Bully Hill Winery has a very long and entertaining past with a great story to read.  Walter Taylor’s battle with The ginormous Coca Cola company beget the Bully Hill company, and so much the better off we all are.  You will have to do the research yourself.  It is a story well worth the read.

New York is the third largest grape producer.  Most of the grapes are used for jelly or juice.  The wines of the state have had a continued improvement over the past decade.  The Finger Lakes area is one of the three most prominent, Long Island and the Hudson River make up the other two.  The Finger Lakes area is one of the most beautiful regions to visit, and during the Fall with the leaves changing it is perhaps one of the best trips you could take.  The Finger Lakes area utilizes many American Vines; Baco Noir, Foch are one of the most popular as well as French hybrids Chardonnay and Rieslings.  Do not go into the visit thinking that New York wines are sweet-you will be mistaken.  But, back to Bully Hill.

Walter Taylor’s legacy is in good hands these days. The winery and tasting room are situated on one of the most beautiful spots overlooking Keuka Lake.  The complex holds the tasting room and winery as well as a museum, which is very interesting, the restaurant, the food is some of the best in the area and a gallery holding art work that is also worth seeing.

The tasting room has several different options; 5$ for 5 tastes your choice, a 20 minute tasting with discussion on several points and the one I chose, 1$ for each taste all your choice and as many as you want.(Of course I chose to have as much as possible).  Several wines at Bully Hill are well worth a try just for the names, Sweet Walter Red/White, I Love my Goat Red/White just to name a few.  They offer reds, whites, rose’, sweet, semi, and dry, boxes, bottles and mags.   My wife goes for the sweeter, my friends we were with go for semi and I – dry.  i enjoyed the Ol’ Mischief.  Try them all though they are worth it.  Have Fun with your wine.

Some pictures of Bully Hill.  Ol Mischief turned out to be my favorite.  This winery is one to spend an afternoon.   Lot’s to do and taste.

This very fruity wine from Apulia is just well gorgeous.  Apulia produces some very very good wines.  Known for concentrated, high quality fruity wines.  Appassimento, the term meaning “passed over”.  The grapes are picked and then laid out on reed mats to dry, literally being passed over until they are over ripe.  This gives them a “sweetness”, a soft velvety smoothness that is so so good.

This wine has all of the above qualities and more.  The big bold bouquet opens up and brings the garden to life inside.  Violets, roses and cherry blossoms abound.  The taste of of tobacco, spice and cherry jam cascade through the senses, erupting in a war of flavor, oh, oh, oh.  Juicy, jam.. What a fantastic pleasure!!!!

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Look at that dark juiciness just begging you to partake. This is a must have.  My mouth is watering just looking at it!!!

Enjoy

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Entering the highest dimension of Enlightenment was easy with this beautifully succulent mistress of Lirac.  What is Lirac you ask.  I know you are just looking for a way to join me in this ultimate Nirvana.  Lirac is actually an AOC.  It is on the Right bank of the Rhone just across from Chateaunuf du Pape.  How is that for a neighborhood.  I would move there in a heartbeat.

The prominent grapes in the AOC are Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre.  This lovely drink adds a little cinsault to balance out.  Dark rich and supple.  Floral notes on the nose, if you close your eyes lay your head back, you can feel the light winds blowing from the Alps and smell the lingering aromas of nearby gardens and orchards.  the easiest and cheapest way to visit France.  Talk about a budget.

The juice is over abundant with fruit. Concentrated with tannins, not to bold though.   Blackberry, plum, ripe bing cherry.  What a colossal  for your mouth to take in.

Enjoy with grilled or roasted meats, or just damn enjoy.  This is a fantastic wine now a 2015, but give a few more years and WOW a real powerhouse.

Enjoy

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I have a great fondness for wines from saint Emilion.  Usually you find some fabulous wines at great value.  In this case, the Grand Corbin Manuel was once part of the Grand Corbin estate. Owned by the de Gaye family it has continued to grow in prominence over the last 20 years.  The estate is planted in Merlot, Cab Franc, and Cab Sauv.  These are all represented in this wine.  The terroir is mainly sand and clay that makes the vines struggle and produce some juicy fruit.  It is after all a Grand Cru.  A little suffering …you know the religious connotations.

Let me breathe.  The wine is screaming to breathe.  It is still young, very young a virtual baby in a bottle.  Decant for as long as you can.  Doing so will let you enjoy the bright delightful aromas.  Very much like walking through a garden of roses after a rain.  you know what I am saying, that highly fragrant perfume that lingers everywhere.  I can still smell it.

The juice itself is dark, I mean dark. Beautifully dark.  Appealing to all of your senses, the nose, the sight and color, now for taste.  Ooops, i am almost slobbering over myself.  I kinda have the giggles.  Rich, full bodied wine  Concentrated with licorice and ripe plum flavors. But, oh boy watch those tannins.  You better have some protein available.  I enjoyed this win immensely, but definitely with a meal.

Give it a try

Enjoy  $$$

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Look at how dark that is.  Just inviting and appealing.