HUDSON VALLEY WINE GODDESS
REVIEWS BARREL TASTING
AT HUDSON-CHATHAM WINERY



Debbie, the Hudson Valley Wine Goddess, reviewed our barrel tasting on her blog.
Thanks, Debbie, from Carlo & Dominique


Go there and read her notes:
http://hvwinegoddess.blogspot.com/2010/01/shopping-and-wine-with-babysitter.html


P.S. To address Debbie's thoughts on the Baco Noir Old Vines 2008, we will split up the Old Vines Baco 2008 allotment. Two barrels will be held in reserve until 2011. But the rest will be very drinkable and very available in Fall 2010.

BARREL TASTING OF EMPIRE 2008

and BACO NOIR OLD VINES 2008

Yesterday, we tasted a sample pulled from the barrels before last weekend. We sampled them in the tasting - myself, Dominique, Laura, and David - and with valued friends. Debbie, the Hudson Valley Wine Goddess was there as well as Linda and Bob of the Hudson Valley Wine magazine. We also poured it for several customers.

The Old Vines Baco Noir is still a little young, as we knew it would be. But the berry flavor is a solid dark sour cherry flavor with lots of character and depth. There was the discussion of holding back a barrel or two's worth of the wine for a reseve wine, which is probably what we will do. But it howed a lot of promise. It's shaping up to be what we hoped it would be. Release will probably be in October/November of 2010.

The Empire 2008 was an excting experience. It's bigger and deeper than the original 2007 vintage. The 2007 was elegant. This is bigger, deeper, darker. There is more dark berry. This vintage showed tremendous potential. And we are very, very excited. Release will probably be in Late August/September of 2010.

NEW YORK CORK REPORT NAMES
TWO HUDSON-CHATHAM WINERY
WINES FOR 2009 WINES OF THE YEAR

The Hudson-Chatham Winery had wines nominated fo2 2009 Wines of the Year competion being sponsored by the New York Cork Report. The Baco Noir Reserve Casscles Vineyard 2008 and the Empire 2007 were both named as finalists in the Hudson River Region bracket of the New York State competition.

The competition will pit wines from the same region in three categories: white, red, and sprakling. One winner will be chosen for each region in those categories. The winners of each region will then be pitted against each other for the final winners - the other regions being Finger Lakes, Long Island, and Niagara Region.

From the finalist announcement:

Hudson-Chatham Winery 2007 Empire

Made with grapes from three vineyards in New York's three biggest wine regions blended in equal proportions — Long Island merlot, Finger Lakes cabernet franc and Hudson Valley Baco Noir. A great concept for a wine and each component contributes to the wines character.

Hudson-Chatham Winery 2008 Baco Noir

Black and sour cherry lead the way with hints of vanilla, cranberry and spice beneath. It's fruity, like you'd expect, but there is a depth and a richness here that made it stand out. The finish is longer than with many bacos as well.

The finalcomplete Hudson River Region bracket:
White Wines
Whitecliff Vineyard and Winery 2008 Awosting White
Benmarl 2008 Slate Hill White
Millbrook Vineyards 2008 Tocai Friulano

Reds
Hudson-Chatham Winery 2007 Empire
Hudson-Chatham Winery 2008 Baco Noir
Millbrook Vineyards 2007 Block Five East Pinot Noir

Sparkling
Clinton Vineyards NV Jubilee
Brotherhood Winery NV Blanc de Blancs

http://lennthompson.typepad.com/lenndevours/2010/01/finding-and-choosing-the-hudson-river-regions-wines-of-the-year-finalists.html

Milton Meisner, 88, Among Founders of Hudson Farmers Market

By the time I had met Milton, he was already an older gentleman. And he was already well established in his place at the Hudson Farmer's Market. But he always had a friendly smile, and a cup of coffee at the ready. He and I often talked of grape growing, and the heartbreak involved in growing them in such hostile environs.

As the local food movement gains more and more momentum, it is so important to pay respect and honor to those who helped pave the road before us, and acknowledge the great debt of gratitude we owe them.

Thank you, Milt.

Carlo DeVito

Milton Meisner
Register Star

Thursday, January 14, 2010 2:14 AM EST
Milton Meisner, 88, of Claverack, passed away Tuesday, January 12, 2010 at Ellis Hospital in Schenectady.Born November 15, 1921 in Hudson, he was the son of the late Hyman and Rose (Antislovsky) Meisner.Milton was a graduate of Hudson High School. He managed and worked the family farm for most of his life. He was a partner with his brother, David, of the Kaiser and Frazer Car Dealership in Chatham.

He was a real estate broker for over 40 years and owned and operated his own business, Milton Meisner Realty, Inc. in Greenport for over 25 years with his wife, Rosalyn.Mr. Meisner was a member of the Dairy League Cooperative, Inc., the National Organic Farmers Associations of New York, the Cornell Cooperative Extension, member and past trustee of the Board of Directors of Agway, and a founding member of the Hudson Farmers Market.

Milton was a life member and past trustee of Congregation Anshe Emeth and a member of B'Nai Brith.He was a member of the Columbia County Board of Realtors, a member of the Columbia County Chamber of Commerce, a member of the Claverack Lions, a past board member of the Mental Health Association of Columbia and Greene Counties, a Claverack Town Councilman, a Democratic Party Committeeman, a member of the Hudson Opera House, and a volunteer for Meals on Wheels.

Milton was the beloved husband of 55 years of Rosalyn (Rackmilowitz) Meisner; devoted father of Melinda Jones of Mechanicville, Hedda (Randy) Rosen of Stillwater, and Rita (Christy) Tiano of Claverack; beloved grandfather of Jennifer Jones of Mechanicville, Christopher Ball of Stillwater, and Christy and Drew Tiano, both of Claverack; loving brother of David Meisner of Greenport, and special uncle of many nieces and nephews.He was predeceaced by his sister, Sarah Ackerman and his brother, Abraham Meisner.Services will be conducted at 11m Friday at the Bates & Anderson - Redmond & Keeler Funeral Home, 110 Green St., Hudson.

Burial will be in Cedar Park Cemetery.Contributions may be made to WAMC, 318 Central Avenue, Albany, 12206, or to Doctors Without Borders USA, P.O. Box 5030, Hagerstown, MD, 21741.

PAPERBIRCH 2005 CABERNET SAUVIGNON FINE RUBY RECIEVES RAVE FROM NY CORK REPORT'S LENN THOMPSON


In a January 8th, 2010 Tasting Table article, Editor-in-Chief Lenn Thompson reviewed several wines, among them our wine.



Here's what Lenn wrote:
Paperbirch 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon Fine Ruby: Prune, vanilla, black licorice and roasted nuts on the nose. Fruity on the palate, with dried plum and cherry with licorice and vanilla. Sweet, but far from cloying. Good balance.


Lenn, thanks a lot!


Of course, you can try our delicious aged port, or any other of our wonderful Paperbirch dessert wines at our tasting room this winter Saturdays and Sundays and througout the year!