Posts Tagged“dr. konstantin frank”

Dr. Konstantin Frank Vinifera Wine Cellars 2014 “Eugenia” Dry Riesling

You can’t throw a lime-soaked river rock in the Finger Lakes nowadays without hitting a bottle of single-vineyard riesling. Most of the top producers bottle them these days. Some of the lesser ones do too, where it’s perhaps more marketing gimmick than actual exploration of site-by-site terroir. Back in December, Dr. Konstantin Frank Vinifera Wine Cellars announced its own series of single-vineyard rieslings, each meant to honor one woman in the Frank family. The first wine of the series is named “Eugenia” for Dr. Konstantin Fran’s wife. Dr. Konstantin Frank 2014 “Eugenia” Dry Riesling ($30) is made with grapes grown in…

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From the Archives: Restaurant Turns Up Rare Bottle of 1966 Dr. Frank Riesling

Editor’s Note: Every Thursday — call it Throwback Thursday if you’d like — we’ll pull a story from the more than a decade of NYCR stories and republish it. This week, I’ve pulled a story written by Evan Dawson that focused on a bottle of Dr. Konstantin Frank 1966 Johannisberg Riesling that we were lucky enough to taste before our 2009 Wines of the Year tasting.  I could barely believe the photograph, sent from a friend. The bottle in the picture said Dr. Konstantin Frank 1966 Johannisberg Riesling, but it did not make sense that a restaurant was selling such a bottle…

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Dr. Konstantin Frank 2014 Gruner Veltliner

I’ve been lucky when it comes to Gruner Veltliner, one of the great grapes of Austria. Through friends who have worked for various importers over the years, I’ve been introduced to some incredible renditions — expressive wines of intensity, balance and flat-out deliciousness. With that as context, I’ve been a bit let down by most New York Gruner. I used to chalk it up to young vines, poor picking decisions and winemakers getting their footing with it in the cellar. I still think that’s true in some cases, but I’ve also been guilty of not allowing the grapes to express what…

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NY Drinks NY Means that Winter is Over. I Promise!

At this point, winter has been such a relentless bitch many of us will drink anything to keep warm and shut out the dark, grey days. But with Spring fast approaching, I’m here to remind you to be mindful of what’s in your glass. Don’t just slug whatever bottle you have on hand in order to stay indoors. For me – NY Drinks NY heralds Open Season on Spring wine. New, shiny things I have yet to taste. This yearly event brings together three dozen or more wineries from across New York State for a Grand Tasting and … marks…

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Dr. Konstantin Frank 2012 Reserve Riesling

Dr. Konstantin Frank 2012 Reserve Riesling ($25) aligns nicely with the recent trend of richer, decidedly off-dry rieslings in the Finger Lakes. The nose is a stunner, showing aromas of Golden Delicious apple, Bartlett pear, peach, honey, fennel frond, green melon and delicate floral notes. Round and weighty, the palate shows intensely ripe fruit and similar flavors — peach, pomme fruit and melon — with a slight bruised-apple note. Though sweet, it’s balanced by delicate acidity that keeps it from being cloying. The light herbal and floral notes are a bit hidden, but emerge as the wine warms a bit. Don’t…

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Dr. Konstantin Frank 2012 Gewurztraminer

  I’m not sure why exactly, but Finger Lakes gewurztraminer doesn’t get nearly the attention that it should. It sits firmly in riesling’s racy, trendy shadow, but the category consistently impresses with varietal character and depth — all with the kind of acidity that makes Finger Lakes whites so appealing. Dr. Konstantin Frank 2012 Gewurztraminer ($15) delivers what can be great about Finger Lakes gewurz at a great price point. Big lychee-meets-rose pedal aromas dominate the nose with underlying notes of candied lemon peel, pear and just a bit of peach pit. Broad and mouth-filling, but with nice focus, the…

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Moved by a New York Wine: Aged Finger Lakes Riesling (Uwe Kristen, DerKellermeister.com)

Editor’s Note: Thank you to our friend Uwe Kristen of Der Kellermeister  for the second story in our “Moved by a New York Wine” series. If a New York wine has moved you, let us know. White wine is still considered to be less age-worthy than red wine. Which, of course, is not true. Riesling, in particular, can age for decades. Once bottled, wine is not a finished product. It is still very much alive. Give it some years to fully express itself and you shall be handsomely rewarded. I had been holding on to two Finger Lakes rieslings from…

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Fourth Generation Joins Dr. Frank

Meaghan Frank, daughter of current president Fred Frank, granddaughter of Willy Frank and great granddaughter of founder Dr. Konstantin Frank, joins the Dr. Frank Vinifera Wine Cellars team this week following in the footsteps of her family predecessors. Fresh off a flight from Australia and having just finished her Masters of Wine Business from the University of Adelaide, Frank is wasting no time in getting to know the family business. It might come as a surprise to some, but Meaghan has not always been on this path. As an undergrad communications major with an interest in sociology she was on…

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Dr. Konstantin Frank Vinifera Wine Cellars 2012 Dry Riesling

This was the second wine I tasted during last week’s virtual tasting of 2012 Finger Lakes rieslings, and it was a welcome step up. Dr. Konstantin Frank Vinifera Wine Cellars 2012 Dry Riesling ($15) offers intense aromas of grapefruit and lime are accented by notes of citrus blossom, wet river rock, smoky gun flint and just a touch of botrytis. The palate is more peachy, but still shows bright citrus fruit — mostly grapefruit — and a minerally vein that runs from start to finish. Crunchy acidity provides great focus and verve. The medium-long finish is dry, but not harshly so.…

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A Trip to the West Side (of Keuka Lake)

Well, I’m once again the midst of my annual month-long break from alcohol –– but that doesn’t mean I can’t still enjoy a trip to Finger Lakes wine country. In need of a road trip and eager to take advantage of Wednesday’s lovely weather, I hopped in the car and headed to Keuka Lake for a long overdue visit. (Note: to the tasting room servers’ credit, I didn’t get a single stare or snide comment when I asked for a spit bucket, which I’ve heard can be a problem at many wineries. I thus managed to taste responsibly and maintain my detox.)…

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