Finger Lakes Wine Region - Confessions of a Former Doubter
(Originally Published on The Cork Report)
Confession:
Yes… I confess. As much as I love Riesling, it was always German Riesling I used to reach for. Or almost always - one cannot deny the sheer power of Austrian wines, or the lithe, stony structure of Rieslings from the Alsace. But New York State ? The Finger Lakes? I seriously doubted the quality of Riesling that can be made in such a climate. Oh I did taste a few here and there. Some bottles end up in New York City, especially with the growth of the locavore movement. But these did not impress, and why would they? I do not expect to be wowed by most early drinking, by the glass selection in the restaurants. Call me a snob - but that’s not who they are for! Wines that best represent a region need time, and care, and, frankly, carry a price to match the quality. And on the restaurant list that often puts them at a disadvantage - for now - because they are still “unknown”. And thus, I arrived in the Finger Lakes with a list of names, and an open, though skeptical, mind.
If there is one name that I knew before my arrival - it was this one. And Wiemer was going to be my first appointment in the Finger Lakes - the one to judge all others by. This was surely no accident, HJW wines are clearly at the top of the quality ladder. They regularly garner excellent reviews and with good reason. The winery itself is both an established giant, and, yet, a constantly evolving and innovative enterprise. The labels proudly carry “Est. 1979” (my birth-year) on them; though perhaps this may seem “young” when compared to the centuries-old traditions of the Mosel where Hermann Wiemer was born. He was a pioneer of the region and his well chosen sites are one of the reasons for the high quality of the wines. Thanks to several friends, I was lucky enough to touch base with the co-owner of the winery, Oskar Bynke, and he greeted us warmly on our arrival. We walked through the beautiful space - I especially loved the mix of modern elements with the rustic barn, like the light fixture above.
Oskar Bynke
The beautiful, not-yet-ripe in early August, bunches of Riesling near the winery
A lovely summer quaffer, full of sunny strawberry and white peaches
Oskar began with “The Map”, a giant canvas that explains not only the geographic and geological positions of the vineyards, but allows one to compare the depth and composition of the soils in the many vineyards. Yet, once the cork was popped, the map, the decor, the sunny afternoon, all faded away. This was Riesling. From the first whiff - I knew that I had been missing out. What took me so long to get to the Finger Lakes?! Oskar started us off with the HJW Single Vineyard Riesling; I think he wanted to knock me off my balance, curve ball out the gate, no time to get my bearing straight. Whether it was his intention or not, the damage was done - I was no longer in the Finger Lakes. “Pfalz?” I uttered, shocked by the clear pineapple tones and mineral notes. I think Oskar approved, or at least he liked the direction I chose. Hermann spent time at the famous Neustadt Viticultural Research Institute in the Pflalz (which I had no idea about until much later); a wine from a vineyard bearing his name that connects to his history? That was, indeed, a marvel. Yet, we were just getting started. After the lovely and voluptuous Magdalena Vineyard Riesling, and the beautifully mineral, and full of apple tones Dry Reserve, Oskar hit us with his fastball - the Joseph Vineyard 2015. This was the majesty and masculine power of Rheingau, in a halbtrocken, nearly dry but with a hint of sweetness cloak. That was my “aha” moment. A region that can produce this world-class wine deserves respect. After the “Joseph” Riesling, I knew I had been wrong. I also knew that a few bottles were surely coming home with me, and would be hidden away for years in my cellar in order to mature and develop - this too is key. As much as I love Riesling, I find that the bigger and more complex wines need time. Give the wine 5-7 years and it will reward you with an array of aromatic and textural development; that is where Riesling shines.
The “Dry Riesling” is an excellent introduction to the house style, with tropical notes, broad mid palate showing good acidity and a clean tart finish. An excellent food wine
Walking through the vineyards of the Estate, one can see the care and respect given to the vines, a sure sign of quality
Showcasing Rhinegau power and masculinity, this ripe Riesling exhibited tropical notes of pineapple over stone fruit and finishing with hints of mango on a long tart and spicy finish
We concluded our Riesling tasting with a preview of the 2016 vintage. Though rather young, these wines show great promise with rich, ripe stone fruit and a power to match. One wine deserves further discussion - the 2016 Joseph Vineyard “Auslese”. Calling this an “auslese” is already an understatement; harvested on November 3rd at 29 Brix - this wine is a monster in disguise; though a sweet, happy, orange and ginger covered monster at that. The wine, which was showing distinct notes of sweetness and botrytis, is full of beautiful orange blossom and ripe apricot notes. This will surely be a showstopper for years to come. We then moved on to the red wines, and here again I was impressed with quality and care. Both the Cabernet Franc and the Lemberger (Blaufränkisch) were excellent examples of both the terroir and the grape. While I personally preferred the Lemberger for its prickle of cranberry-like brightness on the nose and palate, the Cabernet showed class and structure that should age wonderfully. Neither felt under-ripe, my initial fear, nor were marred by overuse of oak. Our tasting ended with a duo of noble select dessert wines. Both the Magdalena and the Joseph vineyard wines were delicious, but my preference was again with the Joseph. The wine showed a level of power and complexity rarely seen in new world dessert wines. One thing was clear after the visit (other than the fact that our car was now significantly heavier, for we did not leave empty-handed), Wiemer was proof enough - New York State can clearly make world class Rieslings, and more.
