REVIEW : DRINK - New York State of Wine with Wine Events Scotland

The song lyrics say that the bright lights will inspire you and make you feel brand new; this is New York city. The only place I could relate to New York State until recently.

New York City is like no other, it’s loud and bold, brassy and sassy and never ever sleeps; but like most cities, travel a few hours outside the city limits and life takes on a calmer, more natural easy going existence. For this wine journey, we’re travelling 4 hours North West from New York to Lake Seneca and the Finger Lake District where they are producing some incredible lesser know but truly admired wines.

REVIEW NEW YORK STATE OF WINE. WINES FROM THE FINGER LAKES

Seneca Lake is one of 11 ‘finger-like’ lakes off Lake Ontario. Recently awarded ‘The best Wine Region in the USA’, Finger Lakes Wine is home to several wineries mainly centered around Keuka, Seneca, and Cayuga Lakes. 

They specialise in aromatic white varieties like Riesling and Gewurztraminer but also producing some exciting Cabernet Franc and Pinot Noir. The terroir of the Finger Lakes is special because of the microclimate created by the lakes; there is less frost on the shores of the lakes which also acts as an extreme cold temperatures barrier (temperatures around the Finger Lakes can reach -20 degrees) but it also brings warm, breezy days during the summer which help ripen the grapes. The lakes serve as a natural, air temperature-regulating system – the steady water temperature of the lakes helps prevent extreme air temperature swings in the surrounding hillside vineyards. This allows grapes to have a longer growing season and mitigates early frost exposure. 

I tried three fantastic wines.

  • Dry Riesling - Dr Konstantine Frank. We were joined by Meaghan Frank, Vice President and the great-granddaughter of Dr. Konstantin Frank, a the fourth generation winegrowner.

  • Dry Riesling - Red Newt Cellars. We were joined by Kelby Russell, lead winemaker.

  • Pinot Noir - Nathan K Wines. We were joined by Nathan himself.

The Rieslings were superb and one thing that was noticed during the tasting was how these wines opened up in the glass. Complex wines that really revealed themselves, every sip brought something new.

The Konstantine Frank Dry Riesling 2019 is vibrant with lots of lemon zest but quite creamy too; whilst the Red Newt Cellars Dry Riesling 2016 is filled with smoke and grapefruit.

However, its the Nathan K Pinot Noir that I want to focus on.

This is taken from his website as I could describe it no better:

N. Kendall wines was founded in 2011 by Finger Lakes native Nathan Kendall.  He is an internationally trained Winemaker who has experience in Sonoma, Willamette Valley, Waipara (NZ), Adelaide Hills (AUS), and Mosel (GER), although the plan was always to return to the shores of Seneca Lake.

His passion is to create wines in an old world style using quality grapes and minimal intervention. Having travelled throughout the world focusing on cool climate regions and varietals, the Winemaker's focus is on Riesling, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and sparkling wine.  

All lots are carefully sorted, and the pristine fruit then undergoes long spontaneous fermentations. Post fermentation, the wine ages for months on the gross lees to enhance the texture. Wines are then carefully racked, never fined, and gently filtered before bottling. We feel the best way to express the unique terroirs of each of our individual sites is by using low intervention winemaking.

And boy, does this make for an absolutely outstanding exciting Pinot Noir. First off you’ll notice the unusually pale colour of the wine. It’s like strawberry juice, quite red in colour rather than the usual ruby. The aroma will get your tastebuds excited with big ripe juicy cherries, earthy mushrooms, possible rose or pomegranate that gives way to strawberries and cranberries on the palate and those soft silky tannins will keep you wanting more, sip after sip.

There were only approx 2500 bottles of this Pinot Noir made, and I am over the moon to have been able to get my hands on a bottle.

Listening, chatting and questioning the wine makers directly is one of the best experiences to have come from a Zoom call! Another truly informative wine tasting from Diana at Wine Events Scotland and a special thanks to our host, Susy Atkins, Wine and Drink columnist for the Sunday Telegraph.

For more information on future wine tastings, head over to Wine Events Scotland - www.wineeventsscotland.co.uk

Dr Konstantine Frank - www.drfrankwines.com £20.50 available from www.goodwinexgoodpeople.com

Red Newt Cellars - www.rednewt.com £27.00 available from www.goodwinexgoodpeople.com

Nathan K wines - www.nkendallwines.com £37.99 available from www.9elmswines.co.uk