Pompous Ass and Red Cat aside, New York doesn't have many "critter wines" in its state-wide portfolio. You know critter wines -- the ones with cute little animals on the labels that are clearly targeted at younger drinkers.
Instead, you see quite a few labels with various vehicles on them, including labels for Bedells Main Road line (which feature a red pickup truck), Castello di Borghese's house wines (which also have pickups on them) and the Scooter Wines from Villa Bellangelo, which are described as "sweet and friendly."
Friendly is in the eye (and palate) of the beholder, but this wine is definitely sweet, with 7.5% residual sugar. It's made with the Niagara grape and it is similar to other Niagara-based wines I've had from the region.
The nose overflows with sweet honeysuckle aromas with that "foxy" character so common in Vitis lambrusca grapes. It's hard to describe but it almost smells like smoky rubber to me.
It's medium bodied and decidedly sweet, with more honeysuckle, honeyed melon flavors, and more of that rubber character. The finish is short and ends on a surprisingly sour note.
I know that there is an entire segment of the wine-drinking population that will probably love this wine (along with Pink Scooter, a blend of Catawba and Vincent, and Blue Scooter, blend of riesling and Cayuga), but I'm just not in that segment.
Grape(s): 100% Niagara
AVA: Finger Lakes
Price: $9
Rating:
(1 out of 5 | Not Recommended)
was that supposed to just be a picture of the bottle? or did something happen to the text?
Posted by: john witherspoon | January 20, 2009 at 07:01 AM
I may have to start a petition to change the name of the "Niagara" grape.
Posted by: Bryan | January 20, 2009 at 12:49 PM
I'm shocked that a bottle of Finger Lakes wine with a picture of an Italian moped at the beach doesn't contain something more enjoyable. It seems like such a perfect fit with serious goals in mind.
Posted by: Jason Feulner | January 20, 2009 at 01:28 PM
Has anyone ever had a DRY example of Niagara? I'd be curious to try one...
Posted by: Lenn Thompson | January 20, 2009 at 06:59 PM
I've had dry Cayuga...wasn't bad at all.
Posted by: Jason Feulner | January 20, 2009 at 07:59 PM
Lenn I just so happen to know a winery that does a dry oak aged Niagara from up here and it actually sold out it first vintage at $18 a bottle. I'll see if Freedom Run's management can send you one.
Posted by: Bryan | January 22, 2009 at 05:33 PM
Nice topic.I've had dry Cayuga...wasn't bad at all.
Posted by: Scooters | June 12, 2009 at 04:42 AM