The 2015 Cabernet Franc showed bright cherry tones, rich but cool red fruit notes and a light use of oak. The wine has good structure and tannin which would allow it to age and develop
Late summer sunshine, wine and the cool breeze of the Finger Lakes. A ideal destination for a long weekend
The 2015 Lemberger exhibited bright cranberry notes on the nose, ripe cherry on mid palate and rustic, powerful structure.
Our second stop in the Finger Lakes was Ravines Wine Cellars. I had not heard of them before, but I trusted my friend’s palate and was eager to taste more. The quaint and rustic barn that houses their Seneca Lake tasting room is worth the visit just for the atmosphere and the food. Beautifully decorated, it evokes both nostalgia and a sense of “home” that is simply ineffable. Ravines is the creation of Lisa and Morten Hallgren, and we were lucky to have the chance to meet and taste with both of them. Morten is the epitome of an old world winemaker. He was raised in Provence, where his family owns and operates a historic vineyard and farm, as well as a winery. He went on to receive his degree in Enology and Viticulture at the Ecole Nationale Supérieure d’Agronomie in Montpellier. Having spent years as the chief winemaker for Dr. Konstantin Frank on Keuka Lake, Morten knows the Finger Lakes climate and terroir. His wines balance the mineral and cool climate profile of the Finger Lakes, with the careful use of oak and food friendly approach. While my personal interest was in the Rieslings, the barrel samples of the Chardonnay we tasted showed lovely layers of citrus and white flowers, with hints of starfruit and pink grapefruit before the long, zesty finish. The 2015 Gewurztraminer was a surprise as well, full of lychee nut and rosewater, a lovely and floral summer wine.
Morten, tasting barrel samples of his Bordeaux blend with us
Rieslings were, of course, what I was after. The 2015 Ravines Dry Riesling showed a different side of the Finger Lakes than we saw at Wiemer. Pears and white peaches dominates the nose, while the mid palate was clean, refreshing, with a hint of grapefruit on the dry and crisp finish. This was already a pleasure to drink on a late summer afternoon, and I can only imagine what a year or two in the cellar would do for this sleek wine. The 2015 White Springs Vineyard Riesling showed a more mineral profile, with the limestone notes dominating the middle before allowing the hints of tropical and stone fruit to take over. While completely dry, the wine finished with a lovely touch of sweet fruit and a hint of spice on the back palate. The sheer balance of the White Springs spoke to me, making me want more, and I have to confess, I took some home with me. We finished our visit by tasting the 2015 Cabernet Franc and the 2014 Maximilien, a Bordeaux blend. Both wines showed structure and cool climate fruit, as well as a lovely savory herb note. They should age wonderfully and I would expect them to develop into classic, food friendly wines, after a few years in the bottle.
2015 Dry Riesling boasted white peach and grapefruit pith as well as a zesty and spicy touch
2015 White Springs Vineyard Riesling showed mineral notes over pineapple and white peach, begging to be cellared and allowed time to develop further
2014 Maximilien showed a rich nose of black and red fruit, with notes of blackberry and plum coming through. The serious structure of the wine exhibited its aging potential
Our third stop was at Forge Cellars, an appointment we arranged throught their website ahead of time. Forge Cellars is a partnership project between Richard Rainey, Justin Boyette and Louis Barruol of Chateau de Saint Cosme in Gigondas. Their first vintage was in 2011 and the absolutely gorgeous, airy and modern winery building has just been completed. That is, if you know where you are going. There is no sign on the main road (yet?), nor is the road paved. The best kept secret is part of the charm - or at least it was for us. As you arrive you may be greeted by one or two ambassadors, Achilles, the white German shepherd, or Patches (see below), Alexandra Bond’s dog. Alexandra is the assistant winemaker at Forge and lead our group through the tasting. A quick note about the tasting itself, which you can sign up for on their website. This is easily the best organized tasting we have ever had. A small group of strangers arrives at a given time, sits down at a gorgeous table and is lead through the wines, given both time and opportunity to appreciate and discuss the merits of each. Perfection.
