Pinot Noir ~ Warm Lake Estate Vineyard & Winery ~ Niagara Wine Trail

Warm Lake Estate Pinot Noir from the Niagara Escarpment

New York State Wine Tasting Bar at Warm Lake Estate

World Class Wines
Traffic East Magazine | by Terry Bechakas (as told to L.diBernardo)
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PINOT NOIR

World Class Pinot Noir Wines from the Niagara Escarpment

World Class Pinot Noir Wines from the Niagara Escarpment

Pioneer wine maker and grape grower Michael VonHeckler recently completed his second major planting of French Dijon Clone Pinot Noir plants. This planting increased the size of his vineyard from 15 acres to 40 acres, with 20 more acres set aside for 2004. Still, the most startling fact surrounding Von Heckler’s success is that his winery is not located in France, but in Cambria, New York, only thirty minutes outside of Buffalo, New York.

VonHeckler is the founder and managing partner of Warm Lake Estate, a vineyard that boasts the single largest continuous planting of French Dijon Clone Pinot Noir in New York State. The Pinot Noir clones were developed to not only mimic the grapes, but improve them by decreasing the inherent danger of disease and rot. VonHeckler has been so successful with his Pinot Noir clones that his second harvest already accounts for more than 17 percent of New York’s Pinot Noir production. And his wine is suprisingly similar to the French Burgundy of Volnay, the most lively and delicate wine in Burgundy. VonHeckler’s 2002 vintage is completely sold out before leaving the barrel. Even Warm Lake Estate’s second vintage, 2003, is nearing sell-out status.

CHARACTERISTICS
Pinot Noirs have a great deal of fragrance, typically releasing hints of clove, currants, raspberry, and chocolate. Also common are scents of strawberry, violets, and roses.

When sampling these quality Pinot Noirs, notice a silk-like smoothness to the wine, a fruity quality that possesses finesse and elegance.

It’s true that these vineyards are peacefully stunning, especially when bathed in morning’s fog, or when crisp with Autumn’s gold wash. But Niagara’s many excellent wineries offer plenty more than a day trip destination: it’s time to look beyond the wines of France, Italy, Chile, and Spain, and discover the reasons that Vincor International of Canada, and Boisset of Burgundy in France are committed to building a state-of-art wineries just minutes from Niagara-on-the-Lake. It’s time to discover the World Class Wines of the Niagara Frontier.

Warm Lake Estates Winery 716.731.5900

Article from Traffic East Magazine
Williamsville, NY
Trafficeast@yahoo.com