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Cristaldi Scores

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Vintage

Wine

Color

Rating

2021

Paumanok Vineyards

Grand Vintage Cabernet Franc

Fermented in neutral oak with 50% whole berries, the result is savoury and red-fruited, with dusty mineral tones, subtle currant and fig notes on a lovely nose. Medium-bodied on the palate with juicy, spiced plum fruit, layered with brown spices, green olive, cherry wood, and mahogany. Supple yet robust tannins frame the wine, leading to a crunchy, acid-driven finish.

2021

Paumanok Vineyards

minimalist Cabernet Franc

Native fermented on skins in stainless steel for two months with délestage before pressing, followed by malolactic fermentation and 12 months in puncheons, then filtered prior to bottling. The wine opens with pure red fruit, floral lift, and rose stem aromatics, leading to a creamy, medium-bodied palate with fine-grained tannins. Pretty notes of pressed flowers and wet slate minerality carry through the long, elegant finish, all framed by bright, juicy red-fruit acidity.

2021

Paumanok Vineyards

Rosé de Pinot

Sourced from a site originally planted with sparkling wine in mind, this bottling offers a beautifully frothy, creamy mousse layered with red berry fruit and delicate French pastry aromatics. A crisp, crunchy, acid-driven finish makes it especially food-friendly—owner Charles Massoud recommends pairing it with chicken or fish dishes.

2021

Paumanok Vineyards

Tuthills Lane Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

Alluring aromatics of rich loamy earth wrap around dark currant fruit and warm tobacco spice. Medium- to full-bodied on the palate, with a plump core of cassis, blue fruit, blackberry, and black cherry. The tannins are velvety and mouthcoating, leading to a long, lingering finish layered with cedarwood, truffle, and earthy depth.

2021

Ryan William Vineyard

Ryan William Vineyard Cabernet Franc

Harvested from 20-year-old vines grown on the Ryan William Vineyard, located on the eastern shore of Seneca Lake in the Finger Lakes. Fermented on the skins, then pressed and aged in a mix of new, used, and neutral French oak barrels. This is a lovely, well-built, red-fruited expression of Cabernet Franc with juicy pomegranate-seed tannins and lingering baking spice notes that perfume the medium-length finish. It opens with great fruit intensity and energy, though it tapers slightly toward the end—but remains thoroughly enjoyable throughout.

2021

Weis Vineyards

Winzer Select Edel Süss Riesling

This is the 2021 Winzer Select Edel Süss Riesling from the Finger Lakes, made from grapes grown in limestone soils near Genga on the northern end of Seneca Lake. With 10% ABV and around 90 g/L of residual sugar, it’s gorgeously tense, balancing sweetness with precision. The mid-palate shows satiny richness with notes of candied apricot and pressed wildflowers, leading into an epically long, building finish.

2021

Whitecliff

Bourbon Barrel Blonde

A white Port-style wine made from Vignoles, aged in “wet” used bourbon barrels from Tuthilltown. It offers gorgeous aromas of toasted hazelnuts, orange blossom, poached apples and pears, with a touch of honeyed maple sweetness. Rich and warming, it’s a perfect pairing for Fall desserts—think apples, flan, cheese, or a slice of apple pie.

2021

Wölffer Estate Vineyards

Antonov (White Horse Label) Sauvignon Blanc

From Musqué clones of Sauvignon Blanc, this wine was aged six months sur lie in barrel. It’s lean and focused, bursting with lemon and lime brightness, white floral lift, and a fine beam of flinty, stony minerality that carries from the aromatics through the long finish. The mid-palate brings a fleshy, green melon-like generosity that softens the wine’s taut frame, adding balance and depth. There’s excellent tension and energy throughout, putting a fine point on this expressive Sauvignon Blanc.

2021

Wölffer Estate Vineyards

Caya (White Horse Label) Cabernet Franc

This is a dynamic and expressive Cabernet Franc—super clean, laser-focused, and structured with firm, mineral-laced tannins. A core of red berry and dark cherry fruit anchors the wine, layered with espresso bean, leather, and tobacco notes. There’s a brooding energy here, like the slow-build intensity of a Hitchcock film—compelling, suspenseful, and impossible to turn away from. Composed of 87% Cabernet Franc and 13% Merlot from the estate’s oldest Merlot vines planted in 1990. Aged for 20 months in 40% new and 60% 1- to 3-year-old French oak barriques. 1,286 cases produced.

