Happy Sunday! It was a more subdued day today as I did some work and finished my laundry before going for a bike ride just before the rain began. Now I've opened a nice bottle of wine from my recent vacation which included a stop in the Finger Lakes wine region in New York State. One of the wineries I visited was the Inspire Moore Winery, where I picked up a bottle of this wine. The 2021 Zweigelt Rosé is bottled under the Nathaniel J. Moore label, which is the namesake of the current winemaker and the second generation of this family owned winery. Nathaniel succeeded his father who unfortunately passed away in 2019 just as Nathaniel graduated from a local Enology & Viticulture program.
As head winemaker, Nathaniel has continued his father's passion for Austrian varietals, including this wine. Zweigelt is a cross between Blaufränkisch and St. Laurent, and has become one of the most planted red varietals in Austria. So, let's see how this wine is tasting! The wins is a bright pink color in the glass, somewhat deeper in color than the typical rosés of the past few years. A gentle swirl of the glass reveals aromas of green grass, tart cherry and a bit of minerality. The first sip is a subdued blend of strawberry, candied cherry and some earthy peat that eases into some notes of cranberry toward the finish. The tannins are well integrated, providing for a wonderfully crisp dry finish ideal for the closing days of summer.
Beyond the wines, I must admit, I was impressed with the cozy tasting room at the winery in Naples, as I had the chance to enjoy a tasting on the deck overlooking the vineyard, an idyllic place to sip wine! And when you finish, there is a lovely restaurant next door that has some fantastic lunch fare.
Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a very interesting varietal with a great flavor profile less likely to overwhelm the food you pair it with. This wine would be wonderful with light summer fare, a variety of seafood and salad. Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a pan seared, sesame crusted tuna steak, steamed jasmine rice and sugar snap peas. Cheers!
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