like a sub-standard Sav Blanc. If you can avoid paying $22 for this bottle....I'd recommend picking up a Kim Crawford...you'll be happier in the end.
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