2022

Airy Acres Vineyard

Cabernet Franc

Airy Acres Vineyard is a 21-acre certified sustainable estate site on the west side of Cayuga Lake in New York’s Finger Lakes region, which sources this 2022 Cabernet Franc. Fermented on the skins for 11 days in bins, then pressed and aged for 10 months in a mix of seasoned French oak barrels and one new French oak barrel, this is a light, bright, fruit-forward expression with juicy plum fruit on the medium- to full-bodied palate, velvety tannins, and a dusting of cedarwood spice on the earthy, well-framed finish.

2022

Anthony Road Wine Company

Barrel Ferment Pinot Gris

This Pinot Gris, like the stainless steel version, is sourced from the winery’s Nutt Road Vineyard, where silty loam soils are threaded with limestone and shale. Fermented in large-format 500-liter oak barrels and aged on the lees for up to seven months without malolactic conversion, it gains a lovely mid-palate richness without the need for residual sugar to offset the racy acidity. Light to nearly medium-bodied, it offers crunchy early-season pear and apple fruit that drive the long, mineral-laced finish. A thirst-quencher with layered texture and purity of fruit.

2022

Anthony Road Wine Company

Cabernet Franc

Sourced from Martini Family Vineyard and Nutt Road Vineyard, this Cabernet Franc was aged for approximately 12 months in neutral French and American oak barrels. Dark, crunchy red fruit interlaces with cedarwood spice and the classic herbal character of the variety, lending a woodsy, aromatic quality. Firm, structured tannins frame the palate, with notes of tobacco on a saline-mineral finish.

2022

Anthony Road Wine Company

Dry Riesling

A classic Finger Lakes Riesling viewed through the lens of an acid trip—bright, edgy, and wildly expressive. It opens with flinty minerality and a spray of lime zest before unfurling into crunchy pear and a touch of orange marmalade on the mid-palate. The finish is long and coiled, driven by wet stone and electric tension. Balanced, vibrant, and an absolute joy to drink.

2022

Billsboro Winery

Syrah

94% Syrah, 6% Cabernet Sauvignon from Sawmill Creek Vineyards. Red-fruited and delicately spiced, this light- to medium-bodied wine offers lifted aromatics of cinnamon, violets, and rose petals. On the palate, cherry and cherry pit notes are framed by firm apple skin tannins and a zesty, lingering finish. Aged for 9 months in neutral French and Hungarian oak with full malolactic fermentation.

2022

Channing Daughters Winery

Bianco Cuvee Tropical Pet-Nat

This Muscat Ottonel opens with bright aromatics of orange blossom, chamomile, and white flowers, layered with hints of autumn leaves. The palate builds in richness with notes of citrus, mango, green papaya, and underripe pineapple, accented by a twist of lime zest. Crunchy acidity underscores the frothy, refreshing texture of this pét-nat.

2022

Channing Daughters Winery

Cabernet Franc

A blend of 75% Cabernet Franc and 25% Syrah, this is an electric, vividly expressive wine bursting with cassis, strawberry, and black cherry fruit. Brown spices weave through a medium-bodied palate framed by fine, sinewy tannins and a distinct granularity. A salty-chalky mineral core and a spine of juicy, electric acidity give the wine structure and tension. Like most of James Christopher Tracy’s wines, it’s built for the table—food is not optional.

2022

Channing Daughters Winery

Mosaico

Mosaico is an exotic field blend from a complanted block in the Sylvanus Vineyard on our home farm in Bridgehampton. The 2022 vintage is composed of 32% Pinot Grigio, 29% Chardonnay, 14% Sauvignon Blanc, 10% Muscat Ottonel, 8% Gewürztraminer, and 7% Tocai Friulano. All varieties were grown, harvested, pressed, and wild-fermented together in stainless steel. This is a wild beast of a wine—in the best way—bursting with orange oil, tangerine zest, and mouth-puckering acidity. There’s a focused squeeze of lime, lemon, and grapefruit on the palate that makes it incredibly vivid and energetic. An absoulte must with food.

2022

Dr. Konstantin Frank

Blaufrankisch

Fred Frank is bullish on Blaufränkisch, believing the variety thrives in the microclimates surrounding the Finger Lakes. The 2022 Dr. Konstantin Frank Blaufränkisch is a beautifully expressive wine, offering dark berry aromatics layered with cedarwood spice and a hint of mocha. The palate is medium-bodied and refined, with gentle, satiny tannins, brown spice, and subtle slate-like minerality. A bright citrus peel note drives the lengthy finish. Fruit was destemmed and cold-soaked, inoculated in stainless steel, then aged for 16 months in a mix of mostly neutral and 20% new French oak.

