There are two men whom I seek advice from when it concerns east coast wine business. Scott is one of those two He is one of the smartest and most accomplished owners in New York state.Scott Osborn, a Rochester native, studied abroad in Kenya, India, Thailand, Japan, and England. He worked in real estate in Lake County California, then started working in California wine. He worked at Konocti Winery, Firestone Vineyards, Zaca Mesa, and Byron Winery. He moved east in 1985 working for a wine distributor, and then General Manager of Pindar Vineyards on Long Island. He bought Fox Run in 1994. On Christmas day of 1998, Scott married his long time sweetheart, Ruth Worden. Scott has turned Fox Run from a small winery to one of the most widely distributed quality wine brands produced in New York state. Scott is constantly working to reduce the environmental impact of the winery. Scott has served as President of the Seneca Lake Wine Trail. And He is a founding member of the New York Wine Industry Association.
One of the best decisions Scott made was to hire Peer Bell. Peter brings a science-based, rationalist approach to winemaking. Peter has made the wine here for more than 25 years. Peter works closely with Vineyard Manager, John Kaiser, who has worked the land at Fox Run since 1984. And of course he has the trusty and experienced Assistant Winemaker Lindsey VanKeuren, who has been with Fox Run since 2012.
Bell studied enology in Australia and made wine in New Zealand before landing in the Finger Lakes. He was the winemaker at Dr. Konstantin Frank’s Vinifera Wine Cellars for five years before joining Fox Run in 1995. In addition to making wines at Fox Run he also helps at other area wineries, holds an adjunct faculty position at Cornell University, and speaks at numerous wine conferences throughout the year.
He is one of the most influential winemakers in the state. Bell regularly hosts regular tasting groups for winemakers in the Finger Lakes region.Someone once asked me, “What’s the big deal about Peter Bell?It’s this simple. He has been the most helpful winemaker in the Finger Lakes and has mentored dozens of wine makers in the region and around the state. He is finny, erudite, and a damn doog winemaker. And he plays a mean banjo.Accomplished Constellation Brands winemaker August Demiel once quipped like many others, he attended the School of Peter Bell.Peter gives credit to owners Scott and Ruth Osborn. “When I was hired here, co-owner Scott Osborn was explicit about his vision that all Finger Lakes wineries should work together to create a regional brand,” Bell said.
The first wine rich and I tried was the Kaiser Vineyard Chardonnay An incredible cool climate barrel fermented chardonnay. A lovely, lean light white, filled with green apple and mineral notes, but with a light touch of oak. Beautiful Elegant. Complex Well balanced Truly an international wine. Wonderful
The Sylan Riseling was very special. A lovely, elegant and European styled reserve wines. Sppecial.
Next was the dry Riesling. Again a big green apple wine with lots of lychee and a hint of petrol. A lovely, lovely wine that my friend and former coworker Oz Clarke raved about just recently!
The dry rose was a very pretty fruit forward wine with a big nose of fresh cut strawberries and light red raspberries. Creamy middle Impressive zippy ending. Beautifully well balanced and refreshing.IKEHU is their unoaked Cabernet Franc. Big fresh ripe cherry and dark raspberry lead the attack on this stainless steel wine. Great tannins. Well balanced. Easy drinking. Great mouthfeel. Super food wine. Bought more than a few bottles of this one.Cabernet Franc Lemberger was also a pretty red that had great red stewed fruit and terrific acidity. A wonderful food wine. Versatile Easy drinking.
Last but certainly not least was the Fox Run Fine Old Tawny Port. A big, unctuous fortified wine, aged 5-10 years. Big mouth full of caramel figs dates and maple syrup. Absolutely outstanding!!