The other night I tasted two wines from Fossenvue Winery that were single vineyard designate (I love single vineyard wines). They were Fossenvue Winery Airy Acres Riesling 2018 and Fossenvue Airy Acres Riesling 2019.
Airy Acres is a family-owned vineyard in Interlaken New York, growing and selling grapes to local wineries. Their first plantings were in 2016 and they now currently have 15 acres consisting of Gewürztraminer, Riesling, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Lemberger, and Chardonnay.
Fred Bassette Pam and Noah are the owners of the vineyard. The farm has been in the family since 1918. Fred grew up in the farm house there. According to them, the name Airy Acres Vineyard comes from the fact that there's a private airport on the farm, named Airy Acres Airport, " ... dad built it in the 50's." The vineyard is on the classic West Side of Keuka Lake, next door neighbor to Sunrise Hill vineyard of Forge Cellar fame.
Currently they are selling grapes to local wineries such as Damiani Wine Cellars, Montezuma Winery, and Buttonwood Grove Winery.
Fossenvuew winemaker Phil Plummer made both wines. He's been growing as a winemaker by leaps and bounds. But I loved these two Rieslings.
Plummer used the South African made Anchor Mosaic yeast. Stainless steel.
These are two classic Rieslings, priced very reasonably at $19.99. And I say that because they taste like Rieslings that fetch much, much higher prices. Both wines used International Riesling Foundation sweetness scale. Both were rated slightly sweet. They were appropriately rated.
The Fossenvue Airy Acres Riesling 2018 was bottled in April 2019. This had an overwhelming nose of fresh green apple, tropical notes, nice touch of Kiwi, and a whiff of classic petrol. Beautiful fruit. Soft but luscious. Still nice acidity but not an acid bomb.
The Fossenvue Airy Acres Riesling 2019 was bottled in January 2020. This wine had big fruit up front with slightly more acidity. The fruit was much bigger, but I felt like it was still too young, especially after you saw what the 2018 tasted like. I'd love to taste the 2019 in a year. Don't get me wrong. The 2019 was a tremendous wine, but I felt it was still too young to understand it's full potential. I think in the long run, the 2019 would last longer in the cellar and outdistance the 2018 easily. Just needed a little bit more time to reach that full potential. If you you open it now, you will be very very pleased.
I was not alone in my tasting. The virtual tasting included a number of folks, not the least of which was one of my favorite people, Finger Lakes journalist and photographer, Martha Gioumousis, who remarked, "I’m seeing the similarities in the fruit and structure from both these vintages. Definitely fruit forward, nice balance, good acid (I see the 2018 with a tart finish, 2019 smoother mouthfeel.)"
I love vineyard designate wines. And I especially, after tasting, see the value of using the farm's name. Soon, this will be one of those farms that will find its name on many labels around the Finger Lakes.