Best Finger Lakes Red Wine
Winner: Kings Garden Vineyards – Kings Cab
Kings Garden Vineyards is a family owned and run estate winery located on the east side of Seneca Lake, growing all their own grapes and producing all their own wines. This boutique winery, which specializes in full bodied reds, has a special passion for producing outstanding Cabernet Sauvignon, and their 2008 Kings Cab is no exception. Deep, rich and full bodied – this Cabernet Sauvignon is jammy with tones of black cherry and dark plum — a brawny red to be shared with steaks, stews and good friends. It was judged Best in Class at the 2012 FL Wine & Food Classic and was a gold medal winner — in fact the only Finger Lakes Cab Sauv to receive gold at this prestigious event.
For more information, visit www.kingsgardenvineyards.com
Top Nominee: Red Newt Cellars Cabernet Franc
As a recipient of Wine & Spirits Magazine’s 2011 Winery of the Year, the message at Red Newt Cellars is simple: eat local, drink regional. With a collaborative team of winemakers and chefs, it is this synergy between the expression of wine and cuisine that sets Red Newt apart.
Cabernet Franc is quickly becoming a signature red wine variety for the Finger Lakes. Delicate cedar, red raspberry, and hints of violet show elegantly in the nose followed by cranberry, red cassis, and smoke overtones on the palate. This fruit forward wine shows well young and will age beautifully with increasing depth.
One single vineyard expression comes from Glacier Ridge Vineyards, a small, perfectly located vineyard along the eastern shore of Seneca Lake. Cranberry, black cherry, and raspberry fruit combine with aromas of lavender, vanilla, and spice to produce a wine that is rich and ethereal.
Vinification of the Cabernet Franc is straightforward and traditional using ripe, gently crushed fruit, 10% whole cluster inclusion, warm fermentations punched down frequently by hand, aging in a mix of American oak (Canton Cooperage) barrels, and minimal racking and blending. The goal is to let the fruit express the structure, fruit and tannins that come from the vineyard.
For more information, visit www.rednewt.com