New York State (2) Ravines, Finger Lakes

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New York State (2) Ravines, Finger Lakes

My first visit in Finger Lakes was a good one. Ravines, located on Seneca Lake, is owned by Morten Hallgren. Morten was raised in Provence, where his family had a large château, and he was previously head winemaker with Konstantin Frank.

He began the current project when he bought 17 acres of land on Keuka Lake. Since the, Ravines has grown to include 130 acres of vineyards over a few different sites. Some are owned, some contracted.

The Ravines tasting room and winery are based in a converted century-old dairy barn, which was opened in 2002. It’s an impressive facility. As well as this facility, they also have a winery on Keuka Lake, which focuses more on hybrids. Like many wineries in the region, they make more serious wines from vinifera but rely on more commercial hybrid wines to sell to tourists and the local market in order to pay the bills.

Ravines Dry Riesling 2017 Finger Lakes, USA
Limestone and shale soils. Bright and linear with nice citrus fruit. Juicy and dry with nice concentration of fruit. Has purity with attractive apple and lemon notes. Has lovely weight and focus. Very pure. 90/100 ($18)

Ravines White Springs Vineyard Dry Riesling 2016 Finger Lakes, USA
4 g/l rs. Delicate and fine with a tangerine edge to the sweet, slightly pithy lemony fruit. Delicate with high acidity and pretty, expressive fruit. Nuanced and detailed. So expressive. 92/100 (£23)

Ravines Argetsinger Vineyard Riesling 2014 Finger Lakes, USA
One of the oldest vineyards in the Finger Lakes, with limestone soils (it’s the end of the Niagara escarpment). This has a little development with nice lemon and tangerine fruit, with a lovely rounded texture and some fine, crisp acidity. Really refined with a lovely juiciness and real finesse. Quite mineral with well integrated acidity. 92/100 ($30)

Ravines Jeff’s Field Riesling 2016 Finger Lakes, USA
From the Serenity Vineyard on the west side of Seneca Lake. This is so pretty and delicate with lovely finesse and purity. Linear and bright with a lemony edge. Fine and delicate with good acidity. Really taut and linear. 93/100 ($23)

Ravines Sauvignon Blanc 2017 Finger Lakes, USA
Delicate and fresh with nice pure citrus fruit and notes of passionfruit and tangerine. Crisp, bright and really well balanced in a light, fruity style. Really well made. 88/100 ($19)

Ravines Keuka Village White 2016 Finger Lakes, USA
This is made from the modern hybrids Cayuga and Vignoles. Fresh, clean and fruity with a subtle herbal edge to the fresh citrus fruit. Fruity and clean with a hint of sweetness on the finish. Nice fruity stuff but has a short finish. 86/100 ($13)

Ravines Gewurztraminer 2017 Finger Lakes, USA
Quite a dry style with crisp lychee, citrus and table grape fruit with some nice texture. It has some brisk acidity with a bit of grip, but overall it’s delicate and pretty with nice complexity. Very stylish. 90/100 ($20)

Ravines Chardonnay 2015 Finger Lakes, USA
The grapes are partially dried before processing. Toasty, mealy and quite nutty with smooth pear and peach fruit. A rich, smooth style with a hazelnut and bread edge. Stylish. 88/100 ($20)

Ravines Pinot Rosé 2017 Finger Lakes, USA
Lively, bright and citrussy with some tangerine and red cherry, and hints of cranberry. A dry style with nice focus and acidity. 88/100 ($16)

Ravines Pinot Noir 2015 Finger Lakes, USA
Delicate and fresh with elegant red cherry fruit. Supple and pretty with a bit of structure and spicy grip, but very fresh and bright and elegant in style. Lighter Pinot with lovely purity. 91/100 ($25)

Ravines Cerise 2016 Finger Lakes, USA
A blend of Pinot Noir and Blaufrankisch (same as Lemberger). Very juicy, bright and fruity with nice juicy cherry and plum fruit, with a twist of raspberry. Some cranberry brightness. A lovely bright, summery red with a bit of spiciness on the finish. 91/100 ($19)

Ravines Maximilien 2014 Finger Lakes, USA
A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot. This is fresh, gravelly and detailed with supple, blackcurrant fruit and nice chalky, grippy notes. Very stylish with good structure. Quite impressive. 90/100 ($25)

Ravines Cabernet Franc 2016 Finger Lakes, USA
This is really expressive with nice juicy cherry and berry fruits. Fine grained and detailed with lovely purity and sweet fruit backed up by nice acidity and structure. A really pretty wine. 90/100 ($22)

Le Petit Caporal 2015 Finger Lakes, USA
Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot from the Two Gorges and Argetsinger vineyards. Fine, supple and refined with lovely juicy bright raspberry and berry fruits. Very fine and expressive with good acidity and a lovely mouthfeel. Has structure but also some delicacy. 92/100 ($35)

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NEW YORK STATE WINE

FINGER LAKES

  • Ravines
  • Hermann J. Wiemer
  • Fulkerson
  • Glenora Wine Cellars
  • Bellangelo
  • Anthony Road
  • Fox Run
  • Dr Konstantin Frank Vineyards
  • Bloomer Creek
  • Red Newt
  • Silver Thread
  • Nathan Kendall
  • Lamoreaux Landing
  • Swedish Hill
  • Boundary Breaks
  • Thirsty Owl
  • Osmote
2 Comments on New York State (2) Ravines, Finger LakesTagged
wine journalist and flavour obsessive

2 thoughts on “New York State (2) Ravines, Finger Lakes

  1. Thanks for this and the post on Wiemer. I’m a fan of a handful of Finger Lakes Riesling producers. If you find the time, get to Boundary Breaks. Shaw does a decent Cab Franc, and Heart & Hands makes some very good Pinot. Red Tail Ridge’s Miscreant is a pretty good orange wine.

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