The smiling Alexandra Bond, Assistant Winemaker at Forge Cellars, who lead us through the tasting
Alexandra lead us through the wines, starting with the Rieslings. Forge focuses on two grapes, Riesling and Pinot Noir. Their hands-on (literally), low intervention approach to the wines, allows the varietal qualities and the terroir to stand out. We began with the Riesling Classique, of which we tried the 2014 and the 2015 vintage. Both were powerfull dry wines, with high minerality and lovely citrus note. The 2014 was leaner, with grapefruit and lemon-curd, while the 2015 boasted white peach and a hint of red currants. The wines reminded me of Austrian Federspiel in style, with a powerful middle and a long dry finish. We then moved on to the 2015 single vineyard wines, Sawmill Creek, Lower Caywood and Leidenfrost. Each was unique, with the lithe and mineral forward Sawmill, the burlier, honey-and-apricot Caywood and the funky, salty and stony Leidenfrost. I would be happy with either of these, but the Leidenfrost won my heart with its unique salty tang. If I had to guess, I would place it in the upper Mosel. We also tried the Les Allies Riesling, a unique blend decided on by the team. A complex and unusual wine was the result in 2015, with a ripe core of apricot and a hint of orange blossom on the nose. We then moved on to the reds, or rather the Pinot Noir. Both the Classique and the Les Allies impressed me. The last thing I expected to enjoy in the Finger Lakes was Pinot Noir, and yet… The 2015 Classique was already impressive, earthy tones over sour cherry, not a hint of grassy or herbal notes that can easily mar this delicate grape. A rustic wine indeed, but the beautiful tart cherry notes already hint at its excellent potential. A food friendly choice, especially for salmon or poultry dishes. The 2014 Les Allies, though, was a clear step ahead, showing notes of mushroom and underbrush over the earthy, mineral-forward mid palate. The wine was clearly cool climate, but unlike anything I have tasted before. I would consider this a “must try”, and a steal of a deal at that.
The Les Allies Riesling is unique and complex, with spices, peaches and mineral notes dominating
The 2014 Les Allies was one of our highlights, showing earthy, mushroomy notes over tart cherry mid palate in this sleek wine
Conclusion
I confess, I was wrong. Not only are the Finger Lakes beautiful, of which I had no doubt, not only are the people, who chose to live and craft here, wonderful and hospitable, but the wines… the wines are really good! I must thank the two people most responsible for this trip, my friends Alan Chan and Lenn Thompson. Both have told me multiple times over the years that I was missing out, and they were right. Nor am I done, the region has many other gems to be discovered, and there is always another vintage - a new challenge and, hopefully, a new success. I would also love to extend a thank you to those we met on this trip, your passion and hospitality were clearly present in the wines we shared. A few parting notes from the Riesling-geek: while I tried to connect the wines to those regions that may be more familiar, these wines are clearly unique. They have their own sensibility, and, if one was to wax poetic, their own soul. I cannot wait to age these and see what develops, because I believe that complexity of aged Riesling is what attracts me to the grape in the first place. The other “elephant in the room” is the age of both the vines and the vineyards. The growers and the winemakers are still learning what works in this climate and terroir. The passion and the interest I saw in the Finger Lakes makes me confident that the future of the region is in the right hands, and that future is bright.
With Memorial Day behind us, and the warm summer weather slowly rolling in, what better way is there for New Yorkers to spend a weekend than going out to the North Fork, on the northern tip of Long Island? The beaches, the restaurants, the farms…. and of course - the wineries - make North Fork a worthwhile destination for New Yorkers and tourists alike. And when it comes to historic NoFo wineries making world class wines, PAUMANOK is at the top of my list.
The Massoud family, who own and run the winery, are the epitome of hospitality; never resting on their considerable laurels, the two generations of this family seek to constantly improve both the wines and the tasting experience for their guests. From the local cheeses on their pairing menu, to the new Minimalist wines - PAUMANOK forges ahead of the pack. Oh, and then there are fresh oysters on the weekends… Imagine sipping their cool Chenin, looking over the vineyard from the deck of a century-old barn that serves as their tasting room and winery. A perfect way to spend the afternoon.
