Finger Lakes Wine of the Week:
Heron Hill Winery 2013 Reserve Pinot Blanc
By Nicholas Baldwin
Warm summer days with cool evenings call for a wine that is refreshing by day and enthralling by night. The 2013 Heron Hill Reserve Pinot Blanc is just that wine. There are very few 100-percent bottlings of Pinot Blanc produced among Finger Lakes wineries but it is a grape that can grow well. It is a widely planted grape in Alsace, France, and along the Pacific Northwest.
The Reserve Pinot Blanc has cooling aromas for ripe green apples and other white tree fruits with subtle hints of spices such as cardamom, and lemon peel. It is a medium-bodied wine with supple acidity and a balanced level of alcohol resting at 12.5-percent alcohol-by-volume. It has a long finish and raises the question, why doesn’t every Finger Lakes winery produce a Pinot Blanc?
This is a favorite to simply just sip on its own next to an early evening backyard fire, or sitting on the dock watching the boats coming in for the night, but it will pair nicely with many cheeses, seafood, pork and poultry dishes. Try this with a tenderized and pan-fried pork or chicken cutlet with a creamy lemon sauce and fresh herbs. You won’t be disappointed.
Nicholas Baldwin has worked in the wine and spirits business for more than 12 years and traveled the world visiting vineyards. He holds numerous wine certifications.
For more of Nicholas Baldwin’s wine tasting notes, click here.
