New York - Seneca Lake (east) - Hazlitt Vineyards

Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards - (August 2016)

My wife chose the sweet wines: Cabin Fever, a blend of Cayuga and Catawba grapes, was as blush as a white zinfandel. The White Cat, pure Niagara grape wine was adult Welch’s grape juice, while the White Cat Sangria, did not do the wine justice; it was too sweet. The Red Cat Sangria, a blend of concord and Catawba grapes was better suited for the sangria, but as Red Cat, it did not have the concord tartness. The Bramble Berry was made with Catawba infused with berry flavors. She got to try it with chocolate and it reminded her of a dessert wine.

I chose the 2013 Gewürztraminer, was floral on the palate and its flavor was reminiscent of a
traminette. The 2013 barrel fermented chardonnay, fermented in French oak, had a subtle oak start and a buttery oak finish. The Schooner White, a blend of Riesling, sauvignon blanc and gewürztraminer, was all over the place from aromas, palate and finish, but this is what made it an interesting wine.; my wife liked it. I was able to try the 2013 Riesling and the 2014 Riesling side by side, as a treat. The 2013 had orange undertones and the 2014 had a crispier finish. I then moved to their only reds: the 2012 pinot noir was high in tannins and the 2012 cabernet franc lost its aroma and palate to the heavy tannins. Tasting it with chocolate did not alter my opinion.