Aug
25
Mt. Nittany Winery Tasting Notes
Filed Under Uncategorized | 3 Comments
[Note: This entry is delayed by roughly two weeks, but only because of a scheduling mishap. I'm still working out how to use WordPress for delayed posting. This entry (and the farm tour review) were lost in the shuffle.]
My experiences with Pennsylvania wineries have been a mixed bag. They’re generally either underwhelming or really good at one or two things. In the case of Mt. Nittany Vineyard & Winery, they were good at several. I was also impressed by the obvious investment in infrastructure and a sense of place. Traditionally, Pennsylvania has been a notoriously difficult place to be in the alcohol business. With the changes over the past few years, and with the emphasis on sustainable farming and wine as an agricultural product, we’ve seen a steady improvement in the ability of farms to produce quality wine and compete in the marketplace.
That being said, many things are still impossible for a Pennsylvania winery. For instance, our friends at Chateau Chantal in Michigan own vineyards in Mendoza, Argentina. They grow Malbec grapes there, and harvest and ship them to their estate in Michigan for vinification. The result is a consistently superb Malbec. Something like that would be impossible in Pennsylvania because any fruit sourced from beyond Pennsylvania’s borders must come from a vineyard within 300 miles of the winery (or perhaps of the state; I still need to check the relevant statutes).
Enough about Pennsylvania’s LCB woes; you’re here for the wine!
Saturday was a busy day at Mt. Nittany Winery, with space at the bar in the tasting room limited. I was there with the Farm Tour, so tasting was free. I don’t think there is normally a fee, but if there is it should be less than $10.
A tasting sheet was provided, with six tastes allowed. By sharing two, we each tasted seven. The pours were generous, and I felt some effects by the end and needed some time before attempting to drive back down the twisting roads of Linden Hall back to Boalsburg and onward to Bellefonte.
I would love to tell you what vintage these wines were, but I forgot my tasting journal and am really kicking myself for that this evening as I try to recreate these notes from memory.
The first wine I tasted was the Pinot Grigio. I don’t know why I always try the Pinot Grigio. I suppose I’m hoping I’ll find that one, transcendent Pinot that makes it worth drinking all the others I’ve tried and haven’t really liked. Unfortunately, this was not the One True Pinot Grigio. It started out well, perhaps a bit too chilled, with hints of flowers and apricots on the nose. I could swear I smelled cheddar, too, but my partner insists I’m making that up. The finish faded too fast for me and I was left with a watery feel in my mouth.
The first red I tasted was the Montage. It is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot. It was a pleasant blend, a little light on the Cab Franc for my taste, but certainly a respectable effort. I unfortunately cannot remember much about the taste of this one other than that the oakiness was just about perfect.
Next up was the full Cabernet Franc. I’ve tasted so many of this variety that exhibit a green fruit flavor from premature harvesting that I wasn’t expecting much from a Pennsylvania winery. I was pleasantly surprised. It wasn’t green pepper that showed itself, but red. A juicy, herbaceous red pepper with subtle cherries and tobacco overtones. Although a little thin in mouthfeel, it won me over with its peppery aftertaste. I can’t imagine it improving much with aging, so we’ll probably drink this one soon.
Moving back to the whites, I tasted the Riesling. I loved this wine! Riesling holds a special place in my heart. It is the wine that introduced me to the wine world, and is one of the few whites I drink regularly. There are distinct characteristics I look for in a good Riesling, and this one missed most of them. The acid was there, but instead of apples with the apricots, it had lychee. I had to check the label on the bottle to be certain this wasn’t a Gewürztraminer! Clearly someone here knew what they were doing when confronted with a grape that doesn’t want to fit the usual Riesling mold: just follow it where it wants to go, even if that involves dressing up like another wine.
The final three wines I tasted were dessert wines. Vignoles is one of my favorite dessert wines, despite the fact that it is one of those sweet dessert wines I often cannot pair with anything and wind up drinking on its own. I think this is a perfectly respectable way to drink it. This one was delicious, naturally sweet, and full of the flavor of pears.
Autumn Nectar was like golden honey on the tongue. In fact, if I didn’t know better, this one could have passed for an Eiswein. While it is made much like an Eiswein, it cannot be called one because the grapes did not freeze on the vine.
The final wine on the list was Spiced Apple. This wine quite literally starts out as apple cider: they buy the fruit pre-crushed from a nearby orchard. The wine itself is spiced with cinnamon and would be perfect hot or cold. We enjoyed it cold because it was summer, but this wine would hold up for dessert year-round.
Bottom line: If you like white wines, Mount Nittany Winery is your place. They do a respectable job on the reds, but whites are definitely where they shine.