2022

Dr. Konstantin Frank

Cabernet Franc

Fred Frank says the challenge for their Cabernet Franc lies in keeping yields to around three tons per acre, with careful leaf cropping and aging in French oak. This is a beautifully balanced, expressive example of Cabernet Franc—arguably one of the most structured and refined I tasted from the region. Red berry fruit mingles with elegant cedarwood spice and a fragrant pomegranate seed freshness. Medium-bodied with gorgeously firm, velvety tannins that anchor a core of crunchy red fruit, the palate is laced with refined baking spices and a touch of classic Cabernet Franc spice. The finish is mineral-driven, taut with acidity, and bursting with coiled energy. A wine to enjoy now and over the next 15–20+ years.

2022

Fox Run Vineyards

Traminette

A long, cool fermentation followed by eight months of aging on gross lees lends this wine uninhibited aromatics and vivid concentration, balanced by precise, zesty acidity. Stony minerality and lime zest leap from the glass alongside candied green apple, while the medium-bodied palate builds with smoky mineral tones and apple skin tannins that gradually soften. The finish unfolds with creamy apricot, crushed almonds, and lingering intrigue. A shape-shifter of a wine—complex, expressive, and constantly evolving its flavors in the glass.

2022

Glenora Wine Cellars

Cabernet Franc

From Seneca Lake’s first winery, this 2022 Cabernet Franc offers ripe cherry fruit laced with cedarwood and vanilla accents builds intrigue, while savory notes of tobacco and earth are framed by robust, mineral-laced tannins. Pomegranate seed-like acidity adds a crunchy, juicy brightness that carries through the tangy, refreshing finish.

2022

Glenora Wine Cellars

Pét-Nat of Seyval Blanc

This 2023 Pét-Nat of Seyval Blanc is sourced entirely from Glenora Farms on the lake’s west side. A “salty dog” of a sparkler, this bone-dry wine bursts with zesty lemon and lime, kiwi fruit, white flowers, and a touch of Marcona almond on the mineral-driven finish. Crisp, crunchy, and just salty enough, it’s a vibrant companion to a wide range of dishes—spicy or otherwise.

2022

Hermann J Wiemer Vineyard

Cabernet Franc

This wine offers terrific texture, framed by apple skin tannins and pomegranate seed notes alongside vibrant cherry and apricot fruit. There’s excellent mid-palate depth, with a savory edge of olive tapenade adding complexity. Aged in a 50/50 split of stainless steel and neutral oak, it delivers both freshness and presence.

2022

Hermann J Wiemer Vineyard

HJW Bio Riesling

A lean, mean Riesling machine, bristling with vivid, savoury saline-acid tension that frames delicate orchard fruit and floral aromatics. Fermented and aged in Austrian oak foudres, it’s utterly delicious—every flavour and aroma in perfect harmony, elevated by remarkable texture and depth that begs further exploration. This purity and precision is a direct reflection of the shale soils and Biodynamic farming at this Demeter-certified estate.

2022

Hermann J Wiemer Vineyard

Julia Field Study Red

From the experimental Julia Vineyard—a nursery site cultivating an eclectic mix of European varieties—this red blend (Cabernet Franc 35%, Blaufränkisch 33%, Zweigelt 13%, Affentaler 8%, Lagrein 4%, Schioppettino 2%, Merlot 2%, Cabernet Sauvignon 2%) is hand-picked, hand-sorted, and aged in 500L neutral Hungarian oak. It’s a hearty, meaty wine with Old World gravitas and unmistakable Finger Lakes character. Notes of leather, cured meat, black olive, and tobacco wrap around a core of dark blue-toned fruit and wet stone minerality, with lithe, dusty tannins and a finish that evokes cold river rock and brooding earth.

2022

Hermann J Wiemer Vineyard

Magdalena Vineyard Riesling

This single-vineyard Riesling from the Magdalena site benefits from the moderating effect of Seneca Lake, allowing for extended hang time and greater ripeness. Multiple selective harvest passes through the same blocks build aromatic intensity and palate weight while preserving balance. It shows generous orchard fruit and citrus zest, underpinned by a deep vein of saline minerality and smoky, stony tension. There’s a sense of drive and energy here, with remarkable length and purity that carries on for minutes. A stunning wine.