I arrived at the winery just as they were opening the doors, and was immediately greeted by Kareem, the winemaker. He asked if I wanted to watch the Barrel Fermented Chardonnay being bottled. PAUMANOK produces wine from multiple grape varieties, and they are all estate grown. They make Riesling, Chenin and Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot.
PAUMANOK wines have received multiple awards and impressed the critics. Mark Squires of The Wine Advocate has praised their wines, as has Anna Iijima of the Wine Enthusiast. The wines have been served at the White House, and can be found on many restaurant wine lists, both in NYC and on the Island.
Our tasting began with two vintages of the Rosé. Unlike most wines of that moniker, PAUMANOK Rosé has the power and the fruit to stand up to most foods. An excellent summer wine, easily paired with a picnic on the beach, or a late afternoon dinner, whether chicken or fish is on the menu. Predominant notes were strawberry, bright citrus and herbs. We then moved on to the Chenins and Sauvignons. The regular bottlings of both are lovely choices for seafood or a cheese plate. Speaking of cheese, we snacked on the local Catapano cheeses, available at the tasting room, while tasting the white wines. The Minimalist wines are new at PAUMANOK, Kareem is allowing the varietals and the terroir to speak for themselves, by using a hands-off approach. The wines, both Chenin and Sauvignon, were thought provoking, showing complexity and depth. I enjoyed both immensely. We also tasted the PAUMANOK Chardonnay BdB sparkling wine from 2012. Made in the traditional method, the wine spends several years on its lees, developing complexity. The resulting sparkling wine is simply a delight - dry, full of green apples and earthy tones. Oysters anyone?
Charles Massoud, the consumate host and owner of PAUMANOK Vineyards.
A glass of PAUMANOK BdB Sparkling wine, shimmering in the summer sun.
Kareem Massoud, passionate and innovative winemaker of PAUMANOK.
We then moved on to the red wines. PAUMANOK concentrates on the red varietals from the Bordeaux region of France. We tasted the Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon wines, as well as the Petit Verdot and Assemblage (Bordeaux Blend). Cabernet Franc is known for its bright red fruit and the bell pepper/herbaceous note. The regular bottling of PAUMANOK Cab Franc is just that - excellent, refreshing red wine with a hint of herbs over red fruit notes. The Grand Vintage, on the other hand, showed power and agebility, along with deeper notes of black fruit and a tannic grip. Their Merlot is my personal favorite, cool, light on its feet, old world wine. Especially the GV bottling. Put that one in the cellar - and watch it blossom in three to five years.
The PAUMANOK Blanc de Blancs is a bright, fresh sparkling wine, full of green apples and citrus notes.
The 2013 Assemblage showed Old World class and the cool, red fruited complexity of Bordeaux blends.
Cabernet Sauvignon is a different beast all-together, blueberry and blackberry notes dominate, surrounded by whiffs of lilac and violets. The Assemblage is always a treat, an ageworthy, complex old world blend. I have been drinking from my stash of 2005 Assemblage, and it is aging excellently, showing the possibilities of Long Island winemaking. The Limited Edition Petit Verdot is a wine that stands on its own. I still have the bottle of 2005 - the first year Charles and Kareem decided to bottle the variety separately. Who would do such a thing? But having tasted that particular 2005 PV in the barrel, I too, was one of the people asking Charles - why not? It sure tasted like it could handle it. The current vintage we tried, 2013, is stunning. Plum Power in all its sweet, sappy glory, with lushness and polish over an excellent backbone of acidity. It should easily age for a decade. The wines matched well with the “pate” and “terrine” offered at the tasting room.
The Minimalist wines have impressed me with their power and ageworthiness.
PAUMANOK Chenin is nearly a “cult wine” on Long Island - Sunshine in a Bottle
PAUMANOK Rosé - a perfect summer wine for lunch or dinner.
A bottle of Grand Vintage Merlot is always in my cellar. Classic, Old World wine.
We concluded our tasting with the sweet wines. Both wines, the Riesling and the Sauvignon are from 2012 - the year Hurricane Sandy hit Long Island. These were made in the Ice-Wine style, out of frozen grapes, but they are worlds apart in flavor. The Riesling shows classical notes of dry apricot and tropical fruit. It makes me think of a German Beerenauslese, especially the nutty notes and the citrus rind on the finish. The Sauvignon is a completely different wine, think caramel popcorn with hints of butterscotch and luscious, sweet finish. A brief sun-shower passed us by, as we sat on the covered balcony. It refreshed the vineyards and the flowers around the winery. It was another wonderful afternoon on the North Fork. You can find PAUMANOK vineyards on the web, as well as Facebook (@paumanokvineyards). For more detailed notes from the tasting, take a look at CellarTracker.
