These are a some wines that have crossed the NYCR tasting table recently but will not be reviewed as part of a standalone post. As always, these are transcribed almost directly from my notebook with little editing:
Bashakill Vineyards 2009 Coyote ($15): Blend of 80% cabernet franc and 20% cabernet sauvignon. Finger Lakes fruit. Nose shows dark fruit -- currants and blueberries -- with earthy tobacco notes, pickling spice (American oak?) tomato leaf and subtle caramel. Palate shows similar fruit character, but note quite enough fruit for the structure and a-bit-too-astringent tannins. Slightly underripe with a bit of a hollow mid-palate. Medium-short finish. Might just need some time to come together. Rating: 82
Bedell Cellars 2007 Reserve Merlot ($39): Aromas of milk chocolate and sweet red cherry dominate with a bit of tobacco and a dose of toasty oak. Ripe palate with flavors of cherry soda, cherry candy, tobacco and oak. Fuller bodied and round, but just enough structure to not be soft. More structure would be welcome Medium-long finish. A little simple. Rating: 85
Benmarl Winery 2009 Seyval Blanc ($12): Over-ripe green melon, hay, grass and apple aromas aren't as appealing as the flavors here -- lemon-lime, melon with subtle grassiness and candied orange. Great acidity and thankfully no oak. A little RS, but balanced well. Fresh, but short. Rating: 82
Channing Daughters Winery 2008 Envelope ($40): 71% chardonnay, 22% gewurztraminer, 7% malvasia. Orange wine. Floral nose brings rose petal, toasted almonds, baking spice, candied ginger and tropical fruit. Extremely full bodied. Flavors range from mebrillo to rose petal to tropical fruit. Dry with noticeable skin tannin. Balance is just okay for the heft and intensity. Long finish is a bit oaky. Intellectually stimulating, but not the most hedonistic in the portfolio. Rating: 86
Channing Daughters Winery 2009 Mudd West Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc ($20): 10% chardonnay. Grapefruit and lime on the nose with hints of green apple, fresh-cut hay and sea breeze. Medium-light weight with forward apple and grapefruit flavors. Lime and mineral/saline qualities are a layer below. Fresh, well-integrated acidity. Fresh hay and grassy notes are extremely subtle. Medium-long finish is briny with grapefruit and an interesting leesy note. Rating: 89
Hudson-Chatham Winery 2008 Empire Reserve Red ($22): Blend of Long Island merlot, Hudson Valley baco noir and Finger Lakes cabernet franc. Nose of tart red cherry, cola and cinnamon candy. Subtle herbal cab franc-character. Medium bodied, the palate tastes of red cherries, spice and cola. Dry, with fairly high acidity and low tannins, it finishes short and slightly medicinal. Rating: 83
Millbrook Vineyards 2008 Proprietor's Reserve Cabernet Franc ($29): Plummy nose with blueberry pie, subtle spice and a strong dose of oaky vanilla. Even more vanilla on the palate with ripe, juicy blueberry/blackberry fruit with black plum undertones. Varietal leaf tobacco nuances are joined by spice and smoke. Tannins are ripe, but still grippy and of medium intensity. Medium short finish shows a bit of raw oak bitterness. Rating: 84
Pellegrini Vineyards 2007 Encore ($40): Bordeaux-style blend is plummy on the nose with leaf tobacco, cherry and oak aromas. More oak greets the palate with cherry-plum and cherry pit fruitiness and vanilla and Chinese five spice components. Oak is a little raw on the finish. Tannins are young, if ripe. Need to re-taste Rating: 86
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