Cristaldi Scores

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No fining, no filtration, and spontaneous fermentation—this wine is a bit of savage creature. A heady mix of savory herbs, dried rose petals, and expressive black cherry and blackberry fruit leads the charge, accented by pomegranate seed crunch and a zippy, almost prickly acid tension. The finish is perfumed and exotic, with notes of blood orange, lavender, and rose water. Sourced from Ria’s Wines on the east side of Seneca Lake, the blend includes Baco Noir (fermented whole cluster) and a co-fermentation of Chelois and Traminette (also whole cluster), managed with a gentle hand during cap work and aged 60% in stainless steel and 40% in neutral oak.

100% Steuben—a hybrid developed in the early 20th century—biodynamically farmed by Corey Christie on his family’s farm outside of Naples, NY. Hand-harvested, de-stemmed, and left on skins overnight before being pressed to stainless for spontaneous fermentation, then aged five months in neutral barrel before being bottled unfined, unfiltered, and with no added sulfur. This is exactly the sort of wine that deserves to be on every natural wine bar list in NYC: wildly original and refreshingly alive. It drinks like a cross between fresh-pressed juice and kombucha—brightly red-fruited, layered with herbal lift and a musky, mineral edge. Think muddled white peach, dried herbs, and a trace of incense on the finish. Medium-bodied, fascinating, and endlessly drinkable.
This is one laser-focused, mineral-driven, tension-filled rosé of Cabernet Franc. Subtle red berry fruit mingles with spicy herbal notes—like biting into a gently spicy shishito or padron pepper. Beautifully expressive and precise, it finishes with electric acid brightness that can carry it effortlessly from aperitivo through to the end of a meal. Sourced from estate-grown, 100% certified sustainable vines, the Cabernet Franc grapes were harvested at midnight, followed by a 12-hour cold soak and fermentation in stainless steel tanks.
Weis prefers sourcing grapes from the southern portions of the lakes, where shale soils are more prevalent—reminding him of the vineyards near his hometown in the Mosel. The 2024 vintage was long and generous, what he calls a “dream vintage,” with the luxury of picking at ideal ripeness. This wine shows a plump, generous palate—especially when compared to the Estate 2023 Riesling, which I had just tasted. I highly recommend tasting them back-to-back. You’ll notice shared characteristics: orchard fruit, crunchy lime, and that bright, mouthwatering acidity that defines both wines, though this one delivers with a bit more roundness and breadth.
A blend of Merlot (45%), Cabernet Franc (30%), and Blaufränkisch (25%), with a brief six-hour maceration on the skins. The Merlot lends mid-palate richness and a decadent strawberry–watermelon core, while the Cabernet Franc provides linear acidity that lifts the aromatics—especially those floral and spicy notes brought in by the Blaufränkisch.
This Grüner Veltliner shows impressive mid-palate width—think of it like a frisbee, in contrast to the more pointed, football-shaped profile of Peter’s Rieslings. The aromatics are citrus-bright with notes of white flowers, almond skin, and a beautiful squeeze of lime over Melon de Bourgogne-like fruit. The finish is long, steely, and mineral-driven.
This is Aravelle (Hybrid “NY 81.0315.17”), a cross between Riesling and Cayuga White. Bright and expressive, it opens with aromas of white flowers and lime blossom, building into a palate driven by zesty, crunchy acidity and apple skin notes. A subtle hint of melon and honeydew lingers on the finish. Light, bright, and clean throughout.
Very pretty, with orchard fruit notes and a more linear palate expression. Think poached pear with a drizzle of honey. There’s a chalky minerality that gives it lift, and it almost drinks like a dry wine—especially when tasted after their ultra-rich Noble Select.
Their first vintage of this hybrid variety, fermented in stainless steel after being crushed and directly pressed. The wine remained on gross lees for up to seven months before being racked and bottled. It’s a laser-focused, zesty white with lemon-lime brightness and white floral aromatics. Light- to medium-bodied, with a burst of orchard fruit on the mid-palate, it finishes vivid and intense, driven by saline-acid tension. Super bright and well layered.
An extremely bold and aromatic semi-dry white wine, with residual sugar impressively balanced by vibrant acidity. It opens with poached pear and fleshy McIntosh apple, layered with hints of rose stem and lychee. A panoply of baking spice—coriander, cumin, and subtle warmth—adds depth and intrigue. A natural pairing for Indian or Asian cuisine.
A blend of estate-grown fruit and grapes sourced from grower partner Fino Farms, where vineyards are interplanted with apples and other orchard crops. One of my favorite hybrid whites from this producer, it’s fermented in stainless steel and offers vibrant orchard fruit and apricot notes, with a subtle flinty minerality and a touch of baking spice. The medium-bodied palate has a hint of silkiness at the core, finishing with underripe pineapple and apricot, lifted by a spritz of lime-bright acidity. Balanced, clean, and zesty.
What a wine. Sourced from small, hand-picked blocks within the Harbes and Soloviev vineyards on Long Island’s North Fork, and aged on fine lees for two months, this is a fantastic and weighty expression of Chenin Blanc. Vibrant citrus and apricot notes lead the way, followed by a subtle honeyed richness that emerges at the core. A firm spine of lime-bright acidity drives the wine, finishing with vivid saline-mineral tension and a building, mouthwatering spice. Clean, crisp, energetic, and laser-focused.
This is a bright, zesty white driven by tropical fruit, with notes of papaya and mango building toward a fleshy mid-palate. But just as it settles into richness, laser-focused acidity kicks in—crisp, crunchy, and cleansing—making this the ideal food wine. It’s your go-to with oysters or roast chicken and potatoes, cutting through fat with razor-sharp tension. This is 100% Trebbiano, a variety well suited to the growing conditions of Long Island’s East End, aged on fine lees for three months, with malolactic fermentation entirely avoided. Just 442 cases produced.
This is a bright, focused wine with sea spray aromatics and delicate red berry fruit. On the palate, it’s charged with salty, chalky minerality, notes of grapefruit zest and kumquat, and a gorgeous lift of florals that fuel a lengthy, energetic finish. There’s plenty of tension and vibrancy throughout. 2024 is regarded as a fantastic vintage in the region, and that’s on dissplay with this wine. Aged on fine lees for two months to build texture, and malolactic fermentation was avoided to preserve acidity.

