Cookin' in the 'Cuse: WBW #15 Small but Mighty--250 Cases or Less

November 02, 2005

WBW #15 Small but Mighty--250 Cases or Less

This month's Wine Blogging Wednesday, hosted by Fatemah over at Gastronomie, was tailor made for a wine region like our Finger Lakes. With a challenge to write about a wine with a production of 250 cases or fewer was a cinch given the number of small producers in our area. In this case, the real challenge was choosing a wine.

Last Memorial Day found my husband and I circumnavigating Seneca Lake on a chilly and rainy day--not exactly the idyllic circumstances for traipsing through wine country. Perhaps it was our need to drive at a slower speed that caused us to notice Bloomer Creek --a small vineyard located in Hector on the east side of the lake. Bloomer Creek occupies a small building that contains everything except the vines--tasting room, wine production, art display, and gift shop are contained in a small space connected to the fabulous Stonecat Cafe (review coming soon). This small space is only temporary, though. Right outside the window of the current tasting room you can see the frame going up for a new and enlarged facility.

On my first visit to Bloomer Creek I was impressed by tasting room manager and wine producer consultant, Shawn Verity. Here was someone who really knew about the wine and was willing to take some time to talk about it--you'd be surprised by how rare this is. Like the vines growing just outside the tasting room, Shawn has deep roots in the area having honed his skills as a sommelier in area restaurants and heading up the tasting room at Red Newt Cellars up the road. I tasted and took home a bottle of Chardonnay that day and knew that I would have to return before too long.

So two weeks ago, on another cold and rainy day, I drove down to Bloomer Creek with the intention of tasting their Pinot Noir for today's WBW. With some 1200 cases total in production, Bloomer Creek is truly one of the boutique vineyards of our area. Their wines are impossible to find outside of restaurants and a few wine shops in the Hector/Trumansburg/Ithaca area.

The Pinot Noir, with only 106 cases, would have certainly fit the bill for today's challenge, and Shawn even did me the favor of opening up a bottle just for the occasion--the rest are being held until the new building opens next season. This is a light Pinot--somewhat characteristic of the Finger Lakes--with a crimson color, and aromas of raspberries (predominating) cherries, and tobacco. It was aged in barrels made of French and American oak--no new oak. But when it came down to it--I wasn't really into their Pinot. But I was all about their Cabernet Franc.

Finger Lakes Cab Francs are really growing on me. I think that for some vineyards--like Lamoreaux Landing --this might be one of the stronger red varietals being produced here. The 2002 Bloomer Creek Cabernet Franc is certainly in that number.

Unlike the Pinot which lacked complexity, the Cab Franc was full-bodied, showing a dark garnet color and lots of raspberries on the nose. This is a nicely balanced wine that coats the tongue but won't overwhelm when paired with food. I think it is a wine to savor. I took home a bottle and can't wait for the holidays to roll around to share this with good food and friends and family.

Bloomer Creek is a vineyard to watch. They are really passionate about their wines and are interested in not just selling good juice to whoever's buying (did I mention that torrential rains only seems to bring out MORE folks on the wine crawl?) but in cultivating wine lovers.

Bloomer Creek Vineyard, 607-546-5027, www.bloomercreek.com

Posted at 01:23 AM in Eating Local/Regional Foods, WBW, Wine | Permalink

Comments

I agree. I really like Bloomer Creek and The Stonecat Cafe. You absolutely have to try the Pulled Pork BarBQ at the Stonecat. The Absolute Best!!! Finger Lakes Weekend Wino http://fingerlakesweekendwino.blogspot.com

Posted by: weekend wino | November 04, 2005 at 04:58 PM