2022

Hillick & Hobbs

Estate Dry Riesling

The 2022 vintage is a bit richer and broader on the palate than the 2021, delivering consistent aromas and flavors of wet slate minerality, a panoply of white and yellow wildflowers, a touch of honeycomb or beeswax, and an expressive kumquat character. Salty-savory acidity and a stark mineral drive frame the wine, while the floral notes shine brightly on the extended finish. Bone-dry, electric, and a real joy to sip.

2022

Hosmer Winery

Hosmer Winery Cabernet Franc

Made from 100% Cabernet Franc sourced from Patrician Verona Vineyards—a 70-acre, sustainably certified estate in the Cayuga Lake AVA—this is a pretty and complex wine. The fruit was racked into a mix of neutral French and American oak barrels, and aged for eight months. With source vines dating back to 1990 and the youngest planted in 2017, the resulting wine showcases elegant red berry fruit layered with brown baking spices, earth, and rose petal nuances. Juicy notes of blood orange and cranberry brighten the mid-palate, while lithe, sinewy tannins frame the supple texture of this medium-bodied expression.

2022

Idol Ridge Winery

Local Culture Ramato

I had this with a mortadella dish from The Park Inn in Hammondsport, NY—a glorious stack served on grilled focaccia with olives and orange mustard—and the pairing absolutely soared. It has a nutty, brown-spice depth that turns into cherry-almond marzipan on the palate. Paired with that mortadella, it draws out all the savory, nutty nuance and then rinses the fat clean with precision and lift. Do yourself a favor: recreate this pairing, or you’re missing out. Winemaker Phil Plummer is like a modern-day Icarus, flying just a little too close to the sun with his experiments—but the results are golden. Keep flying, Phil.

2022

Johnson Estate Winery

Freelings Creek Reserve Brut Rosé

Expressive red berry fruit and white peach notes find their stride on the medium-bodied palate, supported by a rich, frothy, and airy mousse that finishes bone dry yet fruit-laden. Made méthode champenoise style from hand-picked Pinot Noir grown on the estate’s 4.5-acre vineyard, planted about 12 years ago on 3309 rootstock. A blend of Clone 777 and Précoce, the fruit underwent a slightly firmer pressing to extract more color, with one year of bottle aging prior to release.

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Vintage

Wine

Type

Color

Rating

$

2019

Producer

Name

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

Producer

Name

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

Producer

Name

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

Producer

Name

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

Producer

Name

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

Producer

Name

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

Producer

Name

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

Producer

Name

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

Producer

Name

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

Producer

Name

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

Producer

Name

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

Producer

Name

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

Producer

Name

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

Producer

Name

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

Producer

Name

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

Producer

Name

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.

Vintage

Wine

Type

Rating

$

2023

2023 Hermann J Wiemer Vineyard Cabernet Franc Magdalena

Still Wine

$

2023

2023 Hermann J Wiemer Vineyard HJW Vineyard Riesling

Still Wine

$

2023

2023 Hillick & Hobbs Estate Dry Riesling

Still Wine

$$

2023

2023 HV Vineyards Right Bank Chardonnay

Still Wine

$

2023

2023 Idol Ridge Winery Local Culture Sparkling Pinot Noir Pét-Nat

Sparkling Wine

$

2023

2023 Johnson Estate Winery Freelings Creek Reserve Sparkling Traminette

Sparkling Wine

$

2023

2023 Knapp Winery Baco Noir

Still Wine

$

2023

2023 Knapp Winery Dry Vidal Blanc

Still Wine

$

2023

2023 Lakewood Vineyards Bubbly Candeo

Sparkling Wine

$

2023

2023 Lakewood Vineyards Cabernet Franc

Still Wine

$

2023

2023 Lakewood Vineyards Vignoles

Still Wine

$

2023

2023 Macari Vineyards “HORSES” Petit Verdot

Sparkling Wine

$

2023

2023 Macari Vineyards Breakwater Chardonnay

Still Wine

N/A

2023

2023 Macari Vineyards Cabernet Franc “Lifeforce”

Still Wine

$

2023

2023 Macari Vineyards Meadowlark North Fork Cabernet Franc “Whole Cluster”

Still Wine

$

2023

2023 Mazza Wines The Perfect Rosé

Still Wine

$

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