Red Tail Ridge Winery, is owned and operated by Mike Schnelle and winemaker Nancy Irelan, a husband and wife team who came to Seneca Lake from California, where Mike worked in the financial services business and Nancy was an executive in charge of viticulture and oenology R&D at a large winery. They developed their vineyard from scratch, are farming in a sustainable manner and were the first LEED certified winery in New York. The focus of their production is Riesling, but they've also planted several clones of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir as well as small experimental plots of Teroldego and Dornfelder. They plan to remain a limited production winery crafting premium dry wines that faithfully reflect their origins. The winery attracted attention for its early releases with some very positive press and several Gold and Silver medals in competitions on the East and West coasts. Wine Business Monthly named Red Tail Ridge one of its Hot Small Brands of 2008.

Tasting notes

This bubble has a rich aromatic profile exhibiting primary notes of toasted brioche, hazelnut, mocha, and coffee with more delicate notes of sweet red fruit. The aromatics are matched by yeasty and toasted flavors on the palate, dried fruit, finishing in citrus and orange.

Wine maker notes

2007 Blanc de Noirs with a Teroldego dosage. 118 gallons Pinot Noir. 50% barrel aged and 100% ML. 18 degrees Celsius ferment temp. 18 days to completion of base wine fermentation. Tirage and bottle fermentation: September 18, 2008. Disgorged February 8, 2011. DV10 yeast. Tirage production on February 16, 2008. 49 cases disgorged August 12, 2010.

Technical notes

Total Acidity: 7.5 g/l 12.0% abv pH:2.95 Residual Sugar:14.0 g/l