Wine Journal September 2002

09/01/2002: Visited our friends at:

Brotherhood Winery (America's Oldest Winery):

May Wine: light white specialty wine with strawberry juice and woodruff.

Rosario: For the native grape traditionalist, a blend of Concord and Niagara.

Holiday: Mulled Red wine, would be nice warmed for the winter holidays.

Rhineling: Rhine style table wine.

NY Chablis: Crisp white table wine.

NY Burgundy: Dry red table wine.

Pinot Noir: Well balanced, hint of oak, brick red color.

Cabernet Sauvignon: Aged in Limousin Oak Barrels, full-bodied, chewy.

Mariage: 75% Cab Sauv, 25% Super-oaked Chardonnay.  White with red?  The red contributes tannin and structure, the white adds smoothness and oak.

Merlot: Deep ruby color, medium bodied.

Chardonnay:  Dry, buttery style.

Seyval Blanc: Dry, crisp.

Riesling: Semi-dry, fruit forward, floral aroma.

Blanc de Blanc: Semi-dry Brut style.

Grand Monarque: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, full Methode Champenoise.  Recently disgorged.

09/02/2002: Visited our friends at:

El Paso Winery :

Chardonnay, Riesling, Merlot, Chianti

Adair Winery :

Seyval Blanc, Marechal Foch, Leon Millot

Rivendell Winery :

Riesling, Gewürztraminer, Pinot Noir, Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon, Grappa

Whitecliff Vineyard and Winery:

Chardonnay, Riesling, Merlot

Benmarl Vineyards & Winery (America's Oldest Vineyard):

Seyval Blanc, Chardonnay, Barbera, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Merlot, Zinfandel, Baco Noir

09/03/2002: Visited our friends at:

Brimstone Winery :

Tasting notes coming soon.

Baldwin Vineyards :

Tasting notes coming soon.

Benmarl Vineyards & Winery (America's Oldest Vineyard):

Seyval Blanc, Chardonnay, Barbera, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Merlot, Zinfandel, Baco Noir

09/04/2002: Visited our friends at:

Digrazia Vineyards :

Tasting notes coming soon.

McLaughlin Vineyards :

Tasting notes coming soon.

Chamard Vineyards:

Chardonnay, Merlot, Cabernet Franc

09/07/2002: Visited our friends at:

Priam Winery :

Mellea Winery :

Tasting notes coming soon.

Week ending 09/08/2002:  

In the Vineyard:

Covered the Riesling with Bird Block netting.  Riesling and Cabernet Franc are both @ 14 Brix-- needs more time.

Week ending 09/15/2002:  

In the Vineyard:

Covered the Cabernet Franc with Bird Block netting.  Steady rain.

In the Tasting Room:

Cleaned up to get ready for the crush.

In the Wine Cellar:

Big Crush weekend, Part I:  2 x 36lbs of Riesling, 5 x 36lbs of Zinfandel arrived from California.  Riesling @ 22 Brix, Zin @ 24.  Hand-crushed the Zin, hand-crushed and hand-pressed the Riesling, pitched yeast-- let the games begin!  Bottled the 2000 Rosso 1118.

Week ending 09/22/2002:  

In the Vineyard:

Cabernet and Riesling  are both  @18 Brix-- almost there.

In the Tasting Room:

Made room for 11 cases of Syrah.

In the Wine Cellar:

Big Crush weekend, Part II:  11 x 36lbs of Syrah arrived  @ 26 Brix.  Crushed the Syrah, racked the Riesling and bottled the 2001 Merlot.

Week ending 09/29/2002:  

In the Vineyard:

Rain.  Cabernet and Riesling  still  @18 Brix.

In the Wine Cellar:

Big Press week:  pressed the 2002 Zinfandel.