Wine List

Blush (Assorted)

• Applewood Winery's Apple Blossom Blush
  A blush wine from New York State. A very sweet wine with flavors of peach and strawberry. A light wine, nice to sip or with dessert.

Bordeaux

• Chateau Bonnet 1996
  A French red wine. An excellent garnet color, the wine tastes of cranberry, raspberry, but with a slightly bitter flavor. The wine is good with beef; very nice to accompany a solid steak dinner. ($9)
• Chateau Bonnet 1998
  A French white wine. It has a clear yellow color, with a hint of green. Tastes of green apple, grapefruit, pine. I enjoy this wine.
• Chateau Gresac 1996
  A French red wine. This wine is spicy and acidic, with a strong vermillion color. I do not like this wine.
• Château de Ricaud 1997, App. Loupiac Contrôlée
  This French white came to me via Montpellier on one of Paul's trips. It has a crisp yellow-green color, and a flavor to match. The sharp, dry taste is excellent with poultry or fish. Mis en bouteille au château.
• Rothschild Mouton Cadet 1999
  A French white wine. This wine has a slightly fruity flavor, and a very clear yellow color. The combination of sauvignon blanc and semillon grapes is striking. It is okay as a dinner wine; not a favorite. I actually enjoyed this wine more after it had been open for a couple of days.

Burgundy

• 1978
  A French red wine. A full bodied, very dark red wine, it tastes of wood and glycerin. Good with heavy beef. Not spectacular, but a birth year wine is a good experience. It was a little old.

Chardonnay

• Chateau Souverain Sonoma Cty 2001
  An excellent Chardonnay with sharp taste and just a hint of a buttery, oaky flavor. Color is an unremarkable yellow.
• Columbia Crest Grand Estates 1999
  An American white wine. The wine has a yellow, straw color and a smooth taste with spicy tones. An enjoyable dinner wine. (750mL)
• Millbrook 2000
  A New York state white wine. It has a strong yellow color, and is a sharp but pleasant wine. This is perhaps my favorite Chardonnay! (750mL)
• Millbrook 2002
  This New York State white is uncharacteristic for a Chardonnay. Peter brought this for dinner; it is delicious, very sharp and yet smooth. The straw yellow color invites you taste its young but pleasant flavor. (750 mL)
• Robert Mondavi Coastal Private Selection 2000
  This American white is a pure yellow color. It has a sharp spicy taste, with none of the heaviness sometimes accompanying a Chardonnay. I thoroughly enjoyed this wine. (750mL)

Chianti DOCG

• Baroncini 1998
  An Italian red (from San Gimignano). Flavors of cranberry and oak accompanied a brilliant reddish purple color. This is amazing... Erica brought this bottle back from Italy with her; I've been unable to find it in the US. (1.5L)
• Classico Riserva Caprineto 1996
  An Italian red wine. A strong garnet color, with flavors of blackberries. Vino di tabla, good with pasta, even pizza. I enjoy this wine a lot; it had a little bite and was slightly acidic. ($18)
• Classico Riserva Viticcio 1997, 1998
  An Italian red wine. A deep, dark wine, with hints of spices and berries. Excellent body without being overwhelming; a true favorite. ($17-18)
• Gucciardini Strozzi 2001
  This wine has a warm taste, slightly tangy at the end, and a great purple color. Erica brought this from Italy as a gift.

Gewürztraminer

• Pierre Spar 1998
  A French white from the Alsace region. Smells of fruits and berries. This wine is terrible... it has no promise, and it tastes like rubbing alcohol. (750mL)
• 1997
  A German white from the Alsace region. A spicy, peachy smell, a very dry wine. This is a terrific white.

Moscato D'Asti DOCG

• Elmo Pio
  An Italian white, made with the moscato grape. Tastes of pears, honeydew, apples. Frizzante, a nice sipping wine, or great with desserts. I love this wine! ($7, 5.5% alc./vol.)
• Saracco
  An Italian white, made with the moscato grape. Tastes of pears, apples. This is as good as the Elmo Pio... maybe better! ($12-14)

Pinot Grigio

• Armani
  An Italian white varietal (pinot gris grape). Grassy, demi sec. This wine is deeper in color, and even better than the Fontana Candida below.
• Fontana Candida
  An Italian white varietal (pinot gris grape). Grassy, peach, demi sec. I enjoy this wine a lot.

