In the News
Hosmer Winery’s Most Recent Riesling ratings by Wine Spectator online:
2006 Riesling - Rated “87” March 7, 2008
Ripe and forward, with apple, pie crust, fig and pear notes followed by a round, modestly juicy finish. Solid range, just lacks a little zip on the finish. Drink now. 800 cases made. – J.M.
2006 Vintner’s Reserve Riesling - Rated “86” March 7, 2008
Soft, but direct, with apple, anise and fig hints that linger easily on the finish. Drink now. 150 cases made. – J.M.
2006 Dry Riesling - Rated “85” March 3, 2008
Light, with taut pippen apple, lime and slate notes that show good drive on the finish. Drink now through 2009. 780 cases made. – J.M.
100 point system:
95-100 = a classic
90–95 = wine of superior character and style
85-89 = wine with special qualities
80-84 = a solid, well-made wine
Wine Spectator Ratings, May 15, 2007
Hosmer Winery’s Most Recent Riesling ratings by Wine Spectator online:
2006 Riesling - Rated “87” March 7, 2008
Ripe and forward, with apple, pie crust, fig and pear notes followed by a round, modestly juicy finish. Solid range, just lacks a little zip on the finish. Drink now. 800 cases made. – J.M.
2006 Vintner’s Reserve Riesling - Rated “86” March 7, 2008
Soft, but direct, with apple, anise and fig hints that linger easily on the finish. Drink now. 150 cases made. – J.M.
2006 Dry Riesling - Rated “85” March 3, 2008
Light, with taut pippen apple, lime and slate notes that show good drive on the finish. Drink now through 2009. 780 cases made. – J.M.
100 point system:
95-100 = a classic
90–95 = wine of superior character and style
85-89 = wine with special qualities
80-84 = a solid, well-made wine2005 Chardonnay - 84 rating
2005 Pinot Noir - 85 rating
2005 Lemberger - 84 rating
August 16 2006 - FingerLakesWine.com article
Featuring Hosmer Dry Rosé!
"Refreshing and versatile, rosé wine gets on famously with balmy-weather fare, such as fried oysters, burgers, grilled chicken and pasta salad. No longer the pink-headed stepchild or the afterthought at American wineries, rosé has earned a loyal following in recent years."
Click Fingerlakeswine.com. To see the full article, in the "Find a Winery" box on the right, select Hosmer Winery.
August 2006 - Indy International, Hosmer Riesling Races to the Top
July 27, 2006 launched one of the largest wine competitions in North America, the Indy International. More than 3,800 wines poured in from all across the United States, Canada, Europe; Spain, Italy, and France - to name a few, South Africa, and Australia… the list goes on. It was a dynamic set of 3 days. Through the stiff, worldly competition, scrutinizing judges, and stern regulations Hosmer 2005 Riesling pulled rank. The Riesling claimed a Concordance Gold Medal; a decision of "Gold Medal Winner" from each judge on the panel.
In addition to the Concordance Gold, Hosmer claimed 6 additional medals: The 2005 Cayuga White was honored with the only Gold Medal in its class, the 2005 Dry Riesling and 2004 Cabernet Franc each claimed a Silver Medal, and rounding out the awards for Hosmer were the 2005 Seyval and non-vintage Fireside Red claiming Bronze.
"Being such a large slate of entries, from all around the world really makes these awards stand out." Virginia Graber, Sales Manager for Hosmer Winery. "Unanimous decisions for awarding a Gold Medal do not come easy; out of the field only 116 Concordance Gold Medals were awarded. Only 1 Gold Medal in the Cayuga division was awarded. Two very esteemed honors to be received. We at Hosmer are proud to consistently produce quality wines here in the heart of the Finger Lakes."
June 2006 - 2005 Dry Riesling is a Double Gold Medal Winner!
Sitting atop the slate of 468 entries in this years Great Lakes Great Wine wine competition is the Hosmer 2005 Dry Riesling. The Dry Riesling was joined by only two other wines in receiving the prestigious Double Gold medal. The right to a double gold did not come easily this year as past competitions yielded, on average, 6 recipients. The wines to pass the judges with a unanimous decision of gold medal winner must then meet the scrutiny of a second panel of judges. Only after being awarded an uncontested gold from both panels can a wine be deemed a Double Gold Winner. From the contesting field, assembled from 7 states and 1 Canadian province, our Riesling from the heart of the Finger Lakes was triumphant in obtaining the elusive Double Gold.
September 2005 - Wall Street Journal, Sept. 23
Tastings - Rediscovering New York Riesling
In view of the increased interest in New York State wines and the increased availability of wines from many states, the WSJ decided to do a tasting of New York Rieslings, focussing on dry and semi-dry wines. In comparison to German imports, the article notes:"Germany's Riesling is often ephemeral and flowery - New York's has real backbone and a sense of earth". Our 2003 Dry Riesling received one of the top "Very Good" ratings and also was rated "Best Value - Rich, like a lemon soufflé. An interesting, muscular Riesling, with some earthiness and a little honey. Real personality".
The full article can be found here.
October 15 2005 - Wine, Spectator Buying Guide
For the second year in a row, our Rieslings have been rated in the Wine Spectator Buying Guide.
The 2003 Vintner's Reserve Riesling received an 87 rating - "Ripe and racy, with fresh apple, lime, slate and honey notes that show nice length on the finish".
The 2004 Dry Riesling received an 85 - "Lime, grapefruit and litchi flavors run through this medium body wine".
The 2004 Riesling received an 84 rating.
*See the 100 point scale listed with our May 2007 ratings toward the top of the page.*
Summer 2005 - Notes from the 2005 Tasters Guild International Wine Judging
DOUBLE GOLD MEDAL earned for 2003 Cayuga. Very cool, floral, delicate, uplifting fragrance. Light tangerine note. On the palate, good full sweetness and acidity balance. Delicious flavor and texture. Boy, Hosmer really nailed this one! Textbook introduction to Cayuga. Serve with strawberries with sweetened, whipped cream.
May 2005 - Days of Wine and Noses - Michael Turback
In an article from the Syracuse, N. Y. Post-Standard, (Summertime - May 25, 2005) Michael Turback, author of "Greetings from the Finger Lakes, a Food and Wine Lover's Companion" said:
While Riesling is the best of the region's white wines, the area's wineries also are gaining a name for producing a good Cabernet Franc, a red wine, especially Hosmer Winery in Ovid, [Turback] said.
"Hosmer has had credible wine - critics say he makes the best Cabernet Franc in America, right there in a small winery on Cayuga Lake".