One of my favorite pieces of music is Rhapsody in Blue by George Gershwin. With it's lush orchestration, and vibrant melodies, it was one of the most unique compositions of the 20th century - and though appreciated the world over - it is thoroughly American.
That said, it seems that Meaghan Frank and Dr. Konstantin Frank are both in the pink these days. Just in time for spring and summer crush of pink wines, the winery has released four flavorful rose's that are all different, and all of exceptional flavor. They are standouts. This is a significant step forward into the rose' market for Dr. Frank's. Long the domain in New York State of Long Island, this is a statement quality rose' line in the market from this highly thought of Finger Lakes producer. Super impressive.
Dr. Konstantin Frank's 2024 rosé lineup is a striking expression of an exceptional harvest. "It's been a luxury to produce so many varietal rosés in one vintage," says Meaghan."Each one is distinctive and captures the essence of the grape in a fresh and expressive way."
Meaghan is the fourth generation of the Frank family to manage Dr. Konstantin Frank’s Winery, specializing in producing premium and super-premium wines in the Finger Lakes region of New York. After graduating in 2011 from the school of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Cornell University, Meaghan decided that her career path would be in the wine industry. For two years she worked and studied in Adelaide, Australia where she earned her Master’s degree in Wine Business. After returning home to the Finger Lakes, Meaghan returned to Cornell University for a postgraduate degree in enology which she completed in January 2016. She has earned her Wine Spirit Education Trust (WSET) Level 4 Diploma in Wine and Spirits and Champagne Master Level from the Wine Scholar Guild.
Her great-grandfather Konstantin started the winery in 1962 and was the first person to successfully grow vitis vinifera (Euopean species) varieties in the Eastern U.S. Meaghan is enthusiastic about the Finger Lakes wine industry and excited to carry on her family’s legacy.
The first wine I tried was the Dr. Konstantin Frank Dry Rose 2024 made from 40% Saperavi, 20% Chardonnay, 15% Pinot Noir, 10% Riesling, 8% Gruner Veltliner, 4% Pinot Menuier, and 3% Pinot Blanc. The various grapes had 2 to 12 hour skin contact (depending on the variety), then were pressed and passed into Stainless steel. There was no Malolactic. I paired the wine with cheese from Nettle Meadow Farm Kunik, a big triple cream cheese and rustic sourghdough baguettes from Dan Kirkhus' Catskill Bred Co. Excellent match. Soft flavors of cherry, watermelon, and strawberry. A really great flagship rose'.
The second rose', the Dr. Konstantin Frank Dry Rose of Saperavi 2024 is made from 100% Saperavi, with 2 hours of skin contact then temperature controlled, and pressed into stainless steel. 50% of the wine was treated with a secondary, malolactic fermentation. The wine was not oaked. We paired the Saperavi 2024 against a red sauce pasta with shrimp and red pepper. The Saperavi was an exceptional complement to the dish with big notes of cherry and lime, spice and a nice touch of acidity. I love a Saperavi rose. Good acidity, and very, very food friendly.
The Dr. Konstantin Frank Rose' of Pinot noir 2024 was a completely different experience. Made from 100% Pinot Noir, this wine was soft, engaging, starting off with lovely motes of cherry and strawberry. The middle was a lovely creamy filling, with notes of lemon lime on the finish. Nice tropical over notes. And light red berries. An exceptional wine. It was my second favorite of the tasting.
The Dr. Konstantin Frank Dry Rose' of Blaufrankisch 2024 was easily my favorite. Made from Austria's beloved red grape and picked early from Dr. Frank’s Seneca Lake vineyard, this brilliant rosé explodes with bright, juicy red fruit (think red raspberries, bright cherries, fresh strawberries), exceptional acidity laced with lemon and lime, and a terrific zippy, refreshing finish. Had this with Pad Thai noddle with pan fried scallops. It's the kind of elegant, complicated, and well balanced wine that deserves to be showcased. Absolutely loved this wine!
So why the reference to Gershwin? To me, sometimes, great wine sings. And I cannot help to compare this lineup to Gershwin's composition - lush, decadent, zippy, and refreshing. And you will be humming its melodies long after the bottle is finished. These wines are that good. A Symphony in Pink.