Brimstone 2008 Foch

Here we go on the hybrid red Foch, actual the correct name of the grape is Marechal Foch. The grape does well in cold climate and is grown in the Hudson Valley. I'm not a big red hybrid fan but I went into this Brimstone 2008 Foch with a very open mind and was pleasantly surprised.

The nose on the wine was toasty oak and had some notes of cherry behind the oak.  On the palate the wine was very acidic. Foch is an acidic wine.  There were notes of cherry and blackberry.  The wine was thin in texture and very soft.

Memorable Moments and Tastings from 2012

So often I get caught up with the blogging that I don't take time to reflect and look at the year in review.  I am humbled to know that many of you seek out some of the noted selections I review and enjoy the wine.  I want to thank Tyler Philp for inspiring me to dig deep into the past year and come up with my most memorable moments and wines.

TasteCamp, 2012

I got to travel this year to Napa, Oregon,Virginia New Jersey wine country.  Napa is Napa and I was only up there for one day as I was visiting some friends.  I really enjoyed my time in Oregon and Virginia learning about the region and their wines and hanging out with fellow bloggers.  I can not say one was better than the other, but learning about the wineries their history and what brought the owners or winemakers into wine industry, the grapes of the region and tasting the wine was truly enjoyable.

I have seen such growth over the years in the South Jersey wine industry.  When I began going to Cape May in the '80's there weren't many wineries.  Now there are 6 wineries and  2 breweries in the area.  I hope to report on them more, as I will be down in the region more frequently this year.

This year I had three wonderful tasting experiences in NYC.  The most fun was had at the Rutini lunch where it was very laid back.  Almost to laid back as I was disgusted to see a distributor rep attend the lunch in shorts as if he was stopping in on his way to the beach.  A little professionalism goes a long way buddy.  I have become a fan of Rutini and both their Rutini and Trumpeter brands are well worth the purchase. Both are reasonably priced and the Torrontes is a great summer sipper.

I was so honored to be invited to the Barons De Rothschild Champagne launch.  What an honor it was to meet and have lunch with Philippe.  Their Champagnes....outstanding!

Then there was Winegrowing Boot Camp at Millbrook Vineyards & Winery.  I took this one step farther and stopped by almost every week and took pictures of the progress of my grapes. (I will be putting together a photo of them all) It was an all hands on experience and I learned lots.  I think Summer enjoyed the experience as much as I did, as I took her every Tuesday with me to the vineyard.  She even struck up a friendship with John's lab, Carmella.

Great wines to come in the  Hudson Valley with the addition of Nostrano Vineyards! Nic and Kayleigh should have their first vintage out in 2013. I am looking forward to tasting it!  So nice to see new, young winemakers getting involved in the local wine industry! My interview and tour with them shows great commitment to region.  

Most improved Hudson Valley winery goes to Brimstone Hill Vineyards.  I have reviewed various wines this year from Brimstone and was very impressed at the improved quality of winemaking.  Kudos to Dick.

I am going to end with a post to look forward to in 2013.  Ever purchase a wine on futures? We did back in 2006 in Santa Barbara and slowly drank the Syrah.  There was a point in time that we didn't think the Syrah was tasting to good.  In fact it got real sweet.  Opened the last bottle a few weeks ago and..........

Have a wonderful New Year everyone and Thank You for your encouragement and for hanging out here with me.  

Brimstone Hill Vineyard 2008 Vin Rouge Superior

This wine from Brimstone Hill Vineyard & Winery is a blend of 66% Chancellor with the balance being of Foch and Chambourcin all grown in the Hudson Valley region.

I found the nose on this wine very complex with aromas of raspberry, licorice and smokey notes filled the glass.

A dark berry fruity palate showed hints of black raspberry and plum.  There was a strange tanginess through out the entire taste which lead to a smoky finish.

The wine sells in their tasting room for $10.88.

Brimstone Hill Hudson River Region Noiret

I have to tell you, I am not a big Noiret fan, but the one thing I like about the wine is the spice it brings on the finish. If you know me and have been reading my posts, I love spice.

This particular Noiret had aromas that reminded me of my grandmothers silver cabinet.  Behind those aromas were cherry, spice and dark fruit.  The palate was nice and rounded but a little light in texture.  Earthy and blackberry notes were followed by soft acidity and spice on the finish.

I served this wine with my Taco Salad and it was a beautiful pairing.

Nice Vidal Blanc - Brimstone Hill Vineyards

Boy was I surprised when I opened and tasted the 2010 Brimstone Hill Vineyards NYS Vidal Blanc, surprised at how nice it was. This wine won a bronze medal at the Hudson Valley Wine & Spirits Competition.

The nose was very clean and crisp.  Floral and pineapple aromas filled the glass.  It made me think of spring.

The wine had a very nice mouth feel with strong flavors of Bartlett pear.  It's semi sweet with 3% residual sugar which balances out the acidity quite nicely. The wine paired well with the flounder I cooked for dinner.

The wine sells in the tasting room for $10.88.

Regional Wine Week - Brimstone Vineyards

In the spirit of Regional Wine Week I picked up a bottle of Brimstone Hill 2010 Seyval Blanc.  Brimstone Hill Vineyards in located in Pine Bush.  They are a small winery and have over 10 acres of vines planted.

I like the Seyval grape, it's crispness and citrus notes and I found that in this 2010 vintage from Brimstone Hill. It  had some floral notes on the nose as well and distant hint of bananas.  The color I wasn't to keen on.  Usually Seyval Blanc is very pale yellow if that.  This color was a little to golden to me.

The taste was a bit bland for me, but it did have hints of tropical fruit and guava. I was looking for a bit more.

I wouldn't hold onto this wine, if you have it in your cellar, I would drink it now.

Brimstone Hill 2007 Vin Rouge Superior

This Brimstone Hill Vineyard wine is a blend of Foch, Chambourcin and Chancellor. This wine is produced from 100% grapes grown in the Hudson River region.   I am keeping an open mind with this, because I am not a big fan of red hybrids, but you may be.

At first I got a nose that smelled like a cigar box.  It soon led to a hint of menthol and bell pepper.

As I tasted this wine my first initial flavor was a sour cherry.  This soon led to some dark berry fruit.  This is a  very acidic wine with a hint of white pepper on the finish.

This wine is available in the tasting room at Brimstone Hill Vineyards.

Palaia Vineyards and Brimstone Hill Vineyards join Shawangunk Wine Trail

Shawangunk Wine Trail Announces Two New Members

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