N/V

A dry Prosecco-style sparkler made from Cayuga White, Chardonnay, and Pinot Noir, sourced from vineyards on both Seneca and Cayuga Lakes. Fermented in stainless steel and aged on the lees for eight months, it also spent an additional four months en tirage prior to disgorgement. The result is exactly what you’d hope for—light on its feet, frothy, and bursting with expressive, crunchy orchard and citrus fruit. It’s easy-drinking and refreshing, with a pleasantly bold, dry finish.
A blend of 60% Vidal, 23% Cayuga White fermented on Aromella skins, and 15% Vidal fermented on Traminette skins, with a splash (2%) of Gewürztraminer, this is the winery’s expressive take on an orange wine. Grapes were sourced from vineyards on the west sides of Keuka and Cayuga Lakes in the Finger Lakes. Fermented wild, aged for 20 months in neutral French oak, and bottled unfined and unfiltered, the wine leads with lifted aromas of apricot, honeysuckle, kiwi, and green apple, accented by green olive savouriness. There’s racy acidity and steely tension on the finish, along with a subtle effervescence.

NV

The Farm White is a blend of 70% Cayuga White, 16% Melody, and 14% Grüner Veltliner. Each variety is fermented separately in stainless steel from direct press juice, then blended in early February or March before bottling. The nose is citrus-driven with orchard fruit and a hint of jasmine, while the palate delivers a rowdy, mouth-puckering acidity and vinous energy that fuels the wine’s length.

NV

The nose on this effervescent rosé is utterly beguiling—fragrant jasmine and honeysuckle waft alongside candied red berry fruit, leading into a creamy, frothy mousse that’s sweet but balanced. Flavours of dried peach rings and apricot carry through the finish, making this wine as joyful as it is quaffable. The only thing giggly about it is how happy you’ll feel after polishing off the bottle. Crafted using the saignée method for color extraction, this fresh and crisp sparkler blends Riesling from the estate’s Lake Effect Vineyard, Cabernet Franc and Traminette from Miles Vineyard (all in the Finger Lakes AVA), and Cayuga White sourced from nearby Burlee Farms in New York State.

