We spent a few days up in them mountains playing golf (DON'T ASK!) and taking it easy. Monday afternoon I drove to two wineries in the area. The first was Baldwin Vineyards, a small outfit. Tines must be hard as the area was devoid of traffic and no one was at the tasting room. The woman inside offered to pour what I wanted and I started with their 1998 Chardonnay made from their own grapes. Surprise! Surprise! It smelled like Chardonnay and it tasted like Chardonnay. Not only that, but it exhibited a complexity and richness I haven't found from this continent, other than the three west coast states. The woman told me they were ripping out their vines and were going to buy grapes in the future from (GASP!) Long Island and the Finger Lakes. This was an 88 or 89 point wine for ten bucks a bottle. The Cabernet Franc was a decent offering, but nothing special, maybe 85 points. I bought a dessert wine made from 100% black raspberries, also an 88 or 89 point wine. The woman told me the wine had been reviewed in the NY Times.

Then I drove to Brimstone Hill Vineyards nearby. The wines were all very poor, the best maybe a 73.

Amazing. You found a NY state wine that was not meant for dessert. Always nice to hear of small NY wineries that are doing something right. I doubt I will find it in KY, but I'll try.

IW

Find it in Kentucky? Not too likely. I don't ever remember seeing them in NY.

Hey Board-O if you can find it, the 2001 Red Newt Reisling is a mighty fine Reisling for what it is worth. It is another 88-90 NY state wine, but hard to get, for they make very little of it.

Were you down in Dutchess county on your drive up north?

We were in Ulster County.