Finger Lakes Wine of the Week:
Keuka Spring Vineyards 2014 Vignoles
By Nicholas Baldwin
Like a prize-winning show horse, Keuka Spring Vineyard’s 2014 Vignoles is definitely the best in show. Not an unlikely grape for the Finger Lakes grape growing region, the Vignoles on the market are often times used for blended white wines and late harvest dessert-style wines. Originally named Ravat 51, after its developer J.F. Ravat, Vignoles assumed its name when the Finger Lakes Wine Growers Association coined it in 1970. This hybrid grape shows off the soils of the Finger Lakes just as well as any other vinifera grape grown in the region today.
The 2014 from Keuka Spring is showing off extremely well right now. It is a light, crisp wine with a kiss of sweetness and has a manageable 11-percent alcohol-by-volume. It has the aromas of nectarines, fresh zesty lemon peel, orange citrus and yellow plums. It has a long finish as the residual sugar hangs off the tip of your tongue with a distinct apricot flavor on the finish. Try this Vignoles with lemon artichoke dishes, spicy Asian dishes and curries, fresh farmer’s cheeses, and even with a turkey leg from the Renaissance Fair. This bottle will be $12-$14 at your local wine boutique.
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.
