New and Notable in the Finger Lakes

1. 2018 Weis Gewürztraminer. Hans Peter Weis hails from a wine making family in Zell Mosel, Germany. Landing in the Finger Lakes while working vintages around the world, Keuka Lake struck him as the place in America to make German style wines. He and his wife Ashlee opened Weis Vineyards in 2016. Finger Lakes Gewürztraminers often show characteristic nose but fall short on taste. Some too strong, some too faint, achieving the right balance is rare. The delicate spiciness, medium mouthfeel and length of this one are just right. $18.50 
2. 2018 Osmote Cayuga Lake Chardonnay. Ben Riccardi contracts for grapes, rents space for making wine and has no tasting room of his own. Yet he has made a beautiful wine in this Chardonnay. Whole cluster pressed and fermented with natural yeast in stainless steel it is unoaked and had extended lees contact. Unfortunately, Ben says he won’t be making this Cayuga Lake version any longer. $18.00.
3. Standing Stone Vineyards was acquired by Herman Weimer Vineyards in 2017 and has undergone a big transformation. One thing that hasn’t changed is dedication to the Saperavi grape begun under former owners Marti and Tom Macinski back in 1994. Today, Standing Stone claims that its 6 acres of Saperavi are the largest outside the Republic of Georgia. Saperavi has a taste all its own of plums, pomegranates, cranberries and spiciness with bright, long lasting acidity. Standing Stone has two versions. One is a 100% 2018 Saperavi ($24.95) and the other a Teinturier Saperavi Dry Rosé ($18.50). Unlike most red grapes, the pulp of Saperavi is reddish pink (teinturier) allowing for a rosé made without skin contact. It has good body, characteristic pomegranate taste and nice acidity.

I haven't had the Standing Stone Saperavi yet, but we've enjoyed the Shalestone Saperavi. They're just up the road from Standing Stone on the east side of Seneca (along with Stonecat Cafe; I'm sensing a theme); and, interestingly, the list of varieties they grow on their property doesn't include Saperavi, so I wonder if they buy that fruit from Standing Stone?

Standing Stone / Shalestone. I've always confused the two but never realized why. Thanks! Rob Thomas of Shalestone gave a nice talk at our Home Winemakers meeting in Rochester a few months ago. He poured Saperavi but I don't recall if he said anything about where it was sourced. McGregor and Frank grow it. Maybe a few others as well.

3. Standing Stone Vineyards ... ... a 100% 2018 Saperavi ($24.95)

Liked this so much I bought one. I think it has good aging potential.

Those that haven't been there in a while will be shocked, as the winery is quite different looking.

Marti Macinski always thought Saperavi was a natural for the Finger Lakes. No doubt one reason it hasn't caught on is price. The Standing Stone, Frank's and McGregor's all have been in the $30 range, a lot in the Finger Lakes. With the new Standing Stone in the mid-20's that might do the trick.