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Cristaldi Scores

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Vintage

Wine

Color

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2019

The Red Hook Winery

Black and Blue Reserve

From Mark Snyder’s Red Hook Winery comes this Reserve red—a full-bodied, bold expression of Cabernet Franc crafted by Christopher Nicolson with consulting by Napa Valley luminary Robert Foley. Dark black and blue fruits lead the charge, framed by rich loamy earth, savory black olive, and dried violet notes. The tannins are textured and powerful, reminiscent of cinnamon-dusted cocoa powder, resolving in an earthy, lingering finish.

2019

The Red Hook Winery

Jamesport Vineyard Cabernet Franc

From Mark Snyder’s Red Hook Winery comes this single-vineyard Cabernet Franc, bursting with red cherry and raspberry fruit, rose petal florals, and savory tobacco nuances. The medium- to full-bodied palate layers in smoked paprika, blood orange acidity, and a touch of tangy grapefruit zest. Firm, mineral-laced tannins provide structure and length, ushering in a finish that’s both darkly earthy and brightly mineral. Produced and bottled at Red Hook Winery by Christopher Nicolson with consulting by Robert Foley.

2019

Three Brothers Wineries and Estates

Blanc de Blanc Methode Traditionelle sparkling wine

A super frothy, expressive, and layered sparkling wine with savory notes of dried herbs and strawgrass layered over creamy citrus and baked orchard fruit. Everything builds beautifully on the medium-bodied palate, where hints of toasted almonds and French pastry add depth and texture to the long, elegant finish. The 2019 growing season was ideal for sparkling wine production—a cooler year that allowed Chardonnay to ripen slowly and evenly. Made using the méthode traditionnelle, the fruit was hand-picked and whole cluster pressed. Fermentation lasted 20 days at 51°F, followed by cold settling, cold stabilization, racking, and filtration.

2019

Wölffer Estate Vineyards

Christians Cuvee (White Horse Label) Merlot

This is a full-bodied, fleshy Merlot framed by structured acidity that grips the palate with intent. Juicy plum and black cherry lead the charge, followed by notes of leather, tobacco, and walnut husk. The mid-palate is plush with ripe berry fruit, cocoa powder, and accents of blood orange and a flicker of grapefruit zest. Bold, expressive, and focused, this wine shows impressive width, depth, and energy. Sourced from the Lesley Alexander Vineyard, Christian’s Cuvée is named in honor of founder Christian Wölffer and produced only in exceptional vintages. The fruit comes from the estate’s oldest Merlot block. Aged for 20 months in barrel, racked off the lees three times, and bottled unfined and unfiltered. Only 379 cases produced.

2020

Anthony Road Wine Company

MBS (Martini-Becraft Selection) Vignoles Berry Selection

100% Dry Berry Selection TBA from handpicked fruit at Martini Family Vineyards. Intensely aromatic with lifted apricot, prickly pear, golden raisins, and lush dates, unfolding into layers of candied orange peel and dried apricot. The palate is rich yet remarkably bright, carried by a fine thread of acidity that balances the sweetness beautifully. A long, slightly salty finish underscores the wine’s tension and elegance.

2020

Channing Daughters Winery

Lagrein

This Lagrein opens with a rich cocoa powder nose, alongside cassis, rose petals, and loamy earth—all of which carry through seamlessly to the palate. Grippy tannins frame a saline, mineral-driven finish. Dark, brooding, and expressive, it shows impressive depth and breadth, with well-balanced tension. Spicy and intense, yet remarkably light on its feet.

2020

Chateau LaFayette Reneau

Chateau LaFayette Reneau Cabernet Franc

Harvested from 40-year-old vines grown on the eastern shore of Seneca Lake in the Finger Lakes, this wine was fermented on the skins, then pressed and aged in a combination of new and used French oak barrels. Dark-fruited and structured, it delivers robust tannins and juicy acid tension that drive a spicy, medium-bodied finish.

2020

Dr. Konstantin Frank

Blanc de Noirs

A blend of 95% Pinot Noir and 5% Pinot Meunier with 8 g/L dosage. Delicate cherry and pomegranate fruit build through a vibrant, frothy mousse, anchored by racy saline-acid tension. The finish is long, juicy, and bright, with lively fruit balancing the grippy, mouthwatering structure.

