Full Review

Rooftop Reds

Rooftop Reds
NV Blau Nouveau, Blaufrankisch, Finger Lakes

Pair this wine with:
Beef Lamb

Category: Lemberger

Date Tasted:
Country: USA
Alcohol: 12% RS: .05%
87 Points
Silver Medal
Highly Recommended
$30

Rooftop Reds
NV Blau Nouveau, Blaufrankisch, Finger Lakes

Pair this wine with:
Beef Lamb

Category: Lemberger

Date Tasted:
Country: USA
Alcohol: 12% RS: .05%
Dusty ruby color. Aromas and flavors of minestrone, honeyed blueberries and cherries, orange marmalade, and corsage with a supple, tangy, fruity medium body and a silky, interesting, medium-length finish with notes of montmorency cherry juice, nut, cedar, and hint of pot roast with well-integrated, chewy tannins and light oak flavor. A juicy and scintillating red that will liven up a meal.

Tasting Info

Wine Glass Style: Fruity, Juicy & Smooth, New World, Oaky & Savory
Aroma Aroma: minestrone, honeyed blueberries and cherries, orange marmalade, and corsage
Taste Flavor: Same as aromas with notes of montmorency cherry juice, nut, cedar, and hint of pot roast
Sweetness Sweetness: Fruity
Enjoy Enjoy: Now with food
Recipes Pairing: Lamb Tagine, Duck L’Orange, Steak Fajitas
Bottom Line Bottom Line: A juicy and scintillating red that will liven up a meal.

The Producer

Point of the Bluff Vineyards

The Producer
10489 County Route 76
Hammondsport, NY 14840
USA
1 607-220-5222

Their Portfolio

88 Point Of The Bluff 2022 Reserve, Riesling, Finger Lakes 11.5% (USA) $25.00.
87 Point Of The Bluff Vineyards 2021 Chardonnay, Finger Lakes 13% (USA) $16.00.
88 Point Of The Bluff Vineyards 2021 Reserve Dry Rosé, Blaufrankisch, Finger Lakes 12% (USA) $25.00.
86 Point Of The Bluff Vineyards 2020 Reserve, Pinot Noir, Finger Lakes 12% (USA) $30.00.
90 Point Of The Bluff Vineyards 2018 Estate Dry, Riesling, Finger Lakes 11.5% (USA) $19.00.
86 Point Of The Bluff Vineyards 2018 Reserve, Riesling, Finger Lakes 11.5% (USA) $15.00.
88 Point Of The Bluff Vineyards 2020 Riesling, Finger Lakes 11.5% (USA) $12.00.
87 Point Of The Bluff Vineyards 2022 Chardonnay, Finger Lakes 13% (USA) $17.00.
89 Point Of The Bluff Vineyards 2019 Reserve, Riesling, Finger Lakes 11.5% (USA) $21.00.
90 Point Of The Bluff Vineyards 2019 Dry, Riesling, Finger Lakes 11.5% (USA) $18.00.
BR Point Of The Bluff Vineyards 2020 Resereve, Pinot Noir, Finger Lakes 12% (USA) $35.00. - Bronze Medal
BR Point Of The Bluff Vineyards 2021 Riesling, Finger Lakes 11.5% (USA) $17.00. - Bronze Medal
86 Point Of The Bluff Vineyards 2022 Riesling, Finger Lakes 11.5% (USA) $17.00.
86 Point Of The Bluff Vineyards 2021 Pétillant Naturel, Riesling, Finger Lakes 11.5% (USA) $24.00.
86 Point Of The Bluff Vineyards 2023 Chardonnay, Finger Lakes 13% (USA) $25.00.
85 Point Of The Bluff Vineyards 2023 June Bug Blush, Finger Lakes 11.6% (USA) $22.00.
87 Point Of The Bluff Vineyards 2023 Dry Rosé of, Cabernet Franc, Finger Lakes 12% (USA) $25.00.
88 Point Of The Bluff Vineyards 2023 Sparkling Rosé, Cabernet Franc, Finger Lakes 12.8% (USA) $24.00.
86 Point Of The Bluff Vineyards 2021 Reserve, Blaufrankisch, Finger Lakes 12% (USA) $30.00.
91 Point Of The Bluff Vineyards 2023 Unoaked, Blaufrankisch, Finger Lakes 11.5% (USA) $30.00.
88 Point Of The Bluff Vineyards NV June Bug Red Blend, Finger Lakes 11.6% (USA) $20.00.
88 Rooftoop Reds 2019 Blaufrankisch, Finger Lakes 12% (USA) $30.00.
86 Rooftop Reds 2021 Dry Rosé, Finger Lakes 11.6% (USA) $21.00.
88 Rooftop Reds 2019 Gewurztraminer, Finger Lakes 11.6% (USA) $21.00.
92 Rooftop Reds NV Sweater Weather Red Blend, Finger Lakes 11.6% (USA) $25.00.
86 Rooftop Reds 2018 Barrel Fermented, Chardonnay, Finger Lakes 11.6% (USA) $19.00.
86 Rooftop Reds 2020 Reserve, Cabernet Franc, Finger Lakes 12% (USA) $40.00.
87 Rooftop Reds NV Blau Nouveau, Blaufrankisch, Finger Lakes 12% (USA) $30.00.
90 Rooftop Reds 2021 Barrel Fermented, Chardonnay, Finger Lakes 11.5% (USA) $22.00.
88 Rooftop Reds NV Sparkling, Riesling, Finger Lakes 11.5% (USA) $22.00.

Lemberger

Wine Glass Zinfandel.jpg
Serve in a Zinfandel Wine Glass
Lemberger is a varietal widely planted in Central Europe--particularly Austria, where it is known as blaufränkisch. The suffix "fränkisch" implies that the grape was originally of French origin; however, the varietal's true lineage is somewhat murky. Nonetheless, over the years, lemberger has become somewhat of a darling to a handful of vintners in Washington state, as it is quite winter-hardy and offers a measure of insurance against the state's periodic harsh winter conditions.

Washington lemberger tends to be quite dark, with a racy, grapey character. The wines are nearly devoid of tannins, but retain a nervy level of acidity. This leads to the inevitable comparisons with gamay, or perhaps more appropriately, dolcetto. In that it's an early-drinking, zesty red that lends itself to immediate gratification, there is more than a nugget of truth to the comparisons. They have flavors of blackberry and black cherry along with notes of dark chocolate. These wines are ripe and spicy and pair well with grilled meats or game.

John Rauner, the proprietor of Yakima River Winery and a fierce proponent of lemberger, claims that the varietal is one of few that don't contain histamines, a compound to which some people are allergic. Histamines or not, lemberger is an interesting wine in its own right, and one day may deserve to be called the "Nouveau of the Northwest."