Stoutridge Gravitas 2008

It’s hard not to like Stoutridge Winery. They do say all the right things, do all the right things, their winery is state of the art, and Kim and Steve are good people.

So I was thrilled when I saw a wine I had never seen before….Stoutridge Gravitas. It’s an aged red made from 50% Frontenac and 50% Chancellor. Both of these are big red grapes. Many use Frontenac for port, and Chancellor is often used as a blender to add color to wines. Since Frontenac needs no help in the color department, it’s easy to understand why this is such a dark, heavy, complex wine.

Big dark berries and bursting with cassis, the Stoutridge Gravitas 2008 is a fantastic wine. This is as big and deep a wine from the Hudson Valley as I have ever tasted. Unfiltered and unfined, as many of Steve Osborn’s wines are, this is a huge wine that is aptly named. The color is a dark, opaque purple-red. And the nose is a cross between heavy stewed dark berries (dark raspberries, big blueberries, and ripe blackberries) balanced with vanilla, some spice, and a hint of earthiness. Bright prune and cassis are the dominant flavors, with solid acidity and solid tannins. A nice finish.

Great!

Congrats to Kim and Steve!