2020

Element Winery

Cabernet Franc

2020 was a blockbuster vintage for the region—ripe, opulent, and particularly favorable for red wines, though the winery tragically lost much of its crop to frost. Thanks to expert farming by the team at Hermann J. Wiemer, this Cabernet Franc—sourced from Serenity Vineyard—was hand-picked, meticulously sorted, and fermented naturally before resting for 18 months in a single 600L neutral French oak puncheon. Bottled unfined and unfiltered, it’s a blockbuster in style: a bold and expressive wine, showing medium to full-bodied intensity with layers of dark berry fruit, cassis, and currant. A woodsy, earthy richness carries through on the palate, framed by towering, sappy tannins that structure the juicy kirsch and spice-laden core. Notes of green tobacco and bay laurel add complexity. Drink now or cellar for the next 3–5 years.

2020

Grapes of Roth by Wölffer Estate

Grapes of Roth by Wölffer Estate Merlot

The Grapes of Roth is Roman Roth’s personal label and now ranks among the premium offerings within the Wölffer Estate portfolio. This bottling is 92.5% Merlot from McCullough Vineyard in Cutchogue and 7.5% Cabernet Franc. A power-packed, dynamic, and complex expression of Merlot, it bursts with red berry fruit, spiced plum, and cedar-rich tannins that form a firm backbone to support the juicy mid-palate and exceptional length. It’s energetic and taut, with a vibrant spine of acidity—more linear and earth-driven than plush or silky, steering clear of the West Coast profile. Exceptionally food-friendly and built for the table. Aged in French oak barriques: one-third new, one-third one year old, and one-third two years old. Only 3,786 bottles produced.

2020

Hermann J Wiemer Vineyard

Blanc de Blanc - Standing Stone Vineyards

A méthode traditionnelle sparkling wine made from 100% Chardonnay, riddled and disgorged by hand after 41 months en tirage with zero dosage. It opens with tart green apple and builds a vinous character on the mid-palate, lifted by a creamy mousse and finishing with bright mineral tension.

2020

Johnson Estate Winery

Freelings Creek Reserve Brut

Hand-picked Pinot Noir grapes from 12-year-old vines grown on their 4.5-acre estate vineyard, only free-run juice is used to craft this méthode champenoise style bubbly, which sees a minimum of 3 years of bottle aging. On the palate, baked orchard fruit and kumquat notes mingle with a gentle sweetness reminiscent of French pastry and toasted Marcona almonds, layered with nutty undertones. A vivid steely, saline minerality frames the frothy mousse.

2020

Lakewood Vineyards

Blanc de Noir

Fruit was sourced from Glenora Farms, located five miles north of Lakewood Vineyards on the west side of Seneca Lake. Crafted entirely from free-run juice, the wine underwent primary fermentation in stainless steel. Bottled in May 2021 and disgorged in November 2024, this is a full-bodied and richly decadent sparkler. Baked orchard fruit, cherry pie, and cherry pit notes mingle with creamy apricot and honeyed almonds, all framed by a frothy, opulent mousse. The finish is bone-dry and crisp.

2020

Lakewood Vineyards

Reserve Cabernet Franc

Fruit was sourced from Miles Vineyards, located 15 miles north of Lakewood on the west side of Seneca Lake. Fermented on the skins for 14 days with partial malolactic conversion, the wine was aged on moderate lees in 60-gallon French oak barrels for 24 months. Fragrant cherry fruit mingles with sandalwood nuances, a kiss of cinnamon, and smoky clove. Medium-bodied, with a spicy smoked paprika intensity and fine, firm tannins that carry notes of green tobacco and black tea. Saline-driven acidity fuels the juicy finish.

2020

Living Roots Wine & Co

Traditional Method Sparkling Rose

Sourced from Patrician Verona Vineyards on the west side of Cayuga Lake, this wild ferment, unfined and unfiltered Pinot Noir was partially fermented in neutral French oak, then crafted in the traditional Champagne method with no dosage (in a Brut Nature style). Crunchy red berry fruit builds in the glass alongside cherry pit and French pastry nuances, leading to a bright, saline-acid finish. The palate is frothy and airy, with a lifted, easy-going charm.

2020

Macari Vineyards

Cuvee Katherine

Made entirely from Pinot Noir, this spent 42 months en tirage and was disgorged on September 4, 2024. Whole clusters were gently pressed and fermented slowly and coolly over five weeks, then aged in tank for nine months before bottling. The result is a sparkling wine with a gorgeously frothy, creamy mousse and elegant red berry fruit. Medium-bodied, bright, and expressive, it finishes with a fantastic rush of saline minerality that adds precision and lift to all that supple texture and energy.

