2021 Inspire Moore Winery "Change" Blaufrankisch

Happy St. Patrick's Day!  Of course having just a bit of Irish in my heritage, I still use this holiday as an excuse to stink up my house with aromas of corned beef and cabbage, because it's so delicious!  But what wine to serve with it?  I'll admit my usual go to is a nice dry rose, but I didn't have any available, this being technically still winter, so I've decided to open a wine I picked up in the Finger Lakes of New York on my summer vacation.  The 2021 Inspire Moore Winery "Change" Blaufrankisch is a pure example of the varietal, that they espouse as their go to wine for barbecue (and I don't disagree) but let's see how it stands up to corned beef!

The wine is a very light garnet color in the glass, edging ever so close to rose, but still distinctly red.  A gentle swirl reveals aromas of earthy tar, strawberry, sweet cherry and smoky oak.  Take a sip and you are treated to a rush of tart cherry, oak and a bit of funk that transitions easily to some notes of dusty limestone and earth midpalate.  The tannins are ever so smooth, aiding the soft dry finish with a reprise of acidity at the end.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, as it's an ideal light red wine for a St. Patrick's day dinner, that's also a pleasant departure from the standard fare of Pinot Noir.  This wine would be excellent with barbecue, burgers, tacos or pizza, the perfect midweek wine and it was a terrific value at just $20.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with my traditional corned beef, cabbage, red potatoes and carrots.  Cheers!

2022 Hazlitt Dry Rosé

Happy Sunday!  Yesterday I had one of the busiest days I can remember, so today I've decided to take it easy, cooking some slow roasted comfort food for dinner, doing a bit of yard work and laundry, and now I'm ready for a nice glass of wine.  Tonight, I've opened a bottle of rosé that I picked up on my recent vacation and wine tasting side trip to the Finger Lakes region of New York.  The 2022 Hazlitt Dry Rosé is made from 100% Cabernet Franc from the Hazlitt 1852 Home Farm Vineyard in the Seneca Lake region of the Finger Lakes.  So, let's see how this wine is shaping up!

The wine is a lovely pale peach color in the glass, quite in character for the current trends in rosé.  A gentle swirl of the glass reveals aromas of strawberry, watermelon and green grass with a hint of lemon zest.  Take a sip and you're greeted with a fresh, clean depth of peach, strawberry and citrus that wash over your palate, before transitioning to some notes of green grass and a bit of minerality midpalate.  The finish is crisp and dry, ideal for summer sipping on the patio (which is rapidly coming to a close!).

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5 as this wine stacks up to some of the finest rosés from California and Washington to the South of France.  I have to admit I was skeptical of the Finger Lakes when I went to visit, but I was pleasantly surprised.  This wine would pair well with fresh summer caprese salad, a variety of cheeses, seared salmon or barbecue.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a dinner inspired by the other end of my vacation, a Vermont maple syrup glazed ham, mashed potatoes and steamed peas. Cheers!

2021 Nathaniel J. Moore Zweigelt Rosé

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!