Pinot Noir

• Alison Vineyards 1999
  A red wine from New York State, made from pinot noir grape. Flavors and odors of cherries, oak, this wine is a beautiful claret color. It is an excellent local (young) red.
• Alison Vineyards 2000
  A red wine from New York State, made from pinot noir grape. The 1999 was a much better vintage.
• Brotherhood 2000
  This is a New York State red with a beautiful scarlet color. Spicy, warm flavor with woody overtones. A new favorite!

Reds (Assorted)

• Arneis
  An Italian red wine from the Piedmont region. It smells smoky, suggestive of pickles. This wine is okay... probably good with certain foods.
• Black Dirt Red (Warwick Valley Winery 2001, 2002)
  This is a New York State red wine. It has nice body, reminiscent of the common chiantis of Italy. Its robust flavor is excellent with steak or even hamburgers.
• Cabernet-Merlot (Wyndham Estate, Hunter Valley Bin 888 1998)
  This Australian red was a wonderful blend, drawing the strengths of both varietals into a wine that complemented dinner well. A wonderful gift from David and Doreen Wong. (750mL)
• Cabernet Sauvignon, DOCG (Santa Margherita 2000)
  An Italian red, this was a gift from Michele and Rich Quine. Its deep red color gives an inviting welcome to the taste, which grows on you — tart at first, but then warm and smooth. (750mL)
• Côte Rotis
  A French red wine. It has a woodsy, brackish flavor and a very dark red color. I do not care for this wine.
• Coteaux du Languedoc (Pic Saint Loup, Château de Lascours 2000)
  This French red is full, but not heavy. A local wine in the south of France, it has a warm claret color with just a hint of purple. Paul brought this back from France as a gift. Appellation Coteaux du Languedoc Contrôlée. (750mL)
• Couer de Lion (Cascade Mountain Vineyards 1999)
  A New York State red. It has a bold, scarlet color. Somewhat more acidic than I remembered from Bounty; I didn't enjoy it as much. Paul liked it very much.
• El Paso Merlot (El Paso Winery)
  This New York State merlot is a dark burgundy in color — nearly purple or even black. It is very bland and slippery tasting; it completely lacks Merlot's pleasing flavor. (750 mL)
• Hunt Country Red (Millbrook 2002)
  A New York State red. This wine has excellent flavor, full and fruity without overwhelming the palate. It is a beautiful purple color, and is nice alone or with a meat meal. (750mL)
• "Red Cat" (Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards 2002)
  This New York red from the Finger Lakes is a sweet, fruity wine. It has a clear red color. It is best enjoyed as a sipping wine; its sweetness doesn't complement food well.
• Strawberry (Baldwin Vineyards 2002)
  This New York red is actually made with strawberries — not a grape in the bottle! It has a very sweet, amazing flavor and a pinkish red color. Serve this with dessert!
• Taurasi Riserva, DOCG (Charrazi 1995)
  This is a Tuscan Italian red. It smells of a barnyard. The wine has a deep purple and red color. I do not like this wine at all.
• Ruby's Kiss (Applewood 2001)
  This is a New York State red. It has a beautiful, clear claret color. An sweet wine intended to be enjoyed with desserts.
• Vereto (Amaroni 1994)
  An Italian red wine. It is musty, with a flavor of raisins and a garnet color. It might be good with liver or large beef dishes. I find this wine very tannic, not very enjoyable. (It is a bad vintage.)

Riesling

• Baldwin 2002
  This New York State white is crisp, sweet and delicious, but isn't quite as good as its Brotherhood cousin. A softer pear palate accompanies this young, slightly green wine.
• Brotherhood Johannisberg 2000
  A white varietal from New York State. It tastes fruity, especially of peaches, and has a rich golden color. A very nice local wine.
• Brotherhood Johannisberg 2002
  This New York State white wine is one of the best US rieslings I've enjoyed. Crystal clear yellow in color, with the taste of crisp apples and smooth honey.
• Glenora 1999
  A white varietal from New York State. This a fruity wine, suggestive of honey. It is semi-sweet, excellent with light meals or as an aperitif. This is a very nice wine, purchased from a local winery (Rivendell).
• Rheingau Schloss Johannisberger 1999er (Auslese)
  This is a German white. Wonderful odors of peaches and honey; the taste gave it promise, with a hint of acidity. It is very yellow in color. Paul brought back this 375mL bottle from his trip to Germany; although the wine is a big heavier than the other Rieslings I have tried, it was very enjoyable.