2020

Ryan William Vineyard

Ryan William Vineyard Cabernet Franc Reserve

As is often the case with Reserve bottlings of Cabernet Franc from New York State, this wine delivers greater volume and a satiny texture. It offers a layered mix of red and black fruit nuances, with notes of tobacco, cedarwood, and crushed cacao nibs emerging on the juicy, earth-driven finish. Sourced from 20-year-old vines at Ryan William Vineyard on the eastern shore of Seneca Lake in the Finger Lakes, the fruit was fermented on the skins, then pressed and aged in a combination of new, used, and neutral French oak barrels.

2020

Weis Vineyards

Noble Select Riesling

The 2020 Noble Select Riesling from Weis Vineyards is absolutely riveting. This wine opens with honeycomb and a hint of hibiscus, followed by luscious layers of candied apricot and orange oil. The palate is lush, silky, and full-bodied, culminating in a masterful finish with notes of chamomile and a return of that deep, honeyed richness.

2021

Adirondack Winery

Autumn in the Park Cabernet Franc

Sourced from Doyle Vineyard Management in New York’s Finger Lakes region—renowned for cultivating native grapes, hybrids, and vinifera for wineries across the state—this red was crafted from vinifera grapes cold-soaked for 24 hours, fermented whole berry for six days, then aged 10 months in a mix of French and American oak. This is a truly intriguing wine that lures you in with expressive red berry fruit, spiced with cinnamon and underscored by espresso bean and thick, maple-cured bacon notes. The medium-bodied to medium-full palate delivers baked cherry fruit and cherry pit nuances that linger on a long, salty mineral finish.

2021

Airy Acres Vineyard

Cabernet Franc

Airy Acres Vineyard is a 21-acre certified sustainable estate vineyard on the west side of Cayuga Lake in New York’s Finger Lakes region. This 2021 Cabernet Franc was fermented on the skins for approximately 14 days in bins, then pressed and aged for 12 months in French oak barrels that were at least two years old. Pale in color—almost rosé-like—it opens with a subtle lift of high-toned acidity on the nose before revealing a supple, red-berry palate layered with spice and espresso bean nuances. Serve well-chilled alongside hard, salty cheeses for maximum enjoyment.

2021

Buttonwood Grove Winery

Cabernet Franc

This Cabernet Franc comes from the rain-soaked 2021 vintage—a challenging year when July rains arrived early and lingered. As is typical of the vintage, the wine is on the lighter side, with owner David Pittard noting it reflects the Finger Lakes’ acid-driven, leaner style. Red cherry and plum fruit lead the nose, accented by coriander, cumin, and cedarwood spice. On the palate, ripe, firm tannins support notes of crunchy pomegranate seed and a fresh, elegant frame. Fermented in stainless steel and open-top one-ton bins (inoculated), then aged in mostly neutral French oak barrels.

2021

Channing Daughters Winery

Diamond Pet-Nat

Diamond is a historic American hybrid white grape, once prized over a century ago for sparkling wine production. This bottling channels that legacy with a vinous, green apple character layered with hints of honeydew melon and wildflower honey. The palate bursts with a full squeeze of lime juice—bright, grippy, and crunchy—with a tactile, super-expressive finish. Fascinating and distinctive. Just 168 cases made.

2021

Dr. Konstantin Frank

Blanc de Blanc

Dosage is 8 g/L. Wonderfully expressive, elegant, and precise, with a creamy, articulate mousse and lovely baking spice notes interwoven with bright orchard and zesty citrus fruit character. Builds with layers of white flowers and almonds on a tart, racy, mineral-driven finish.

2021

Dr. Konstantin Frank

Brut

An elegant blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier made in the traditional method. Citrus and orchard fruit take center stage, framed by saline minerality that anchors the bright, crunchy fruit. The mousse is frothy, assertive, and focused. Super clean, fresh, and inviting.

2021

Dr. Konstantin Frank

Riesling Nature

Dr. Konstantin Frank began producing still wine in 1962, but it wasn’t until 1985 that his son, Willy Frank, introduced the winery’s first sparkling wine—carving out a new niche that Konstantin himself never pursued. With German-engineered equipment designed for méthode champenoise, the Franks laid the foundation for one of the Finger Lakes’ most respected sparkling programs. This bone-dry Riesling Nature—with no dosage and nearly three years en tirage—is like lightning in a bottle. Delicate orchard fruit, lemon, and lime thread through the aromatics and palate, framed by a frothy, airy mousse. Medium-bodied and expressive, it finishes with striking chalky mineral tension and precision.

