February 10, 2024 - After opening up after a couple of hours the earthy and peppery notes balance out with the tannins and fruit to create a significantly improved profile. Would absolutely decant the next bottle.
February 9, 2024 - Lovely color and nose with strawberry jam plums and fresh cut grass. On the palate the tannins are soft but I would have liked more mineral quality/depth. Long finish.
February 6, 2024 - Previously tasted at the winery 15 months ago, this was my first from bottle and it's evolved as I anticipated, justifying the score I originally gave it. Mix of black and red cherry on the nose with some spice notes now to go along with the earth. Still between light and medium bodied, but maybe a touch more depth than previously; still light for the vintage however. Rounded black cherry upfront with some red cherry highlights, a bit more depth and slightly darker black cherry through the middle and tart red cherry, tannins, spices and earth notes through the back. The spice notes and acidity, while improving are still a bit out of balance compared to prior vintages. Based on the totality of my notes, still feels like this wine is a bit on the young side and might benefit from being served slightly warmer. I'll plan to open my next bottle in last Q3 2024.
October 1, 2023 - Pop and pour. Classic cab franc on the nose with notes of damp leaves, black pepper, and red berries.
On the palate, light to medium in body with low (but not absent) tannins. Great fresh burst of acidity. Again, this is classic cool climate cab franc in taste with red berries, black pepper, green bell pepper, and roasted red pepper. There's a nice little touch of tongue-pricking acidity to this wine that I really like.
One of the better examples of Finger Lakes cab franc that I've tasted at this price point. Can't ask for a better autumn wine.
July 27, 2023 - Picked up a bottle at a local retailer without realizing the fill was kind of low. Opened to a fairly bled-through cork, which was worrying, but the wine was GORGEOUS. Plush, generous red fruit (for such a cool climate), plenty of pyrazines, restrained but pleasant tannins. Just a really, really delicious wine if you like classic, old-school cab franc. Served with a slight chill alongside a cheese & charcuterie board. The wine disappeared quickly.
November 18, 2022 - Tasted at the winery. Previously tasted at the winery five months ago and the wine has continued to generally evolve along the lines I'd expected. Black and red cherry along with light earth notes on the nose. Between light and medium bodied (still lighter than I would've expected for the vintage) with a very similar flavor profile to my prior tasting with black and red cherry, tart red cherry towards the back and earth, spices and minerals through the finish. The tannins, acidity and tart notes on the backside felt a little more in balance than they did in June. The result is the mid-body fruit feels more expressive and the wine feels slightly more in balance overall. I'll plan to try my first from bottle in Q2 2023 alongside some other vintages for a complete picture.
October 10, 2022 - Great color. The nose shows aromas of berries, pepper, leaves, flowers and a bit of earth. This is medium bodied on the palate with good concentration and very good class. The medium plus length finish features ripe tannins and good acidity. Could use more intensity and structure.
June 17, 2022 - Tasted at the winery. Previously tasted 7 months ago at the winery and the wine has evolved positively. Nose was more aromatic than in November 2021, showing black and red cherry (not all bright red) along with earth and spice notes (earth had been missing previously). Between light and medium bodied and overall, still felt a bit lighter than prior vintages, but the red cherry has broadened and now shows both black and red cherry. Tart red cherry, tannins and acidity on the backside and then earth and spices through the finish. When I tasted this wine in November 2021, I felt it was lighter and less complex than typical, but it didn't feel particularly tight. That has changed now so that the wine clearly feels quite young, noticeably tight and shows drying tannins and more acidity on the back than before. Knowing the quality of the vintage, this is actually what I would've expected. Given the increased depth and complexity this wine is already showing, as well as the structural qualities becoming more clear, it's worth holding this wine. I'll plan to open my first from bottle in late Fall 2022 and build a complete picture.
January 8, 2022 - Graphite, cherry, pyrazines. Some cassis too. Very pretty. Medium tannin, pyrazines, and raspberry on the palate. Very solid example.
November 30, 2021 - Nice concentration and complexity. Dark garnet to a clear rim. Very clean and expertly made. Expressive nose of cherry, black raspberry and green pepper foliage. Pyrazines continue prominently on the palate with the same fruit profile, really sweet black raspberry and black pepper finish. Fine, powdery tannins. I find myself wishing for a bit more acidity, the wine’s not cloying, but I’m wondering if the tannins are puckering or a bit of residual sugar is coating my tongue… paired nicely with fettuccine and cabbage with italian sausage. I’ll emphasize adding some additional fennel and some thyme for a punch of flavor next time.