Sauternes/Semillon

• Château Prost Sauternes 1997, Appellation Sauternes Controlée
  Paul brought this delightful dessert white wine home from one of his many trips to Montpellier. The wine has a strong yellow-gold color and warm tones of honey, apples and peaches. This is a terrific, full-bodied dessert wine, ideal served with crème brulee, fruit, etc.
• Kanoonga Hills 1983
  This is an Australian white wine. It tastes of olives, dried fruits. This sweet wine has a very yellow color and a smooth taste. It is a nice dessert wine, though slightly old for an Australian wine.

Sparkling

• Champagne Brut (Pierre Gimonnet & Fils Cuis 1er Cru, Blanc de Blancs Chardonney)
  A dry but tasty champagne, from the vineyard's first harvest of the season. (750mL)
• il Moscato
  Another terrific wine from Italy's Veneto region. This is a very typical frizzante Moscato, with gentle bubbles and a warm, sweet flavor. A perennial favorite for those who prefer a sweeter sparkling wine. (750mL, $10)
• il Prosecco
  This is a wonderfully dry and refreshing sparkling white from Italy's Veneto region. It has a crisp yellow-brown color and a remarkably consistent flavor. (750mL, $10)
• il Rosé
  This blush sparkling wine is made with Rosato grapes from Italy's Veneto region. It is a strongly sweet sparkling wine, less refreshing and enjoyable than its Prosecco cousin. (750mL, $10)

Whites (Assorted)

• Cayuga White (Brimstone Hill 2000, 2001)
  A white, New York State wine. It is sweet and crisp, a very nice taste, with a clear yellow-grass color. A very enjoyable dinner wine, nice with poultry or a creamy pasta.
• Coteaux de Languedoc (Picpoul de Pinet, Hugues de Beauvignac 2002, App. Coteaux du Lang. Contrôlée)
  This is a French white that Paul brought back from Montpellier. Its strange, slippery feeling coats your tongue. It has a bright golden color and a pleasant aftertaste; however, this wine is not a favorite. Mis en bouteille a la propriété.
• Eden's Pleasure (Pazdar 2001)
  This unique New York State white dessert wine contains strong flavors of chocolate and banana. Not quite as rich at home as we'd remembered from the wine festival, but still a fun and interesting sipping wine. (375mL)
• Frascati (Fontana Candida 1997)
  This is an Italian white wine. Suggestive of almonds and flowers. It is very dry, good with fish. I don't care for this wine, but I have only tasted it without food.
• Joseph's Vintage (Baldwin 2001)
  A white, New York State wine. It tastes of peaches and has a nice golden color. It is sweet, a nice sipping wine that works reasonably well with poultry.
• Late Harvest Vignoles (Hunt Country Vineyards 2002)
  A wonderfully sweet dessert wine from New York's Finger Lakes region. Perfect to share with friends over fresh fruit or dessert! (375mL)
• Mountain White (Adair 2001)
  A white, New York State wine. It a young golden color with hints of green. It is a crisp wine that complements poultry quite well. I enjoy it very much.
• Miner California Viognier (Miner Family Vineyards, Simpson Vineyard 2001)
  This California white is a unique blend of sweet pineapple odors and a spicy, crisp taste. It is a pale, yellow color. An enjoyable gift from Christian Schmidt and his family.
• Sauvignon Blanc (Morgan 2000)
  A California white blend from Monterey and Sonoma counties. This wine is a greenish yellow color with a simple taste. A reasonable accompaniment for chicken or fish.
• Summertide (Cascade Mountain 2002)
  A semi-dry New York State white wine. We used this to make the sauce and gravy for our first Thanksgiving turkey, and it was an unqualified success.
• White Willow (El Paso Winery)
  This simple New York State table wine works well as a cocktail wine. It is young, yellow-green in color, and coats the tongue briefly for a satisfying end.