It’s that time of year again – when spring rains mist the air, birds begin to sing, and our vines begin to bud. AND… when our tasting room is sparkling, polished, and stocked with wine and gifts. We are thrilled at the progress our vineyards and wines have made thusfar, both in the local marketplace and on the world stage of wine competitions. Our team has consistently demonstrated that our wines are top quality and can garner double gold and gold medals, and even break the 90-rating barrier with the national wine press. That is quite an accomplishment in just six short years. [Read More...]
88 • Rooster Hill 2007 Estate Semi-Dry, Riesling, Finger Lakes $15.99.
Pale golden yellow color. Aromas of lemon meringue and baked peaches follow through on a round entry to a dry-yet-fruity medium body with tart green apple notes and a zesty finish. A very nice sipper or pair with scallops. (tasted on Mar-09-2009)
88 • Rooster Hill 2007 Estate, Gewürztraminer, Finger Lakes $15.99.
Golden yellow color. Spicy apricot pie, wintermint, and praline aromas follow through on a soft entry to a fruity-yet-dry medium body with zesty lime and mineral notes and a refreshing palate stimulating finish. (tasted on Mar-09-2009)
85 • Rooster Hill 2007 Chardonnay, Finger Lakes $13.99. Best Buy.
Pale yellow straw color. Aromas of fresh creme brulee and pineapple cake follow through on a silky entry to a dry-yet-fruity medium body with tart apple skin and white nut notes. Finishes with a crisp, slate accented fade. (tasted on Feb-17-2009)
84 • Rooster Hill 2005 Meritage, New York State $24.99.
Garnet with a violet edge. Creamy vanilla, mocha, and dark roasted nut aromas. A supple entry leads to a dry light-to-medium body of tart cherry skin and pit, and raw cranberry flavors. Finishes with a tongue-coating wave of powderytannins and slate. Palate doesn't fully deliver on the promise of the nose. (tasted on Jul-30-2007)
85 Rooster Hill 2007 Estate Cabernet Franc, Finger Lakes
Open and easy going, with a medium-weight mix of tobacco, black cherry and spice notes. Drink now. –J.M.
 For the past few years, we have consistently won gold medals and received notable recognition and scores from Wine Spectator and Wine Enthusiast magazines. A few things we are excited about this year:
- 2008 Whites. The 2008 Dry Riesling is sure to follow up with another BIG score – just as the 2007 – 91 points! We’re hoping for a release date in mid-May. We will also have a new wine, a Semi Sweet Riesling in June.
- 2007 Reds. If you were a fan of our 2005 red wines, be sure to stop by and ask for a sample of our 2007 Estate Lemberger, Estate Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. Our Cab Franc just received a score of 85 points from Wine Spectator! If you enjoy texture and tannin in your reds – you’re going to love our 2007 vintage.
 Rooster Hill Vineyards is now on Facebook!
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 NEW Vertical Tastings: A unique opportunity to taste and compare older vintages’ flavor profiles and characteristics. Taste multiple vintages of Riesling, for example, and learn to discern what impact weather and growing conditions had on the final wine. Also learn to understand what aging does to a wine and how to identify those nuances.
- Date: June 5 from 7-9 p.m.
Cost: $25 per person / $20 wine club members
Reservations required: call 315-536-4773
NEW Tunes on the Terrace Enjoy a lovely evening on the terrace overlooking Keuka Lake (weather permitting). Drink in the view, enjoy a glass of wine and a personal pizza baked in the Italian wood-fired oven. A great way to unwind and enjoy a nice summer evening.
- DATES: Wed. July 1, Wed. July 15, Friday August 7 from 7 to 9:30 p.m.
Cost: $30 per couple or $20 single plus tax
Reservations required: call 315-536-4773
Twilight Tastings return for their sixth season. Join the Rooster Hill team for a comparative tasting of wines from around the world. Taste Cabernets from France, California and other regions including the Finger Lakes. Understand how the climate, soil and winemaking practices influence the final product and why Finger Lakes wines are performing on the world stage of wine. At the end of the workshop, enjoy a light dinner buffet with the winemaker on the creekstone terrace.
