Bashakill Vineyards Continues to Impress!

I would hate to see what Paul Denino could do with some big money behind him. Because I will tell you this. He's one of the most talented boutique winemakers on the east coast. Always evolving, both as a winemaker and as a winery owner. Inventive. Driven. Fascinating to watch.

Recently I got a chance to taste three new wines of his while I was down at the New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx for their wine and daffodil event.

The first wine was Bashakill Wood Duck Chardonnay. This lovely, light chardonnay is half aged in American Oak. The resulting wine explodes with fresh green and red apples, and lovely tropical notes, which dissolve into creamy vanilla, lemon zest, and toast. A absolutely lovely wine!

The second wine I tried was even better and easily my favorite! Paul has long made his estate cayuga named White Tail. But this new re-imaging of the wine was breathtaking on two levels. Firstly, he doesn't bottle the wine - he fills it like growlers. I couldn't buy a bottle, they told me, But I could buy a growler! I wanted it it as soon as they told me that. Brilliant! Secondly, he's infused one of his most popular wines with lavender! The Bashakill  Lavendar White Tail is the estate wine infused with locally grown organic lavender. Green apple, peach, and other stone fruits are wafted over with the lightest hint of lavendar. Instead of being over whelming, and making the wine smell like a bar of soap (as clumsier hands might have done), the wine is fragrant and breathtaking!!!!

Last but not least was Bashakill Blue Heron. This red wine gem was impressive. I love Chancellor. This deep red wine is made with Chancellor, and aged for a year and a half in French oak. This was a stellar red wine perfect for dinner. Lovely.

Paul and Bashakill continue to impress!

Whitecliff Vineyards Rose' of Pinot Noir Olana Vineyard 2017 is Amazing!

Michael Migliore and Yancey Stanforth-Migliore own Whitecliff Vineyard, a wonderful winery down in Gardner, NY. They have won numerous prestigious awards, and were recently voted best winery in the Hudson Valley. But they have a new project - the Olana Vineyard at Cherry  Lane Farm, just by the Rip Van Winkle Bridge, south of Hudson, NY. Michael and winemaker Brad Martz have taken care as they planted and nurtured their new vineyard these last three years.

This is an historically good grape growing region. The numerous farms in the southern part of Columbia county have grown table and wine grapes for more than 50 years. Brotherhood's main vineyard was the next farm, and is now the home of Tousey, who have garnered scores of 90 or more consistently. So we know the region has tremendous potential. The Whitecliff Vineyard can be seen from the river, and indeed the bridge itself, where I took this photo.

The Hudson Valley was not known for rose' wine, but has been catching up to the industry in recent years. No better example of it is there than Whitecliff's Rose of Pinot Noir Olana Vineyard 2017. This wine starts off with gorgeous, mouth watering aromas of cherries, strawberries, line and tropical fruits. On the palate the strawberries are fresh, vibrant and tart, with a lovely second wave of bright cherries, also slightly tart with minerals, lime, and tropical notes, and a lovely, creamy smooth finish.

This is evry bit as good as any rose in the state, and an incredible first wine from what will soon be a source of some of the best fruit in the valley. The potential is outstanding!

A famtastic wine from Michael, Yancey, and Bard! Congrats!

Two Great Wines from Glorie Farm Winery!

Doug Glorie is a long time farmer and wine maker. He and MaryEllen Glorie run the Glorie Farm and the Glorie Farm Winery. Doug has been supplying grapes to the valley winemakers for years. But of late Doug and his talented group have been turning out some excellent wines, especially with the help of the talented wine maker Kristop Brown.

I recently ran into Doug at the Bounty of the Hudson Wine Festival just this last month. He was pitching a number of his wines, but my eyes were attracted to two new wines...a new rose' and a Marquette. I was anxious to taste them!

The first thing I tried recently was the Glorie Rose of Cabernet Franc 2017. This is a fine fresh rose made from 100% estate Cab Franc, and its filled with strawberries, and bright Bing cherries, rhubarb, lime, and cream. This is a delicious, high quality rose that is a standout just in the valley, but could easily compete on Long Island or the Finger Lakes as well. Truly great stuff. And BTW, I love, love the new label!

Glorie Farm Winery Marquette is a big dark deep wine with bramble berry and dark cherries, cedar and hints of dried blueberry.  Also hints of toast and vanilla. A pretty, and lovely, medium-bodied red with big flavor and soft tannins. Very, very drinkable.