Our last trip for the summer was another visit to the Finger Lakes. Besides the wineries, this area is full of things to do-hiking in state parks, Nascar races, and beautiful scenery, including waterfalls and fall foliage. Obviously boating and fishing are quite popular on the lakes, as well. But if you are going with wines as your primary goal, may I suggest mid to late September as the best time to do so, after the Nascar racing, but before the “leaf peepers” arrive in droves in early October. It is a great place to see one of nature’s most gorgeous shows:the amazing fall foliage, and the incredible reflections of this beauty in one of the eleven lakes that comprise the Finger Lakes. We have come to the Finger Lakes four times and each time we have done so between the middle of September and the end of September. It’s also warm enough to enjoy a meal and a little wine (or beer) outdoors. There are around 140 wineries in the Finger Lakes area, but there are also many breweries and even a growing number of distilleries.
I have previously written about Finger Lakes wineries in previous posts. You can read about these visits here:
If you are missing the New Jersey wine commentaries, never fear. I will be getting back to them full-time after I finish with our trip to the Finger Lakes. In the meantime, I will be highlighting my NJ wine of the week today and next week.
Some of My Finger Lakes Highlights-The New Ones (for us)
Every year we decide we want to revisit some of our favorite wineries, while trying a couple of new ones. This year, one of the new ones for us was Fox Run Vineyards. I had read some very positive reviews of their wines and their property looked beautiful. I’m so glad we chose to try this winery. It is one of our best experiences yet in the Finger Lakes.
Fox Run Vineyards
Fox Run Vineyards has everything: great wine, a beautiful tasting room and property, views of Seneca Lake, and good options to enjoy a light lunch or snack. We were fortunate to not only meet and have a great chat with Craig Hosbach (winemaker), he poured our tasting, adding an unexpected dimension to our tasting experience. We even got to meet the owner, Scott Osborn and had an informative chat with him. It was interesting that Craig has a New Jersey connection. His first job as winemaker came at Four Sisters Winery in Belvedere, NJ. Since then, Craig has been winemaker at numerous other wineries. The present harvest is his 21st! So, before we began our tasting, I knew Fox Run has a very experienced winemaker.
Our Tasting
- 2021 Doyle Chardonnay-This unoaked Chardonnay was made by Craig’s predecessor. Craig shared that 2021 was a challenging year, though the end product was a very good Chardonnay. It received 91 points from Wine Enthusiast.
- 2022 Dry Riesling-Great balance, with a soft mouthfeel (unusual for a Riesling, but terrific). It received 93 points from Wine Enthusiast. Priced at $18, this is a steal!
- 2022 Sur Lie Chardonnay-Barrel aged on Riesling lees, a novel juxtaposition of the two wines, resulting is a more complex and very enjoyable Chardonnay.
- 2022 Cabernet Franc-Medium bodied, with a little spice, very smooth, and delicious.
- 2022 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon-Medium+ body and also very smooth. One of the best Cabs I’ve tasted in the Finger Lakes.
- Ruby Port-Lighter in body and color than some Ports, but not lacking in robust flavor. It was rated 91 points by James Suckling.
What a great tasting! These wines were all delicious and they are all great buys!
Our Take Aways
You will notice that we enjoyed each of the wines we tasted and brought them all home with us!
A special thanks to Craig Hosbach for giving us so much of his time and insights!
Barnstormer Winery
This is another new winery (for us) located on Seneca Lake. It is small, but attractive. Our server was enthusiastic and knowledgeable. While the winery was only recently established (2013), the barn has roots dating back to the early 1800’s. They continue to make significant renovations which preserve the integrity of this site. While their “home farm vineyard” is only three acres, they source all of their wines from eight vineyards on the shores of Seneca Lake AVA.
My favorites here (pictured below):
2023 Sawmill Creek Dry Riesling-A good version, with bright citrus fruit on the palate.
2023 Reserve Dry Riesling-Very good, with a nice balance of acidity and flavor and a very refreshing finish.
Keuka Lake Vineyards
Keuka Lake Vineyards is located on Keuka Lake in the town of Hammondsport (not far from the famous Dr. Konstantin Frank Winery and Heron Hill Winery). Do not confuse it with Keuka Springs Winery, which is actually on Seneca Lake. The tasting room is in a small, but attractive, rustic barn. Our server was knowledgeable and helpful, informing my limited knowledge about Leon Millot.
My favorites here (pictured below):
2021 Estate Grown Dry Riesling-A good version, with a hint of sweetness, while still offering a refreshing finish.
2022 Leon Millot-produced from a red variety hybrid grape. It is a medium-bodied red grape with a very dark color, and low tannins, resulting in a smooth taste. Keuka Lake Viineyards has received high scores from critics in the recent past for their Leon Millot.
My NJ Wine of the Week
This week I chose to highlight a fantastic white blend from William Heritage Winery:
- 2022 Reserve BDX Blanc Estate Reserve-A full-bodied white powered by Sauvignon Blanc with a rich mouthfeel and notes of apple, lemongrass, and vanilla. This wine was awarded 93 Points from Decanter Magazine.
Coming Attractions
- FLX Highlights ’24 Part 2
- Another NJ Wine of the Week
- A Toast to Summer at Bellview Winery
- Beneduce Vineyards, Fall 2024
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