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!