Monday, October 19, 2009

Finger Lakes: Keuka Spring Vineyards

FINGER LAKES REPORT – Finishing up our tour of the eastern shore of Keuka, Keuka Springs Vineyards was our next stop. Our plan was to hit a couple wineries on the east side and then make a jaunt down Seneca’s western shore. There was no pre-set itinerary, schedule or route – simple impulse was leading us on.
2009_1004fingerlks20024 Keuka Spring makes a favorable impression even before you get out of the car. The grounds are beautiful, with a spectacular view of the lake and ample sitting and picnic areas. You walk past large oaken barrels (great for photo ops!).

Inside is a quaint tasting room with a long bar and windows with one of the best views of Keuka. There are plenty of wines and gifts on display for those who wish to browse.

First out of the chute was a double-gold medal winner, the 2008 Gewurztraminer. Green Dragon always goes straight for the medals (like a moth to the flame) and her instincts were right on target in this case. “Wow” was the consensus on this one – perhaps the best Gerwurtz of our trip. Floral notes with a rich body. It was also the first Gerwurtz  I’ve tasted with a caramel tones.

Moving on I next sampled the Miller’s Cove Red 2007. This is a red blend that’s soft on the palate with a great color and nuances of black berries. A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.
Next we move to a tasting of their reserve wines. First was the Riesling Reserve 2007. Bright, floral and minerally.

The winner of the day was a red Epic Reserve 2007. This is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cab Franc and Merlot. This is made from hand picked and specially selected grapes and features an allspice taste and also a hint of ripe cherry tomato. Very cool.

Keuka Springs should be a stop on your next Finger Lakes visit. It brings together the three key elements of a great winery visit: great location/facility, great wine and great staff.

The Toledo Vines and Wines tasting crew salute you!
Technorati Tags:

2 comments:

Hampers said...

Being a wine lover, I enjoyed going through your blog. Vineyard looks wonderful. Your blog looks cool. Keep it up the good work.

Dave Nershi, CSW said...

Thanks for your comment! We have some interesting posts lined up, so we hope you'll be a frequent visitor. Cheers!