Monday, November 16, 2015

J.R. Dill 2010 DeChaunac, Finger Lakes

Hybrid grapes are the product of crossing two or more species of grapes. Hybrids often have greater tolerance for disease and cold climates. They also deliver a unique drinking experience.

Walking On The Wild Side

During a recent visit to the Finger Lakes, we made our first visit to the J.R. Dill Winery. We were impressed with the tasting room and the wines.
We are always on the lookout for something unique and we came home with this bottle of DeChaunac. DeChaunac was developed by Frenchman Albert Seibel in 1860. It was introduced in Canada in 1947 and in the 1950s began plantings in the US. Today it is planted in the Northeast US, Ontario and Nova Scotia.
Some wine lovers look down their nose at hybrids. Not us – we have several favorites that deliver offbeat flavor profiles that we enjoy.
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J.R. Dill – A Rising Finger Lakes Winery

We stopped into J.R. Dill a few years ago. We took a walk from our B&B where we were staying, which is on the east shore of Seneca Lake. It was a few hundred feet away and we popped in.

One of the coolest aspects of J.R. Dill is the bar, which features pieces of Seneca Lake glass, found on the shore and smoothed by the friction of the water.
The winery was founded in 2009 by Jeff Dill. It offers an interesting lineup of wines, including three that feature DeChaunac (one is a blend of Geneva and DeChaunac and the other blends Cab Franc and DeChaunac).

Digging Into DeChaunac

I noticed this bottle on the rack the other day. With a 2010 vintage and no idea how long DeChaunac might age, I thought it was high time to pop it open. I had another bottle on standby in case it had “jumped the shark.”
The aroma was the first clue that this wine was still going strong. A nice fruity aroma signaled smooth sipping ahead.
In the glass the DeChaunac is garnet in color. Nuances of earth mingled with the light red fruit flavors. The Green Dragon proclaimed a flavor of Sweet Tart and there is indeed a tartness.
Like many hybrids, this DeChaunac is not a “tannin monster” but is on the lighter side of the spectrum. It offers a great drinking experience and is a perfect casual sipper.
I’m tempted to check out the Cabernet Franc and DeChaunac blend. That could be like a pepper mill explosion. Cab Franc is know for its pepperiness and the DeChaunac has a dash of pepper as well.
At $14, this is an excellent value. If you like to zig when others zag, consider DeChaunac.

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