Best Selections of Wine Trade Tastings
from various wine industry portfolio tastings during the year.
Finger Lakes Winery & Distillery Tour - Seneca Lake, NY - Summer 2019
Best Picks:
Anthony Road Wine Company - Art Riesling '14 & '15, Tierce Riesling '15, Rosé of Cabernet Franc '17, Riesporter '14, Cabernet Franc/Lemberger '16.
Barnstormer Winery - Chardonnay '18, Dry Riesling '17, Riesling Reserve '17, Sangiovese Rosé '18, Cabernet Franc Sawmill Vineyard '17, Cab Franc Reserve '17, Cabernet Sauvignon '17.
Hermann J. Wiemer Vineyard - Riesling Dry '17, Riesling HJW Vineyard '17, Riesling HJW Bio Vineyard '17, Riesling Josef Vineyard '16, Gewürztraminer '17, Chardonnay Reserve '17, Cuvée Brut Sparkling '13, Noble Select Riesling dessert wine '15.
Lakewood Vineyards - Dry Riesling '17, 3 Generations Riesling '17, Riesling Semi-Sweet '17, Pinot Gris Gigliotti Vineyards '17, Valvin Muscat '17, Bubbly Candeo Sparkling '18, Glaciovinium '17 iced wine.
Ravines Wine Cellars - Dry Riesling '16, Dry Riesling White Springs Vineyard '17, Dry Riesling Jeff's Field '16, Dry Riesling Argetsinger Vineyard '15, Chardonnay Argetsinger Vineyard '14, Pinot Rosé '18, Sparkling Brut '11.
Red Newt Cellars Winery - Riesling Tango Oaks Vineyard '13, Riesling Lahoma Vineyard '13, The Knoll Riesling Lahoma Vineyard '15, Dry Riesling KJR '14, Tierce Riesling '14.
Wagner Vineyards - Riesling Dry '17, Riesling Caywood East Dry '18, Riesling Semi-Dry '17, Riesling Select '17, Dry Rosé of Cab Franc '18, Cabernet Franc '16, Meritage '12, Pinot Noir Reserve '16, Riesling Ice '17.
Alder Creek Distillery - Bourbon Whiskey, Vodka, Gin, Barrel-Rested Gin.
Finger Lakes Distilling - McKenzie Bourbon Whiskey, McKenzie Rye Whiskey, McKenzie Bottled-In-Bond Wheated Bourbon, Vintner's Vodka, Seneca Drums Gin, McKenzie Distiller's Reserve Gin, Grape Brandy, Cherry Liqueur.
Myer Farm Distillers - New York Straight Single Barrel Bourbon Whiskey, NY Straight Single Barrel Rye Whiskey, Myer Farm Vodka, Cayuga Gold Barrel Gin, Ginger Vodka, Coffee Vodka, J. Earl Myer Ginger Lake Rye.
Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux - 2017 Vintage Grand Tasting, NYC
An approachable vintage – balanced with a good structure of fruit and nice tannins, punctuated by lighter body and a delicate freshness. Excellent for whites and sauternes. Can drink early.
Best Picks: (White/Pessac-Léognan) Château Carbonnieux; Ch. Latour-Martillac; Ch. Malartic-Lagravière; Ch. Olivier; Ch. Pape Clément; Ch. Smith Haut Lafitte.
(White/Graves) Château De Chantegrivre.
(Red/Saint-Émilion) Château La Gaffelière; Ch. Valandraud.
(Red/Pomerol) Château Gazin.
(Red/Margaux) Château Brane-Cantenac; Ch. Dauzac; Ch. Desmirail; Ch. Malescot Saint-Exupéry; Ch. Prieuré-Lichine; Ch. Rauzan-Ségla.
(Red/Saint-Julien) Château Beychevelle; Ch. Gloria; Ch. Gruaud Larose; Ch. Léoville Barton; Ch. Léoville-Poyferré; Ch. Talbot.
(Red/Pauillac) Château Clerc Milon; Ch. Duhart-Milon; Ch. Grand-Puy Ducasse; Ch. Grand-Puy-Lacoste; Ch. Lynch-Bages; Ch. Pichon Baron.
(Red/Saint-Estèphe) Château de Pez; Ch. Phélan Ségur.
