Finger Lakes: Thirsty Owl Wine Company

FINGER LAKES REPORT -- Our next visit was the Thirsty Owl Wine Company. Glorious T, one of our tasting crew, loves animals and so thought the combination of Goose Watch and Thirsty Owl would be an opportunity for picking up wines with great animal labels. I typically avoid llamas, pandas, penguins and any other contrivance designed to sell less than quality wine. But, if you have superior wine AND an attractive bottle it certainly is a win-win situation.

Thirsty Owl is a great stop on the Cayuga Lake Wine Trail and has  a prime location overlooking the lake. They have a nice bistro and a shady patio overlooking their 2,000 feet of lakefront frontage. The tasting room is spacious and airy.

The origin of the name is an interesting one: “Years ago a gentleman was stumbling home after a fine night of faster horses, younger women and older wine when he came across a 4 foot, six inch owl in his path. The owl stated: ‘I have a deal for you. I won’t interfere with your faster horses or younger women if you share your older wine with me. In return I will keep the birds and critters out of your vineyard.’ Thus the deal was made. The owl guards the vineyard and the gentleman shares with his thirsty friend the finest wines in New York.” You’ll find the owl on the patio keeping watch.

We began with the 2008 Pinot Gris which had green apple flavors but we rated as nothing special. Next up was the 2008 Dry Riesling, a gold medal winner with a nice balanced flavor of citrus and grapefruit.

Moving to reds, we sampled the 2007 Pinot Noir. This was a smooth wine with a strong pomegranate flavor. The tannins were refined resulting in a wine not overly oaked.

Thirsty Owl has some very nice reds and I was anxious to try their Chancellor. This French-American hybrid grape is common in the Finger Lakes, but scarce elsewhere. There are rows of Chancellor grapes in the vineyard right outside the front door to the Thirsty Owl.
This wine had a beautiful, dark purple color with a subtle berry flavor and soft tannins. Very smooth and satisfying.

Perhaps the best sample of the visit was the Thirsty Owl Meritage. This is a Bordeaux style blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot. It it nicely balanced and rich with velvet softness and lively fruit. Out companions Glorious T and Spiderman grabbed a bottle of this.

My final tasting was of the 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon-Syrah-Malbec blend which they term as a “trilogy” of prestigious estate grown grapes. Who could not like a blend of these three great grapes? It was bold, smooth and just maybe a bit too tart. It retails for $17.95.

It was a great tasting experience. Last year my wife and I enjoyed a delicious lunch in the bistro. This was a gorgeous fall day and lunch on the terrace would have been grand. This was out last day for tasting on our trip so we reluctantly fired up the car and headed for our next winery.

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Thanksgiving Wines: Our Experts Help You Pick The Perfect Wine

Thanksgiving is approaching and you still don't know what wine to serve with your holiday meal? No worries. Toledo Wines and Vines has consulted a panel of experts (Austin Beeman, Mike Gregg, Steve Parks and Matt Snyder) and we can tell you what to buy, how much it costs and where to get it. What more can you ask? So baste your turkey, uncork some of these great wines and enjoy.

Many of these wines are being presented at wine tastings Friday and Saturday (Nov. 20-21), so be sure to check our listing of weekly wine tastings listed elsewhere on this blog.

Without further ado, our distinguished panel and their suggestions...

Austin Beeman, wine department manager at Walt Churchill’s Market, 3320 Briarfield. Maumee, (419) 794-4000. Churchill's offers many wines suitable for your Thanksgiving feast. Here are Austin's picks and he is available to recommend specific wines at the store:

Beaujolais Nouveau 2009 $9.99-$14.99

Good German Rieslings $14.99- ?

Red Zinfandels from Rosenblum $11.99-$49.99

Mike Gregg, wine department manager at Corks Wine and Liquor,Promenade Plaza, 27250 Crossroads Pkwy., Rossford – (419) 872-6800.  Mike's picks:

 
Gloria Ferrer Sonoma Brut. One of the greatest sparklers in the store, and what a price! Perfect for the holidays and perfect with holiday meals. This wine is fantastic on its own, but has the ability to slice right through turkey, tofu, potatoes, and even pumpkin pie with elegance and grace. Its lively apple and creamy, spicy flavors just earned it a spot on Wine Spectator's Top 100 of 2009 list. $19.99.

Handley Gewurztraminer. Buck the traditional chardonnays and reislings, and give this spicy gewurz a go. Done in a dry, Alsatian style, this wine shows off huge lychee and bright, clean fruit. The rich spice and light acidity on the palate make this a winning partner with traditional Thanksgiving fare, not to mention Thai, Indian, or any other spice-driven cuisine. $12.99.

MooBuzz Pinot Noir. Pinot Noir is one of those 'go to' wines for the holiday season. Take this one home for Thanksgiving and you'll see why. Beautiful raspberry and cherry flavors, tongue-dancing acidity, and the softest touch of velvety vanilla make this wine an attractive crowd pleaser. $14.99.