2021

Hillick & Hobbs

Estate Dry Riesling

The 2021 Estate Dry Riesling opens with vivid orchard fruit, slivered almonds, apricot, and daffodil, layered with a subtle hint of honeycomb. A racy acid backbone and pronounced wet slate minerality drive the wine’s energy. Hand-harvested with shears and field-sorted, the fruit was whole-cluster pressed and fermented with 100% native yeast. The wine was aged with 95% fermented in stainless steel and 5% in a 500L neutral French oak barrel. Sourced from the Seneca Lake AVA in New York’s Finger Lakes, the vines grow on steep to very steep western-facing slopes of up to 55%, rooted in blue slate, glacial till, limestone, and glacial shale.

2021

Idol Ridge Winery

Local Culture Cabernet Sauvignon

From the challenging 2021 vintage, winemaker Phil Plummer added a 2% splash of Cabernet Franc for lift. Fermented in open-top bins with twice-daily punchdowns and pumpovers, then pressed to stainless steel for malolactic conversion before aging in a mix of new and used American oak and used French oak for about 12 months. The result is an expressive, tart, juicy, red-fruited Cabernet Sauvignon, with notes of cassis, currant, olive tapenade, and a salty-saline minerality.

2021

Idol Ridge Winery

Local Culture Dry Riesling

This wine opens with a wild, almost savage nose reminiscent of green or yellow Chartreuse—fennel, licorice, and savory herbs. Then it takes all the fruit you expect from Riesling and, as winemaker Phil Plummer puts it, “puts it on the grill.” The result is a smoky, almost incense-like character on the palate, with crisp, medium-bodied texture and a crunchy mineral core. The finish is long, smoky, and laced with stony intensity.

2021

Millbrook Winery

Late Harvest Vineyard Selection

Bursting with apricot, orange oil, honey, honeysuckle, and candied melon, this late harvest selection dessert wine offers tremendous mid-palate richness. Layers of honeycomb, candied orange, and apricot unfold with lush intensity, balanced by zesty acidity and a fine salted almond finish, with vibrant tension and a luxurious fruit core.

2021

Millbrook Winery

Proprietor's Special Reserve Cabernet Franc

A six-barrel selection aged in two-year-old barrels. Hand-picked, destemmed, and fermented in open-top tanks with punchdowns and pumpovers, then drained to barrel with primary lees and aged for approximately 15 months. The wine shows a bright, richly spiced character layered with red berry fruit, brown spices, black olive, licorice, and hints of leather. Robust tannins and juicy, grippy acidity are framed by aromatic Christmas spice, giving the wine both power and lift.

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Vintage

Wine

Type

Color

Rating

$

NV

Producer

Name

Made from 100% Cayuga White grapes sourced from the southwestern-most block of Patrician Verona Vineyard (a 70-acre, sustainably certified estate vineyard in the Cayuga Lake AVA, with plantings dating back to 1979), this spent four years en tirage. It is a vivid, saline-mineral-driven sparkler with a frothy, creamy mousse and loads of lemon, lime, grapefruit pith, and French pastry notes emerging on the long finish. The dosage is well-balanced, adding a subtle sweetness that resonates throughout.

NV

Producer

Name

Super expressive from the start, this 100% Chardonnay opens with a lifted nose of baking spice, oyster shell minerality, and lemon pastry. The palate builds in intensity with a focused, assertive mousse and fine beading, resolving into a stunning, saline-rich finish layered with salted lemon peel and French pastry notes. Bright, focused, and precise throughout. Aged 24 months on the lees with some time in neutral oak post-primary fermentation; no malolactic conversion. Dosage is 7 g/L. Crafted under the direction of General Manager Russell Moss.

NV

Producer

Name

Bright, stony minerality and subtle oyster shell notes rise from the glass, layered with citrus and lime. The mousse is super frothy, carrying a salty-chalky core that builds with grippy apple skin texture and golden cherry fruit. The finish is long, floral, and mineral-rich. A sparkling wine of impressive quality.

NV

Producer

Name

Sourced from Knapp Vineyards, this sparkling wine underwent primary fermentation in stainless steel, followed by bottle fermentation and 12 months on the lees before disgorging. A modest 1.5% residual sugar dosage rounds out the palate. Simple and enjoyable, it offers crisp green apple, green Jolly Rancher candy, and steely minerality, all wrapped in a vinous-like character. A supple, creamy mousse gives way to a bone-dry finish marked by mineral tension.