(Red/Pessac-Léognan) Château Haut-Bailly; Ch. Pape Clément; Ch. Smith Haut Lafitte.
(Red/Listrac Médoc) Château Fourcas-Hosten.
(Sauternes) Château Coutet; Ch. Doisy-Daëne; Ch. De Fargues; Ch. Guiraud; Clos Haut-Peyraguey; Ch. Lafaurie-Peyraguey; Ch. Rieussec; Ch. Sigalas Rabaud; Ch. Suduiraut.
Zin-Ex California Zinfandel Tasting - NYC 2019
Best Picks: Angry Bunch- Dry Creek Valley 2015; Artezin- Collins Vineyard '16; Berryessa Gap- Yolo County '15; Cline- Tehama County '12; Kunde- Reserve Century Vines '16; Leonard- Russian River Valley '14; Michael-David- Lust '15 & Rage '15; Oak Ridge- Moss Roxx '15; Peachy Canyon- D Block '17 & Vortex '14; Ridge- East Bench '17 & Geyserville '11; Seghesio- Old Vine '14 & Cortina '15; St. Francis- Dry Creek Valley Reserve '16; Storrs- Rusty Ridge Old Vine Reserve '16; Tres Sabores- Rutherford Estate '16, Por Que No? Blend '15 & Ingrid&Julie '18; Zo Wines- Winemaker Select '17, Dry Creek Valley '17 & '16.
La Nuit en Rosé Wine Cruise - NYC 2019
Best Picks: (France) Mouton Cadet '18; Barton & Guestier- Côtes de Provence Tourmaline '18 & Veuve du Vernay Brut Rosé; Château Roubine- La Rose '18; Aime Roquesante Côtes de Provence '18; Gérard Bertrand- Côte des Roses '18 & Ballerina '18; Château De Berne- Estate '18, Inspiration '18 & Emotion '18; Ultimate Provence '18; Château Les Valentines Le Caprice de Clementine '18; Le Roi des Pierres Sancerre Rosé '18; Château Auguste '18; Nicole Miller Rosé '18; Gratien & Meyer Crémant Brut Rosé.
(Italy) Grecia Salento '18; Corerosa '18.
(U.S.) Erath Winery Oregon Rosé '18; Bonterra Organic Vineyards Rosé '18; JNSQ Rosé Cru '18; Gloria Ferrer Brut Rosé.
2017 Vintage Port Preview Tasting - NYC 2019
An extraordinary classic-style vintage, showing a wonderful diversity of expressions. A challenging year with a very hot and dry, growing and ripening season. It's the first back-to-back vintage (2016 & 2017) since 1873.
Best Picks: (Exceptional) Dow's; Graham's; Graham's The Stone Terraces; Quinta do Noval Nacional; Taylor Fladgate; Taylor Fladgate Vargellas Vinha Velha; Warre's.
(Excellent) Cockburn's; Croft; Croft Roeda Serikos; Fonseca; Quinta do Noval; Quinta da Romaneira; Capela do Vesuvio.
Oregon Wine Trail - NYC 2019
Best Picks: (Willamette Valley Pinot Noir) Alexana Winery- Revana Vineyard Estate '14 & West Blocks '13; Anne Amie Vineyards- Twelve Oaks Estates ' 15; Antiquum Farm- Juel '17 & Passiflora '17; Apolloni Vineyards- Olivia Vineyard '13; Archer Vineyard- Olenik '17; Argyle Winery- Nuthouse '15; Belle Pente Vineyard- Estate Reserve '14; Brittan Vineyards- Basalt Block '15 & Cygnus Block '15; Carlton Cellars- Roads End '15; Domaine Roy et Fils- Incline '15 & Iron Filbert Vineyard '17; Domaine Verdant- Tryptique '13, Quintessence '13 & La Follasse '15; Elk Cove Vineyards- Five Mountain '17; Fullerton Wines- Fir Crest Vineyard '16; Knudsen Vineyards- Reserve '16; Lange Estate Winery- Freedom Hill '14; Le Cadeau Vineyard- Red Label '16, Diversite '16, Cote Est '17 & Merci Reserve '16; Montinore Estate- Reserve '15; Patricia Green Cellars- Estate '17 & Freedom Hill Vineyard Dijon 115 '17; Patton Valley Vineyard- Estate '15; Raptor Ridge Winery- Estate '14; Rex Hill- Jacob Hart Estate Vineyard '16; Van Duzer Vineyards- Dijon Blocks '15.