NV

Non-vintage méthode traditionnelle sparkling made from 100% Riesling, riddled and disgorged by hand after 18 months en tirage. Dosage is 5 g/L. This is razor-sharp and brilliantly focused, driven by crystalline acidity and ripe, succulent orchard fruit. The rich, frothy mousse fills the palate, resolving into a stark, mineral finish brimming with energy and tension. Delicious.

NV

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.
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Sourced from certified sustainable estate vineyards, this wine was aged for 12 months in a mix of American and French oak barrels. This is a delicate and finessed expression of the variety, showing real prettiness with air. Juicy red cherry fruit mingles with clove, espresso bean, grapefruit zest, and a touch of coriander cream. Firm, mineral-laced tannins provide structure to this precise and focused red.

The winery’s first single-vineyard bottling of Cabernet Franc, this wine is sourced from an estate plot just north of the winery along the eastern shore of Seneca Lake. Aged for 12 months in a mix of American and French oak barrels, it shows real polish and elegance, with layered notes of cassis, black currant, and black cherry accented by cedarwood. Medium-bodied with dusty, firm tannins that possess a velvety appeal, the wine finishes long and clean, marked by wet slate minerality, white pepper, and subtle hints of coriander and cumin.

The winery’s Melody Vineyard was the first commercial planting of this cultivar in 1984, and they’ve produced a varietal Melody bottling ever since. Harvested in late September, the grapes were fermented in stainless steel tanks to preserve freshness and aromatic lift. Kiwi fruit rises from the glass and settles into a light- to medium-bodied white with soft, silky texture and a bright acid backbone. Subtle notes of orchard fruit and wet river stone round out this elegant and easy-drinking wine—perfect for enjoying with a good book or while prepping ingredients for a slow-cooked meal.
Sourced from 100% certified sustainable estate vines, these grapes were harvested in late October, then frozen and pressed before being fermented in stainless steel tanks. Gorgeous layers of luscious apricot and ripe pear unfold with honeysuckle and white flower aromatics, all lifted by a zing of kumquat-like crunchy acidity. The wine finishes long and pure with notes of wildflower honey. Balanced and zesty, with just the right amount of sweetness offset by vibrant acid tension.
Peter sources most of his reds from vineyards along the middle to northern stretches of Seneca Lake. He prefers a cold soak to delay fermentation, typically inoculating after three to four days. In cooler years, picking happens as late as possible—just before the leaves fall. After 10 days of fermentation in open-top fermenters or stainless steel, the wine is aged for 24 months in barrel, including up to 15% new French oak. The result is an elegant wine with red berry fruit, fine brown spices, and a hint of espresso, with conifer notes emerging as it opens. Tannins show an apple-skin texture—ripe yet firm—leading to a finish of red cherry and cherry pit. The 2024 vintage, also tasted, is deeper and more expressive, with bold flavors, grippy tannins, and a strong sense of energy and tension.

Sourced from three acres of Cabernet Franc at Olana Vineyard, planted in 2015–2016 on steep, gravelly Knickerbocker soils along the Hudson River. Two clones (317 and 214) are fermented separately with partial stem inclusion in open-top fermenters, then aged for 16 months in Hungarian oak barrels and puncheons. The wine is polished and structured, delivering concentrated dark berry fruit, cedar-laced tannins, and tangy blood orange acidity. Medium- to full-bodied, it finishes with satiny richness, layered baking spices, and a wet slate minerality.

In 2020, winemaker Roman Roth believed the vintage was so exceptional, it warranted a single-vineyard Pinot Noir—and he’s repeated that decision again this year. This is a terrific, bracing, coiled-up wine with impressive depth of red and black fruit concentration, clove spice, savoury herbs, and unsmoked tobacco. Medium-bodied but muscular, the tannins bring power and drive, framing a deeply flavoured, juicy Pinot Noir that finishes with gorgeous saline-acid tension. That salty edge really pops on the long finish, scented with blood orange, cocoa powder, and pressed wildflowers.

