Lemberger — All the Flavor, None of the Umlauts

While I did my best last week to help out my local wineries and wine stores, I'm trying to cut down on my retail therapy. In the words of the comedian Rita Rudner: "My last credit card bill was so big, before I opened it I actually heard a drum roll." Thus for the next few weeks I'll be digging around through my cellar and enjoying what I already have.

Such as! This terrific 2017 lemberger from Damiani Wine Cellars.

I visited Damiani for the first time last May, and got to stay in an Airbnb run by one of the owners. They're doing some of the best reds in the region. Lemberger is an very dark-skinned Austrian grape, also known as blaufränkisch, though most of the New York wineries seem to have decided to go with lemberger. Easier to say, easier to spell? The climate and terroir in the Finger Lakes is very similar to Austria/Germany, so no wonder growers have added this to their repertoire.

This ruby red wine is savory on the palate, with hints of dark red fruit and tobacco on the palate. If you're searching online for wines to try, and you like cabernet franc or other dry medium bodied wines, give this a try. Pretty much all of Damiani's reds are great, and I also brought home one of their gewürztraminers. I sure look forward to taking another drive up to the Finger Lakes one day and putting more strain on my credit card.

Have you discovered any wines while hunkered down, either online or hiding in the back of your pantry? Let me know! Stay well.