Finger Lakes 2013, Heart & Hands

The Heart and Hands winery is located on the banks of Lake Cayuga which results in some interesting micro-climates. I picked up this bottle at a tiny wine merchant's on 10th avenue during a diversion from the High Line in Manhattan. Good to see Finger Lakes wines getting shelf space in the city. Pale garnet red reminiscent of Alsace pinot. Bright and reflective suggestive of a partridge eye. Compelling nose of red currant jelly, strawberry, cinnamon and cedar. Baked orange. Aromas exhibit the 12-18 months barrel ageing. Tangy, elevated acidity, dry finish, orange pith, saddle leather, slightly bitter tannins, hints of tawny port. I don't quite know where to place this Finger Lakes pinot. I enjoy the savoury aspects, there is ripe fruit there but possibly the long barrel ageing makes the wine unbalanced resulting in the tawny port characteristics. Enjoyable but oddball. Scores 20/30 for a Finger Lakes pinot. Photo shows the east bank of Seneca Lake in June 2016.