The Press Fraction Tasting Table for April 4, 2023 – "Other Red Vinifera" Edition

Covering wines from Aurora, Buckel Family, Buttonwood Grove, Glenora, Heron Hill, Keuka Spring, Horton, Macari, Rosemont of Virginia, Suhru, Texas Heritage, Ventosa, and William Heritage

As always, these are short, mostly unedited reviews of wines that I’ve tasted recently — more or less straight from my notebook. This edition is focused on the wines I tasted in February when focused on “Other Red Vinifera” varieties that didn’t warrant inclusion as “Drink This” features.

All wines were tasted over the course of 2-5 days, depending.

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Aurora Cellars 2018 Blaufränkisch ($48*)
Leelanau Peninsula AVA (Michigan)
Black and blue fruits on the nose with layers of sweet oak, black pepper, and resinous herbs. Riper and bigger in style than most East Coast versions. Ripe, concentrated black cherry, blackberry, and blueberry fruits. Palate shows a bit of heat and ample tannins that are still a bit astringent. Spice notes bring some complexity. Lots of oak. 87pts.