Fairport, NY - Casa Larga Vineyards is releasing two new wines this weekend, a brand new varietal - Syrah - and a new vintage of the Dry Riesling.
The 2013 Syrah is a brand new product. It was produced with grapes from Sawmill Creek Vineyards in the Finger Lakes. The nose shows a healthy dose of fresh ground black pepper with some lavender, black plums, blackberries and blueberries. It has good structure from tannins and phenolics in the fruit itself as well as from the barrel aging, and displays the underlying acidity that famously compliments cool climate Syrah. It pairs well with rich proteins like lamb, game, beef, earthy vegetables like mushrooms, and intense cooking methods like braising, roasting or grilling.
"I really enjoyed partnering with Sawmill Creek on this wine," comments Winemaker Matt Cassavaugh. "The proprietors, Eric and Tina Hazlitt, have an expertly trained crew and delivered the late-ripening fruit in picturesque condition. Starting with high quality fruit helped me produce an excellent wine."
Production began with most of the grapes being de-stemmed and crushed before fermentation, while a small percentage of the fruit was left in whole clusters to add structure to the wine. It was aged in French Oak barrels for close to a year before the new Syrah was racked and bottled.
2013 Syrah, $29.99
Syrah is not a common grape varietal for the Finger Lakes as it requires an exceptional growing site and meticulous viticulture practices. Limited availability, only 75 cases produced.
The 2014 Dry Riesling is an excellent representation of Finger Lakes terroir. The 2012 vintage of the Dry Riesling received 90 points from the Beverage Tasting Institute as well as a gold medal and a rating of "best buy." At the International Eastern Wine Competition it received a silver medal.
2014 Dry Riesling, $13.99
This wine is smooth with a light floral nose and balanced acidity.
The wines will be available for tasting and purchase in the Fairport wine shop starting Friday, March 6 from Noon to 5:00 p.m. The winery is also open on Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and again on Sunday from Noon to 5:00 p.m. Tastings at the winery are $2 for a tasting of 3 wines, or $5 for a glass of wine. Casa Larga wines can also be found at select liquor stores in the Rochester area.
Casa Larga will release 7 wines in a Spring release party planned for April.
