Finger Lakes News Pours

- Wow. Heron Hill is expecting to have their new Seneca Lake tasting room open by the end of this month. That was fast! Great news for us closer to Seneca than Keuka. Here is my winery visit summary for Heron Hill. Looking at my tasting notes for Heron Hill over my last several visits, the two words that I used most were elegant and balanced. From their spectacular tasting room, which is one of the most architecturally and scenically beautiful ones in the Finger Lakes to their emphasis on top-quality food-friendly wines, owners John & Josephine Ingle have positioned Heron Hill as one of the premium wine brands in the Finger Lakes. And if one wants a truly decadent treat for a very special occasion, winemaker Thomas Laszlo crafts icewines that are world class. Over several tastings, here are my wine notes: 2002 Chardonnay Reserve- Elegant, balanced, and lightly oaked, 2004 Dry Riesling $14.99- A kiss of citrus with crisp acidity, 2004 Semi-Dry Riesling$12.99- Peach and Tropical Fruit with a touch of sweetness, Eclipse White $15.99- Ample fruit with hints of oak and citrus- Elegance without the luxury price tag, Game Bird White- Seyval/Cayuga blend with solid acidic structure, Good value at $9.99, 2002 Pinot Noir $14.99- Beautiful garnet color, light bodied, spicy, and smoky, 2002 Cabernet Franc $14.99-Berry aromas with a smoky cherry finish, Perfect for dinner, Game Bird Red $9.99- Pinot Noir/Baco Noir blend, very soft but complex with a touch of sweetness, Late Harvest Vidal Blanc $17.99- Decadent dessert wine with a touch of spice, 2002 Ingle Vineyard Chardonnay $24.99- From the owners private vineyard on Canandaigua Lake, steely with lingering acidity & oak, 2003 Ingle Vineyard Johannisberg Riesling $24.99- a crisp, drier style of Riesling, 2002 Ingle Vineyard Pinot Noir $24.99- Medium tannins and perfectly balanced fruit taste, In my opinion, one of the best Pinot Noir's in the Finger Lakes. 2002 Baco Noir Reserve $19.99- Soft, with rich port-like aromas,and nice fruit, 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve$34.99- soft tannins with spice, leather, and tobacco, made to age, 2004 Late Harvest Riesling $35.99- Layers of honey and pineapple, 2003 Riesling Icewine-Intensity of flavor to the infinite, so much flavor that I didn't want to swallow, and at $99.99 a half bottle, you'll want to savor this a long time, 2004 Ingle Vineyard Riesling Ice Wine $49.99- Apples, Pineapples, and Honey seduce the tongue. Check out Heron Hill's Full Moon Beach Party on Friday July 14 featuring a Clam Bake and Live music.

- If you are looking for some bargains, check out DundeeFest this Saturday 8am-4pm when the village of Dundee puts on one huge yard sale.

- I hope you have your tickets for the Finger Lakes Wine Festival July 14-16 at Watkins Glen International. It's a great opportunity to taste the best of the Finger Lakes all in one place.

-And don't miss the Yates County Fair July 12-16. I love those Demolition Derby's!

- Check out Wagner Vineyards July wine specials and don't forget Alta B Day, Wagner's Customer Appreciation Event on Sunday July 30 from 1-4:30pm, with specials, prizes, and live music.

- After talking with various wineries last weekend, it seems there was minimal or no damage to the vines from last weeks storms and flooding, so that's very good news.