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Cristaldi Scores

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Vintage

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Color

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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

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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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