Las Rocas Garnacha Vielles Vignes. This recent addition has set the store on fire! Everytime someone tastes it at our wine bar, they end up going home with a bottle or two. Right now it delivers one of the greatest Quality Price Ratios in the market, as is the case with so many Spanish wines. Bright berry, firm spice, hot mineral, and a strong streak of acidity make this beautiful wine a must-have at your Thanksgiving meal. $16.99.

Steve Parks, owner of Aficionado Wine and Cigars, The Shoppes at RiverPlace, 26567 N. Dixie Highway, Suite 135, Perrysburg, (419-873-4444). Steve's picks:

2006 Bethel Heights Chardonnay. Straw to light yellow color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of wet stones, pears and citrus fruits. Flavors of pears, limes and minerals. Light acidity and body. Crisp and clean on the palate. $26.99.

2006 Pierre Sparr Reserve Gewurztraminer. Light straw color. Rich aroma, lots of the lychee fruit character that's a standard descriptor for Gewurz, with a heady floral backdrop of roses. Unctuous, good acidity; communicates itself to me as rather sweet, but the illusion seems to come from richness, not sugar: Sparr says it contains only 1.3 percent residual sugar. $22.99.

2007 DE-FIN-I-TIVE Pinot Noir. A *DYNAMITE* Pinot Noir for under $20. Deep and dark, aromas of blackberry, subtle earthy aromas waft from the glass before juicy black cherries and a silky feel come across the palate. $18.99.

2006 Page Cellars 3 Doves Merlot. On the nose there are notes of cherry, plum and vanilla. The palate is full of red cherry and plum with touches of chocolate, fig and a hint of smoke. The tannins are soft and the finish is slightly sweet. $19.99.

Matt Snyder, owner of the Beer and Wine Cave, 4400 Heatherdowns, (419) 382-6221. Matt's picks:

2008 Covington Cellars Viognier, Yakima Valley, WA. Finished in stainless steel tanks. 100% Viognier. Excellent for Thanksgiving due to its versatility. Goes well with turkey and salty gravy. Also very nice with spicy food and seafood. 13% alcohol. $19.99.

2008 Gilbert Cellars Estate Gewürztraminer,  Columbia Valley, WA. Flavors of lychee berry and refreshing acidity. Also good with brunch and is quiche and casserole friendly. $12.4% alcohol. $14.99.

2007 Argyle Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, OR. 100% Pinot Noir with a nice silky texture. No big tannins. This is double macerated to add excellent layers of flavor. 14% alcohol. $24.99.

2007 Liberty School Cabernet Sauvignon, Paso Robles, CA. A mellow Cabernet that is not hot with tannins. Good spiciness at a great price point. 13.5% alcohol. $13.99.

There you have it. Fifteen fantastic suggestions for perfect Thanksgiving pours. Have a great holiday!

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Photo by Adam Baker

Castel Grisch 2008 Johannesburg Riesling

There are some wines that are people pleasers, pure and simple. It doesn’t matter if someone prefers Cabernets or sweet wines or strictly dry whites. Some wines cross all the barriers, translate into any language and, well, they’re just plain good.

This Johannesburg Riesling from Castel Grisch in the Finger Lakes falls into this exclusive category. I first became acquainted with Castel Grisch during our winery visit last year. The winery had gotten rave reviews from our neighbors and ended up as a very enjoyable stop on our tour.
During our trip to the Finger Lakes last month we didn’t make it to Castel Grisch. This disappointed P&S, our neighbors. But luckily I had stashed a bottle. We cracked it open on Halloween before heading out on the town.

The Riesling grape can make a rainbow of wines – ranging from overly sweet ones to elegant dry Rieslings.

This Johannesburg Riesling strikes just the right note with many people because it is not over the top with sweetness yet is a breed apart from the Dry Rieslings (which I really love). The Dry Rieslings are crisp almost to0 the pint of being arid, while this wine from Castel Grisch has a refreshing sweetness that pleases many palettes, sophisticated or simple.

It has floral aroma and a pineapple citrus finish with a Spatelese-style crispness.  As with many Finger Lake wines, it is a great bargain at $14.99.

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Finger Lakes: Goose Watch Winery

FINGER LAKES REPORT  -- Our final day of tasting on the Finger Lakes started with a dash to Cayuga Lake.  It has 16 wineries, most on the west side. The wineries aren’t grouped as closely together as on Seneca meaning more time between stops on the Cayuga Wine Trail.
There are advantages, however. You have an opportunity to enjoy the beautiful scenery. Cayuga is the longest and largest of the Finger Lakes and the wineries tend to be less crowded than those on Seneca.
Our first stop was Goose Watch Winery. It was a sunny day, which added to the glorious scenery as we drove up the driveway past a grove of chestnut trees. The elegant tasting room is located in a beautifully restored century-old barn.
This is a fiesta for wine tasters. For the modest $2 tasting fee you can sample up to eight wines with an extra charge for a couple of reserve wines and an ice wine.

Goose Watch has a unique roster of wines including New York State’s only Villard Blanc, Melody and Traminette (two newer grape varieties developed by Cornell University), and two old Finger Lakes varietals Diamond and Rose of Isabella.
We started out with a very enjoyable Pinot Noir Brut Rose champagne and moved on to a 2008 Villard Blanc. This is a dry wine with flavors of citrus and herbs. Nice!
I always enjoy a good Viognier and the 2007 Goose Watch was a treat, laced with delicate tropical fruit and a bit more body than a Riesling. The price is a very reasonable $18. They had a special and so I was able to purchase three for the price of two.

