Dr Konstantin Frank Winery Riesling Reserve
WHY WE LOVE IT
- A sweet late-harvest style of Riesling. These Riesling grapes come from the vineyard on Seneca Lake, located in Hector, New York.
- This area has the warmest mesoclimate in the Finger Lakes known as the ‘Banana Belt’. Temperatures there are a few degrees warmer compared to Keuka Lake thus providing riper fruit notes.
- The soils are characterized by deep honeoye silt loam. Riesling for our Reserve style is picked last and a portion of the grapes are affected by botrytis.
Varietal Composition: 100% Riesling
Elaboration: The grapes are de-stemmed. Direct Pressed on a Pneumatic Press. The wine is stored in a Stainless Steel vessel in a temperature controlled environment. Traditional fermentation is used with no Malolatic Fermentation. Fermentation Stopped Before Dryness. 4.3% Sweetness. The wine is unoaked and spends 7 Months Lees Aging.
Tasting Notes: Medium-sweet Reserve Riesling is made from late-harvested grapes that have been affected with 60% of noble rot. This auslese-style wine expresses rich characters of papaya, cantaloupe, orange marmalade, and honey.
PRESS
2020 – 91 Wine Advocate
PRODUCER BACKGROUND
Konstantin Frank was born on July 4, 1899, and made his first wine at age 15. In 1930, he earned a Ph.D. in Viticulture from Odessa, Ukraine, and became a leading expert in his field throughout Eastern Europe, experimenting with cold-resistant rootstocks.
Having survived two World Wars and the Russian Revolution, Dr. Frank and his family immigrated to New York in 1951 at age 52 with empty pockets and no knowledge of English. Eventually, he found a special property in the Finger Lakes region, perfect for his vines. With decades of knowledge and experience, Dr. Frank successfully planted the first European grape varieties in the Eastern United States.
In 1962, he founded Vinifera Wine Cellars, which quickly earned a reputation for spectacular Rieslings and sparked an interest in classic European grape varieties. His vision, knowledge, and determination are credited with elevating the New York wine industry to the respectable position it holds today. Many of his original vines are still in production and represent some of the oldest vines in America.
On October 7, 1967, more than two hundred wine enthusiasts gathered at Dr. Frank’s home to organize the American Wine Society (AWS) with Dr. Konstantin Frank as its founder. Today, there are more than 120 chapters.