Wine Wednesday is where we discuss wines we’ve recently enjoyed, or not enjoyed, as the case may be. Because we are not wine experts, these “reviews” will be written in the typical B.S. style. We don’t take ourselves, or our wine, too seriously but hope you’ll enjoy our perspectives and maybe find a new bottle of wine to enjoy.
Today’s Wine Wednesday features some fun wines we tried at Bar Elena, as well as some bottles we brought back from our recent trip to the Finger Lakes in Upstate New York. Let’s get to it!
Chehalem Ridge Crest Vineyards Grüner Vetliner 2014
Bar Elena has a seriously fun wine list. Chehalem is one of my favorite wine producers from Oregon’s Willamette Valley. My go-to wine expert and sister-in-law, Melissa, introduced it to me several years ago. Many good wines lists will feature their Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir selections, but I had no idea they made a Grüner Vetliner. This wine has a nice herbal nose, a nice structure and finishes with notes of orange cream.
B.S. Bottom Line: Delicious! I would happily drink this with anything on Bar Elena’s raw bar menu and I’ll be scouting my local liquor stores for bottles to keep at home.
Adelsheim Auxerrois Ribbon Ridge Vineyard 2015
Another white wine at Bar Elena piqued my interest. Adelsheim is another fantastic Oregon producer – the Pinot Noir is one of my all time favorites. Not only was I unaware that they made an Auxerrois, I actually hadn’t even heard of this varietal. I love wine lists that teach me something! This wine is very unique and different from most whites I am used to tasting. My first impression was that it was a bit austere, but as my palate adjusted the acidity was balanced out by a notes of pineapple.
B.S. Bottom Line: I’m glad I tasted this and would like to learn more about Auxerrois. This particular wine wasn’t my favorite, but I would certainly drink it again.
Dr. Konstantin Frank Dry Riesling 2016
I love a dry Riesling, and we tasted so many good ones on our trip to the Finger Lakes (a full post on that trip coming eventually). Dr. Frank Constantin is one of the most well-known producers in the Keuka Lake area for their high-quality wines. This 2016 dry Riesling is a classic iteration, crisp and clean with citrus notes on the finish. It reminds me a bit of a Sauvignon Blanc.
B.S. Bottom Line: Obviously, we really liked it since we bought a bottle to drink at home and it didn’t even last a week. Dr. Frank’s wines are pretty widely distributed, so keep an eye out for them! Their off-dry Rieslings are top-notch as well.
Leon Millot is another new-to-me grape, commonly grown in the Finger Lakes. This varietal ripens quickly, which is ideal for the shorter growing season in the area. Keuka Lake Vineyards was one of our favorite stops of the trip, with several outstanding Rieslings and interesting red wines. Their 2016 Leon Millot has a rich, dark hue and a silky texture. Although very dark in color, it is medium in body and very fruit-forward. We enjoyed it while decorating our tree, but it would be great with a roasted pork tenderloin.
B.S. Bottom Line: If you’re like me and love trying new varietals, check out Leon Millot. And if you ever visit Keuka Lake, be sure to visit KLV for their wonderful wines and fabulous customer service!
That’s it for this week. I’d love to hear what you’re drinking lately!
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