Zachys Festa D'Italia - NY 2019
Best Picks: (Red Wine) Argiano- Brunello di Montalcino '13 & Solengo '16; I Greppi- Greppicaia '15; Antinori- Cianti Badia A Passignano Classico Gran Selezione '13, Villa Antinori Chinati Classico Riserva '15, Tenuta Tignanello Marchese Chianti Classico Riserva '16, Tignanello '15 & '16; Bibi Greatz- Colore '12 & '13; Bruno Giacosa- Barolo Falletto '15, Barolo Falletto Vigna le Rocche '15 & Barbaresco Asili Riserva '14; Cavallotto- Barolo Bricco Boschis '13 & '15; Luce Delle Vite- Toscana '15 & Brunello di Montalcino Luce '14; Petrolo- Galatrona '16; Tenuta dell'Ornellaia- Ornellaia Bolgheri '15; Fontodi- Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Vigna del Sorbo '16 & Fiaccianello della Pieve '16; Valdicava- Brunello di Montalcino '13 & Brunello di Montalcino Madonna del Piano Riserva '13; San Giusto a Rentennano- Percarlo '15; Fattoria Le Pupille- Poggio Valente '16, Toscana IGT Syrah '15 & Saffredi '16; Tenuta San Guido- Sassicaia '16; Cava D'Onice- Brunello di Montalcino Colombaio '13; Castellare di Castellina- Chianti Classico Riserva '16, I Sodi di San Niccolo '15 & Poggio Al Merli '16; Dal Forno Romano- Valpoicella Superiore, 08, '12 & '13, Amarone della Valpolicella '12.
(White Wine) Pieropan- Soave Classico Calvarino '16 & Soave Classico La Rocca '15; Antinori- Cervaro Della Sala '16; Bibi Greatz- Testamatta '15 & '16; Tenuta dell'Ornellaia- Poggio alle Gazze Toscana Bianco '16; Fattoria Le Pupille- Villa Sparina Gavi '17.
Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux - 2016 Vintage Grand Tasting, NYC
An excellent vintage – balanced with high tannins, high acidity and fresh fruit.
Best Picks: (White/Pessac-Léognan) Château Carbonnieux; Ch. De Fieuzal; Ch. Haut-Bergey; Ch. La Louvière; Ch. Latour-Martillac; Ch. Malartic-Lagravière; Ch. Olivier; Ch. Smith Haut Lafitte.
(Red/Saint-Émilion) Château Balestard La Tonnelle; Ch. Canon; Ch. Canon-La-Gaffelière; Ch. Fourtet; Ch. La Gaffelière; Ch. Larcis Ducasse; Ch. Pavie Macquin; Ch. La Tour Figeac.
(Red/Pomerol) Château Beauregard; Ch. Clinet; Ch. Gazin.
(Red/Margaux) Château Brane-Cantenac; Ch. Cantenac Brown; Ch. Dauzac; Ch. Giscours; Ch. Kirwan; Ch. Lascombes; Ch. Prieuré-Lichine; Ch. Rauzan-Ségla.
(Red/Saint-Julien) Château Beychevelle; Ch. Gloria; Ch. Gruaud Larose; Ch. Lagrange; Ch. Léoville Barton; Ch. Léoville-Poyferré.
(Red/Pauillac) Château D'Armalhac; Ch. Clerc Milon; Ch. Croizet-Bages; Ch. Grand-Puy Ducasse; Ch. Grand-Puy-Lacoste; Ch. Haut-Bages Libéral; Ch. Lynch-Bages; Ch. Pichon Baron; Ch. Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande.
(Red/Saint-Estèphe) Château Phélan Ségur.
(Red/Pessac-Léognan) Château Olivier; Ch. Pape Clément; Ch. Smith Haut Lafitte.
(Red/Listrac Médoc/Moulis-En-Médoc) Château Clarke; Ch. Chasse-Spleen; Ch. Poujeaux.
(Sauternes) Château Bastor-Lamontagne; Ch. De Fargues; Ch. Doisy-Daëne; Ch. Guiraud; Clos Haut-Peyraguey; Ch. Lafaurie-Peyraguey; Ch. Suduiraut.