If I won a contest where the prize was a free case of wine, and I had to choose between either Napa Valley, California or Finger Lakes, New York as the region from which this wine would be sourced, I'd choose the Finger Lakes. Don't get me wrong, I appreciate California wines. I'm especially fond of Sonoma County wines such as those from Rodney Strong Vineyards. California wines are a staple at my house and I'd hate to give them up. But Finger Lakes wines never fail to surprise and impress dinner guests in ways that more commonly famed regions don't.
The first time I visited the Finger Lakes, I was on assignment for Wine Report magazine. So naturally I stopped at many wineries for tastings as part of the research. What most impressed me was the sheer number of different wines and varietals that a winery typically had in its portfolio. To taste 30 wines, all made by one winemaker at one winery, and discover that each one was not just good but great, well, it made an impression. In other wine regions around the world that I've visited, that just doesn't happen. And in the Finger Lakes that sort of thing didn't just happen once. It happened over and over again. The winemakers in that region are blessed with great weather for grape growing and wonderful terroir, but perhaps most importantly they work cooperatively. Finger Lakes winemakers believe that they will succeed or fail together since if a visitor tastes one yucky wine may not be inclined to sample another. It's a model of how winemakers should work together. And, yes, I'm looking at you, Georgia vintners.
I was so impressed by the wines of the Finger Lakes region, the people making them, and the sheer breathtaking beauty of the place that I returned with my husband as quickly as I possibly could arrange. That time, maybe not every wine I tasted was perfectly pleasing to my palate. But I was exploring on my own rather than following the advice of a host. And it didn't matter. I'd still have been happy to drink a majority of the wines that I sampled.
Taste enough Finger Lakes wines and you'll pick up a specific minerality that is particular to that terroir. It's an enjoyable taste that gives the wines a pleasant backbone.
Best news of all, Finger Lakes wines are much more affordably priced than California wines--so no need to wait to win a contest. The only trouble is that not many wines from that region are available in Georgia. Then again, that's not much of a problem. I'm happy to visit the Finger Lakes any chance I get.
The 2007 Dry Riesling from Dr. Konstantin Frank was rated 93 points by Wine & Spirits magazine. Light and refreshing, it offers up notes of green apple, lime, honeydew and honey with, of course, that regional minerality. Thumbs up.
Hiç yorum yok:
Yorum Gönder