Saturday, December 5, 2009

Finger Lakes: Lamoreaux Landing Wine Cellars



FINGER LAKES REPORT – Lamoreaux Landing Wine Cellars is one of the most striking looking wineries in the Finger Lakes with a soaring adobe colored Greek Revival winery building contrasting against the deep blue of Seneca Lake. The panoramic setting and views from the tasting room are as inspiring as their great wine.
The winery’s first vintage was in 1990 and now boasts 100 acres of meticulously managed sustainable vineyards.

Our tasting team visited Lamoreaux in October during the last day of our three-day visit which included stops at Keuka, Cayuga and Seneca lakes wineries.

This is a premier Finger Lakes winery and the quality is evident from the moment you step out of your car. The grounds are immaculate and the building emanates an air of cool sophistication. The tasting room features amazing views of the lake.
2009_1004fingerlks20046The original vineyards are planted on lands recognized as far back as the 1800s as ideal for grape cultivation. The proximity to the deep waters of Seneca Lake insulates nearby vineyards even when the temperature dips below freezing.

We began our tasting with the 2008 Dry Riesling. At a price of $12.99, this has a nice Quality Price Ratio. This is smooth with lemon highlights.

A step up the taste ladder was our next sample: 2008 Red Oak Vineyard Riesling. This has a creaminess and a nice flavor of honeysuckle and pear. A nice, complex wine with a long finish.

The 2007 Gewürztraminer had delicate flavors of spice and citrus. This was also the first Gerwurtz I’ve tried that had flavor notes of ginger. Nice!

The final white was 42 North, a blend focused on Muscat Ottonel. Muscat Ottonel is widely grown in Alsace where it is made into dry wine. This wine has a nice balance with tropical fruit palate. Viognier is included in this blend.

Moving to the red side of the tasting menu, we opted for the 2007 Pinot Noir. This is barrel aged and is bright with cherry and hints of smoke. This seemed a simple wine.

The finale for this tasting was 76 West, Lamoreaux’s first Meritage blend. And it is an awesome one indeed. All four of us agreed this was the star of the tasting. A blend of 55% Cabernet Franc, 35% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, it is an intense yet balanced wine of medium body. It has an earthy palate with flavor notes of blackberries and currants. Only 600 cases were produced, so we were sure to snatch up a bottle. This pairs well with prime cuts of grilled meats and fresh vegetables.

Lamoreaux Landing Wine Cellars is a top-flight destination with fine wines and a commendable commitment to sound environmental practices.  This is definitely recommended for your next Finger Lakes visit.
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