December 5, 2007

Rooster Hill Gewürtztraminer

Bill Dowd photo

I was able to do a side-by-side comparison of this bold gewürtz with a milder style from an adjoining part of New York's Finger Lakes, which shows how both differences in winemaking as well as the effects of the lakes region's micro-climates can make a big difference.

Rooster Hill Estate Gewürtztraminer 2006:

This is a single-vineyard wine from the Keuka Lake complex, the second crop off these particular vines that were planted in 2003.

The floral nose quickly gives way to a complex set of flavors offering apple, pineapple and more florals. Winemaker Barry Tortolon used two different yeasts to emphasize the floral aroma as well as the long taste.

This is a well-balanced wine with a 3.21 ph and just 1.8 residual sugar, with 11.7% alcohol. This wine, which retails for $15.99, will work well with multi-flavored meals or as a standalone wine.

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