NV

Producer

Name

Sourced from several vineyards within the Lake Erie AVA, this blend of hybrid varieties saw cool stainless steel fermentation to help preserve vibrant aromatics and acidity. Expressive notes of apple and pear lead the way, joined by white flowers and honeysuckle. A rich, creamy, and frothy mousse lifts the palate, resolving with a subtly sweet finish.

NV

Producer

Name

Disgorged on 10.16.24 after more than three years aging sur lie, this is a multi-vintage Brut Nature made from 51% 2020 and 49% 2019 fruit. And let me say—it’s absolutely my kind of wine. Gorgeously rich, with spectacular nutty complexity and an ultra-fine, creamy mousse. Winemaker Andrew Rockwell explains that the oak aging adds just a bit of grip, which helps frame the wine’s generous mid-palate and lingering, toasty finish. It’s stunning—elegant yet powerful, and just plain gorgeous.

NV

Producer

Name

50% Chancellor (Plane’s Block, west side Cayuga Lake), 30% Verdelet (Arrowhead Vineyard, west side Seneca Lake), and 20% Cayuga White (Plane’s Block), all hand-harvested in 2023 and vinified separately. In 2024, fermenting non-vinifera Diamond—a native variety—was added to the still wine before it was bottled unfined and unfiltered. Hand-disgorged over the winter, this sparkling wine is wild, rustic, and utterly compelling. It channels tar and roses with deep loamy earth—like a red from Chinon—before unfurling with intensely tarry minerality, frizzante energy, and a creamy, assertive mousse. Red berry fruit mingles with savory notes of star anise, black olive, and crushed walnuts drizzled with paprika-laced honey.

NV

Producer

Name

A blend of Seyval Blanc and Vignoles, this semi-dry white is named after Lake Awosting in the Shawangunk Mountains. Medium-bodied, with floral lift and ripe orchard fruit, it shows a touch of sweetness balanced by incredibly bright, saline-laced acidity. The finish is marked by a wet stone minerality.

NV

Producer

Name

Traditional method rosé. This is a vividly red-fruited sparkling wine with a bright, frothy mousse and crunchy red berry, plum, and white cherry notes. A subtle salinity and touch of baking spice carry through the lengthy finish. Composed mostly of free-run juice, the wine spends up to two years en tirage, with a dosage of approximately 4.5 g/L.

N/A

Producer

Name

From Whitecliff Vineyard’s home estate-grown Traminette, this is pressed into stainless steel and fermented with native yeasts, then is allowed to ferment slowly until it hits the numbers winemaker Brad Martz is targeting—leaving enough residual sugar to complete fermentation in bottle. Disgorged to remove heavy lees, then recapped. It opens with bright apple and lifted baking spice, followed by a super frothy, assertive mousse that resolves through layers of white rose, orange oil, lychee, and a touch of grapefruit zest. Clean, zippy, and zingy.

N/A

Producer

Name

Sourced from estate-grown Vidal Blanc from the Whitecliff Vineyard home estate. Pressed into stainless steel and fermented with native yeasts, the wine is allowed to ferment as long as needed to reach the numbers winemaker Brad Martz targets—leaving enough residual sugar to complete fermentation in bottle. It’s then disgorged to remove the heavy lees and recapped. The result is a clean, bright pét-nat with notes of chamomile, yellow apple, and white flowers. The mousse is rich, creamy, and finely textured, leading to a bone-dry, acid-driven finish. Easy-drinking and elegant—really lovely.

Vintage

Wine

Type

Rating

$

NV

NV Hosmer Winery Hosmer Winery Sparkling Wine

Sparkling Wine

$

NV

NV HV Vineyards Right Bank Blanc De Blanc

Sparkling Wine

$$

NV

NV HV Vineyards Right Bank Brut Cuvée

Sparkling Wine

$

NV

NV Knapp Winery Brut

Sparkling Wine

$

NV

NV Mazza Wines The Perfect Bubbly

Sparkling Wine

$

NV

NV Sparkling Pointe Brut Nature

Sparkling Wine

$

NV

NV Usonia West! West!! West!!!

Sparkling Wine

$

NV

NV Whitecliff Awosting White

Still Wine

$

NV

NV Whitecliff North River Methode Champenoise Rose

Sparkling Wine

$

N/A

NV Whitecliff North River Petillant (Traminette)

Sparkling Wine

$

N/A

NV Whitecliff North River Petillant (Vidal Blanc)

Sparkling Wine

$

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