- May 8 Friday: Twilight Tasting Captivating Cabernets, 7-9 p.m.
- June 19 Friday: Twilight Tasting Riveting Rieslings, 7-9 p.m.
- Aug 21 Friday: Twilight Tasting Chasing Chardonnay, 7-9 p.m
- Sept 2, Wed. Twilight Tasting Perfect Pinot Noir and Lovely Lemberger, 7-9 p.m.
- Cost is $25 per person / $20 wine club members
- Reservations Required: 315-536-4773
 Tracey Knapton our tasting room manager has moved on and accepted a position with the Breast Cancer coalition of Rochester. She will put her education in counseling to good work for a very worthwhile cause. We enjoyed working with her and thank her for her many contributions to Rooster Hill.
In the meantime, 3 team leaders have been appointed to oversee the tasting room. Karen Jensen, Bev Burris and Sharon Morrell will welcome our guests and give them the level of service you have come to expect. Karen also carries the title of assistant manager. She was promoted in the fall and is excited to step up and take on some new duties.
Rooster Hill is branching out with a location at the Windmill Farm and Craft Market. Find our outside booth on Saturdays through Oct 31st. We hope to find new customers and offer convenience to those who are already familiar with our wonderful wines.
 To celebrate Riesling as the signature grape of the region, we are offering some special activities for our guests.
During the week, stop in and visit and sample Rieslings paired with cheeses from Yancey’s Fancy Cheeses.
On the weekend, experiment with sipping Riesling from Riedel stemware. Riedel glasses do make a difference in how the aromoatics float up the glass to the nose. These glasses allow you to swirl and sniff and really savor the nuances of the Riesling wine.
FREE SHIPPING -- for on-line orders (minimum 6 bottle purchase) during the entire month of May. Send a gift to a friend who is not lucky enough to be able to visit wineries known around the world for their wonderful Rieslings.
 Terrace Tastings: a perk reserved for our special guests. Next time you visit, be sure to drink in the view as you sample your wines on the creekstone terrace. Call ahead and let us know when you are coming and we will do the rest. Even if you drop in unexpectedly, let us know you’d like to sample on the terrace and we will accommodate you and your friends.
SAVE THE DATE: Second Annual Pig Roast on Sunday, August 16th from 1 to 5 p.m. Great food, wine and music from the Lone Rangers. Prizes, games and more. Make your reservations today. $25 per peson. Limited to wine club members only. Thank you.
REMINDER: Don’t forget to take advantage of club member discounts on all Rooster Hill events. One of the many benefits of belonging to the wine club.
PLEASE UPDATE YOUR INFO: Keep your credit card information or address current so that your shipments arrive on-time. Call 315-536-4773 or e-mail wineclub@roosterhill.com
- Estate Semi Dry Riesling - Gold Medal - San Francisco Wine Competition ’09
The is the first gold medal for the ‘07 Semi Dry Riesling. This Riesling sourced from our own vineyards has earned gold medals for three vintages in a row ... 2005, 2006 and 2007.
- Estate Gewruztraminer ’07 - Silver Medal - San Francisco Wine Competition ’09
- Cabernet Sauvignon ’07 - Silver Medal - Florida State Fair Int’l Compeition ’09
Nearly 90 Cabernets Sauvignons competed in Florida and Rooster Hill’s was the only entry from New York State to wine a silver medal. More than 30 entries were from California alone, along with entries from Washington, Southeast Australia and Italy.
- Estate Cabernet Franc ’07 - 85 Rating from Wine Spectator
Open and easy-going, with a medium-weight mix of tobacco, black cherry and spice notes. Drink now. 350 cases made. Red. --J.M.
- Chardonnay ’07 - 85 Rating from Beverage Testing Institute
Pale yellow straw color. Aromas of fresh crème brulee and pineapple cake follow through on a silky entry and medium body with tart apple skin and white nut notes. Finishes with a crisp, slate-accented fade.
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