Donnie on the Spot Syrah NV (about $15)

About the Wine:  Syrah and its near relative Shiraz are successfully grown in the South of France, Spain, Italy, California, Australia, Chile, and Israel.  These hot climates bring out the grapes big, bold fruit.  This Syrah is from the Finger Lakes, probably the best growing region in New York and some say between the Atlantic and the Mississippi.  I've never had a cold climate Syrah before and I look forward to the experience.


About THIS Wine:  It's a fairly translucent red in the glass, much lighter than I'm used to for the varietal.  The nose is hearty and has the jammy fruit components a Syrah should, but it is not heady and massive as many of its hot climate counterparts are.  The palate is surprisingly complex and balanced.  It actually has many of the elements I would associate with California Pinot Noir, right down to the sour cherry finish.  This has more body than most, Pinots though.


Drinking This Wine:  It would pair well with a good pot roast.


Overall Impression:  The price is reasonable and I find no fault with the wine.  This one is good for the price.

Warwick Valley Winery Black Dirt Red NV (about $12)

About the Wine:  The Warwick Valley Winery sits in the Black Dirt region of upstate New York.  The area is so named because it was once the site of a glacial lake and eons of sediment deposits turned the soil completely black.  It is one of the richest farm areas in the Northeast and maybe the country.  So how does their blended, non vintage wine taste?

About THIS Wine:  It is ruby red in the glass with a pink rim.  The nose is not as a bright as I expected, though red fruit notes are definitely present along with an undercurrent of fig.  The palate is fruit forward and abrupt.  The flavor is pleasant but it is sharper than I expected for such a mild nose.  A very subtle raspberyy finish lingers.

Drinking This Wine:  This is a barbecue wine.  Drink it young and maybe slightly chilled.

Overall Impression:  I can't say I am impressed but neither am I disappointed.  This wine is reasonable for the price.

Clearview Vineyards Estate Noiret 2010 (about $18)

About the Wine:  The Hudson Valley has been producing wine since the early eighteen hundreds.  The quality of the wine produced there is why you have never heard of it.  Most of what is grown in sweet, low quality wine that is consumed only locally or as church wine, but many producers are working to reinvent the region with more classic styles of wine.  This Noiret is a hybrid varietal distinctive to the region and grown with bio dynamic methods.

About THIS Wine:  In the glass it is opaque with a violet rim.  Vegetal notes dominate the nose, as is common in New York reds.  Sour cherry is strong on the palate, reminiscent of a California Pinot Noir, but the wine is more robust that most California Pinots, with the exception of Russian River Valley.  The weight and tannin of this wine reminds me of a Gevrey-Chambertin.

Drinking This Wine:  This is good by itself but better with a roasted turkey and best with honey roasted pork.

Overall Impression:  I have had much more expensive wines from better known appellations that were not any better.  This one is good for the price.