Pennsylvania - Lehigh County - Pinnacle Ridge

Pinnacle Ridge Winery - Jan 2020 - 2018 Gruner Veltliner had yellow apple aroma with green apple flavor and an acidic, smooth finish and the 2018 Dry Riesling had some lime on the slightly sweet finish. The 2018 Chambourcin Reserve was medium-bodied with dark ruby, purple hues, fruity and smooth on the finish, while the 2018 Merlot, with plum flavors, was full-bodied, deep purple in color and had the tannins to match. The 2018 Cabernet Franc had a tobacco aroma with dark fruit flavor and a fruity start but heavy tanninc finish but the 2015 Veritas, their blend, had an earthy aroma, plum flavor and a lingering light vanilla bean finish.

Oct 2019 - My wife and I tried the following: Whites - 2017 Cuvee Chardonnay, light, crisp with some toast notes on the finish, 2018 Gruner Veltliner, apple aroma with the grape sweetness cutting the acidity, 2018 Dry Riesling with a slight offensive sulfur aroma with peach flavor and slight sweet finish, 2018 Dry Vidal Blanc with an acidic finish, 2018 Traminette has a heavy honeysuckle aroma which continues to the smooth finish, 2018 Riesling, light bodied with subtle peach flavor, and 2018 Cayuga White, the aroma of naturally sweetened grape juice.

Reds -  2017 Chambourcin Reserve was deep in color, but had a weird aroma, followed by a fruity finish, 2018 Merlot, deep color, with dried cherry and fresh plum flavor and vanilla finish, 2018 Cabernet Franc, medium-bodied and color, with fruit and light vanilla flavor, 2015 Veritas, their blend, with pepper spice aroma, plum flavor and a smoky, vanilla finish, and 2018 Quaff, was a nicely sweetened blend of Chambourcin and Pinot Noir.

Jan 2018 - 2017 Gruner Veltliner was tart, like a green apple, with a light honeysuckle finish, the 2016 Dry Vidal Blanc had papaya and guava aromas and a slightly sweet passion fruit finish, and the 2016 Traminette had a honeysuckle aroma which continued to the flavor and finish.

The 2016 Chambourcin had a fruity aroma with a sour cherry and mild tannin finish while the 2015 Chambourcin Reserve had deep color, vanilla and caramel aromas, and a vanilla, more tannic finish. The 2016 Merlot was fruity with berry flavor and a mild vanilla finish and 2015 Veritas, their blend, deep in color, fruity with dark cherry flavor and a lingering light smoky, vanilla bean finish.

Jan 2016 - It's been awhile since I was here and I would have to say, I missed some of the wines. The main reason I do not frequent this winery is they no longer accept groups over six people. When friends and I are out tasting it is rarely less than that; we value each others opinions and we all have different tastes, but this is how we have learned to enjoy wine.

I tried their 2015 Riesling, which, for being recently released, was surprisingly good, but I think it could use a bit more aging. I did purchase a bottle so I can have a Riesling party and we do some blind taste testing. A fellow taster had the 2015 Traminette and liked it, but is not a floral person, and the Brut Rose.

The reds intrigued me more though. I tried the 2014 Pinot Noir and Merlot and the 2013 Syrah and Veritas, a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. I liked the 2013 vintages better but I can see the 2014, with additional aging, getting better. The Pinot Noir, to me, had hints of vanilla and cranberry; at first I couldn't figure it out, but decided on the tartness of cranberry as a way to describe it. The Cabernet Franc had a hint of cherry flavor to it, which I think would become subdued with further aging. I also learned that once the Syrah is gone, they will no longer produce it as the vines have not withstood the weather; it's a shame as I enjoyed that and it is not a common grape in the area.

Oct 2013 - This was our second visit to the winery as part of the TVCEF tasting tour. I started off with the Vidal Blanc while my wife had the Chambourcin Rose. I tried the Reisling while my wife tried the Traminette. She liked the latter while I liked both so far. We tried the Cayuga and Niagara respectively to compare it to Calversi's (which we feel are better overall). We finished our tasting with the Veritas (their Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc blend) and Sweet Seduction respectively.