Dazzling. Absolutely delicious, with pure apricot and tangerine fruit shining through—vivid, bright, and bursting with flavour, yet never cloying. There’s impressive depth and precision to this ice wine, with the promise of long ageing potential as it evolves into layers of truffled and honeyed complexity. A stunning pairing for roast chicken in white wine sauce. This wine exemplifies why Long Island belongs in the conversation about world-class wine. Crafted from three distinct handpicked lots, with just 312 cases produced.
This Cabernet Franc is a blend of multiple handpicked lots, matured in a mix of barrique barrels, upright oak tank, and stainless steel. Elegant red berry fruit mingles with rich spice and savoury complexity. On the palate, soaring tannins and medium-bodied intensity are lifted by a wet slate mineral edge and a hint of sweet cedarwood that balances the wine’s savoury core.

This Pinot Noir is compact, expressive, and focused, with a vivid savoury note reminiscent of Hermès leather, layered with espresso bean and crunchy cranberry and cherry fruit. Firm, mineral-laced tannins frame the medium-bodied palate, leading to a long, vivid finish of dried herbs and wet slate. Aged for 22.5 months in French oak barrels (22% new), where it completed malolactic fermentation. Only 482 cases produced.

Expressive, focused, complex, and superbly balanced. The wine opens with flinty minerality and bright citrus—Meyer lemon and grapefruit—before unfolding into a silky, weighty mid-palate layered with creamy lemon curd, apricot, crushed almonds, and white flowers. The finish is long, driven by saline-acid tension that’s nearly impossible to beat. It feels like a brilliant cross between the best of Chablis and the far western Sonoma Coast—yet remains unmistakably Long Island, with its sea spray lift, lime-bright acidity, and mouth-puckering grip that beautifully balances the wine’s fleshy mid-palate. Wonderful energy and exceptional precision. “This wine follows in the footsteps of our best 1994 Chardonnay, which launched the fine wine reputation of Wölffer Estate,” says winemaker Roman Roth. Twenty percent of the wine underwent natural malolactic fermentation, and it remained sur lie on whole lees for eight months with minimal bâtonnage.
A blend of Radian and Bentrock fruit. We select the most extreme expressions from both vineyards—those with the most intensity and edge—which ultimately make their way into the Estate bottling. The result is a wine of harmony and precision, with a mix of white flowers, citrus, and orchard fruit. There’s a real purity to the fruit character, with finely delineated notes of apple, pear, nectarine, and white peach. An incredible thread of saline-acid tension runs through it all, accenting a perfectly spicy element that lifts the richness of the fruit. The wine shows marvelous mid-palate density yet finishes with an ephemeral lightness of being—melting away with grace.
Sourced from Doyle Vineyard Management in the Finger Lakes region, this red hybrid was fermented whole berry for 5 days and aged in American oak for 10 months prior to bottling. Light in body with a Grenache-like texture, it opens with ripe red fruit and brown baking spices, layered with tobacco leaf and a distinctly Cabernet Franc-like savouriness. Notes of bay leaf and green tobacco add intrigue to this savoury red. Serve slightly chilled for a refreshing and expressive taste of New York. Best enjoyed now through the next 2–3 years.

Strawberry and raspberry fruit lead the charge, with watermelon notes building in volume and richness across the palate. The creamy, enveloping mousse resolves into a delicate off-dry sweetness, echoing just-ripe cherries and freshly picked farmers’ market strawberries—clean, bright, and thoroughly expressive. The 2023 Glide Rosé is a field blend and co-ferment of Cabernet Franc and Lemberger, sourced entirely from the certified sustainable, 21-acre Airy Acres Vineyard on the west side of Cayuga Lake in New York’s Finger Lakes. Both varieties were harvested on the same day, given roughly eight hours of skin contact, then pressed and co-fermented in stainless steel.
Native yeast fermented in large 500-liter puncheons and aged on the lees for up to seven months. Enticing aromas of honeycomb, wildflower honey, and honeysuckle lift from the glass, drawing you into a light to medium-bodied palate layered with vivid orchard fruit and subtle tropical underpinnings. Nuances of rose stem add complexity, while a touch of residual sugar provides richness that balances the bracing acid tension.
This Pinot Gris is sourced primarily from the winery’s Nutt Road Vineyard, where silty loam soils are threaded with limestone and shale. Fermented in stainless steel with no malolactic conversion, the wine remains on the lees in tank for up to seven months prior to bottling. The nose is bright and zesty with a sea spray minerality, while the light to medium-bodied palate gains subtle richness from 4 grams of residual sugar to balance the bracing acidity. Pear and apple fruit become more expressive through the long finish.

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