The Journey to Amerika: An Immigrant Story
Originally Published by The NYU Jordan Center for Advanced Study of Russia
No, we did not come from a war-torn country. No, we did not escape bomb threats and militants. But we are refugees. We came seeking shelter and opportunity – to the land that was the epitome of both. I should not need to exonerate my status by debating the conditions of pre-and-post-perestroika Ukraine. We knew well enough who we were. It said so on our passports, on our birth certificates and, let’s be honest, on our faces. When in the third grade I was accosted by a bully seven years my senior who came up to me, as I was “on duty” in the halls of our school – I was not surprised. Not by the attack, not by the “Save Russia, kill the Jews!” that he yelled as he punched me right in the stomach…No, that was expected. It had happened before, whether physical or mental – discrimination was ubiquitous. Whether it was in schools, or at work, in colleges or in the army. It was not our religion we were despised for; it was not even our blood. It was simply our “otherness” that was so easily scapegoated. We were the “enemy within” – a target for those who could not understand why their own life was terrible.
There is an old Soviet joke – a truckload of bread was promised to be delivered to a local store. By 6 AM there was a line of people patiently waiting for bread. At noon the director of the market came out and announced that the truck will be late, and the shipment smaller than originally promised. No Jews will be allowed to buy bread. At 6 PM, there was still no bread, and the director once again came out to make his announcement. The truck will be later still, and the shipment even smaller. Only veterans of WWII will be allowed to buy the bread. At midnight, the director finally announced that there will be no bread today. The grumbling crowd dispersed, and one person could be heard telling another “Did you see? Again the Jews lucked out! They didn’t have to wait!”
And so, we came here… not so fast. Let’s take a step back. Came here how? Refugee vetting is no simple matter – “extreme” or not! First, one must gather all the documents, in several copies, with English translations. Oh – that is the easy part, right? Do you think the clerk didn’t know why you wanted the copies? Do you think they didn’t hate you for “getting out”? Surely, they did…And you needed them to like you, to be your friend. Thus you begin to sell things, books first, then heirlooms, then whatever is left. To the last penny. And you lie. A lot. At school, at work, at home…even to your friends… because “who knows?” What if you don’t get the status…what then?A year and a half later, after an interview in Moscow, after bowing and scraping, after multiple boxes of chocolate and cognac with envelopes full of “gratitude” to every clerk that had to stamp or copy or print some basic document, you are finally granted that magical status of a “refugee”.
You are now free to gather your bags. Nope, sorry, your bag. Only one, per person – that’s it, basta! Put your life in that suitcase, but leave room for a pillow and a blanket (because those, we are told, are expensive in “Amerika”). Tell your children they can have one stuffed toy to bring. Maybe two… maybe a few plastic soldiers. Then you sell everything that is still left, everything you can – perhaps you will gather enough for a month’s rent in that magical country that you are hoping to get to… You sell your apartment too, for a sliver of what it is worth, to a man who makes sure that you understand he is doing you a huge favor; he takes all the risk (oh the martyr) by buying an apartment from a “traitor”. And you get yourself to Moscow.
The last goodbyes from friends and relatives, the last humiliation too, as the border agents take anything they can from your already pilfered possessions. They tell your children that the toy in their hands does not fit into the suitcase and thus will not be allowed through, too bad. And then – only then – do you board that plane to freedom…
I cannot imagine the terror in the hearts of those refugees who were “turned back”. Stop. That’s not true. Yes I can. I can imagine – because I am not afraid of empathy. I am not afraid to remember the fear and the excitement that “Amerika” represented to us, to refugees. I will not be suckered into the “chaos vs order” narrative. I will not buy the false civilizational mythology of survival. We are not separate civilizations. “They” are not agents of chaos. When the militants destroy ancient artifacts in Iraq – it is not “their” history being destroyed. It is mine, ours! Where would we be without ancient Mesopotamia? Without Ur, Babylon, Ashur and Nineveh? What about the medieval Damascus? The centers of science and literature and law… Our civilization does not depend on their destruction. It never did. Our civilization has moved past that myth of survival. Look around – we are all the same. We are all refugees in this land. We came seeking shelter and opportunity. We came to earn a better life, not to take it. I am a Refugee. I am an American. I am a Jew. I am a Muslim. I am you.