Melody is a newer premium grape that has a fruity flavor with a touch of herbs and a flowery aroma. This was a bit sweet for me, and registers 2.0% residual sugar. The lower the number, the drier the wine. The Viognier, by comparison is 0.5% residual sugar.

Two wine varieties I hope you’ll try are Lemberger and Chambourcin. Lemberger is a German grape and the wine produced is light bodied and intended to be drunk young. The Goose Watch Lemberger had a peppery flavor and taste of berries.

Chambourcin is a French-American hybrid that is well suited to growing in the Finger Lakes. It is also popular in the Loire Valley in France. It has a beautiful deep color and our sample had flavor notes of raspberries. It is aged in oak and goes well with lean red meat and pasta.
Before hitting the road we strode out to the deck to enjoy the view of the lake and the vineyards. It was a sight that brought on smiles and laughter – but there was much more to see, so we were off to our next stop.

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The Supreme Sweetness of Spanish Sherry

Sherry is a wine that goes unnoticed by many American wine drinkers. I’m one of them. When I want to savor a wine I may go for a Malbec, Meritage or Cabernet, but Sherry is not top of mind.
This interesting wine was the focus of the weekly tasting at Corks Wine and Liquor on Friday, November 13. For some of the guests, it was their lucky day. Cory McQuillin was presenting samples of three Sherrys from Emilio Lustau, a top quality Sherry producer as part of wine manager Mike Gregg’s Spanish wine tasting.

Authentic Sherry from southwestern Spain, is considered on the of world’s best fortified wines. Sherry can range from dry to very sweet. It is fortified with alcohol, typically  brandy, which increases the alcohol content to 15 to 18 percent. Even premium Sherry is very reasonably priced.

Making Sherry is truly an art. Sherry is aged in oak casks in a bodega, which is an airy, above ground building which is very much in contrast with the dark, damp underground cellars usually used to age wine.

The Sherry is aged using the Solera system. Each wine barrel is filled about two-thirds full. To make room for the new wine, some wine is withdrawn from barrels and added to barrels of even older wine resulting in a continuous blending of new and old wine to make new Sherry.

As part of the fermentation process a type of yeast called Flor is allowed to grow in the cask. It floats on the surface of the wine to provide a barrier between the wine and the air. Flor has a big impact on the flavor and character of the Sherry.

We worked our way through a nice sampling of wines before we were ready for the Sherry. Other Spanish wines on the sampling list were: 1. Familia Oliveda Cava, 2. Alberino Ver Diniar 2008 a nice Rias Baixas white, 3. Naia 2006 Verdejo, 4. Atteca Grenache Old Vines 2007, 5. Tito Pesquera 2006 DOC Grenache and a bonus wine 6) Las Rocas 2006 Granacha. Of these, our favorite was the Tito Pesquera.

We were then ready for the Sherry. I told Cory that we were heading into an uncharted sweetness territory for my wife and I. We started with the Lustau Solera Reserva Dry Amontillado Sherry, “Los Arcos.” The last time I heard about Amontillado, someone was being bricked up in a wine cellar in an Edgar Allan Poe story.

This Sherry is made from the Palomino Fino grape varietal. It is dry (apparently as Sherry goes) and soft. It is nutty and raisiny. In fact raisin, fig and prune flavor predominate Sherry – at least in my initial experience. This was nice to sip and is suggested as a warming aperitif.

Next was the Deluxe Cream “Capataz Andres.” This was a deeper, tea-color amber. Again, it exhibited the raisin and fig flavor and has a creaminess to it. This is a blend of Paolomino Fino and Pedro Ximenez grapes. It has a whopping 20% alcohol content. Of the three Sherry, this was most to our liking.

The grand finale was the Pedro Ximenez “San Emilio” Reserve Sherry. This is not for the faint of heart. It is almost black in color with a thickness of warm maple syrup. The taste is off the sweetness charts. Green Dragon compared the flavor to prune juice – something that may not help market it to the young generation.
 
This is an acquired taste. We also found that pairing our sips with chocolate covered almonds or blue cheese cut the sweetness.  This Sherry is usually served with sweet desserts or on its own as a dessert wine. It is also used as the sauce for on of the famous desserts of the Jerez region of Spain: vanilla ice cream with Pedro Ximenez Sherry.

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African American Vintners Highlighted in Detroit Event

 

A special African American Vintners wine tasting is scheduled  Nov. 20 at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, 315 East Warren St., Detroit.

Red and white wines from three African American-owned wineries -- Vision Cellar Wines, Esterlina Vineyards and Brown Estates -- will be featured. There also will be South African wines that are not produced by vintners of color.
The cost is $35 per person.  There will be live entertainment and hors d'oeuvres.

During the event Chuck Jackson, will present Wine Tasting 101. He will cover wine-tasting etiquette, tasting techniques and how to get the most out of the experience.

Photo by Andrew McFarlane

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