Wine Country International ® Co-Founders Christopher and Darcy Davies visited Wölffer Estate in mid-June. They spent two days touring the property and tasting many wines with Winemaker and Partner Roman Roth. This visit marked almost twenty-six years of friendship with Roman. Christopher and Darcy were excited to see how Wölffer Estate wines had grown into a highly revered international wine company.
Christopher and Darcy requested samples of their favorite wines. The following wines were
tasted with our senior editors in late July in Colorado. The quality blew away the editors.
Spring in a Bottle Alcohol Removed Sparkling Rosé (NV) Rheinhessen, Germany, $20
Crafted from a blend of organically farmed 75% Pinot Noir, 15% Saint Laurent, 10% of field blend Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon.
Sight: Orange rose/ salmon color.
Smell: Aromas of cranberry, rose petals, orange marmalade, and sour cherry.
Taste: Flavors of fresh fruits, brine, tart cherries, lively acidity with a short finish.
Thoughts: This wine delivers a lot on the palate without breaking the bank.
Hampton's Light (low alcohol) Pinot Blanc- 7%(NV) Rheinhessen, Germany, $27
Blend of 84% Pinot Blanc and 16% Pinot Gris.
Sight: Gold color.
Smell: Clean, crisp, fresh apples, hints of peach, and youthful pear.
Taste: Bright flavors of apples and quince, with nice acidity, brine, and salty minerals on a long finish.
Thoughts: Lush and crisp flavors, lower alcohol, fewer calories.
2024 Grandioso Rosé - "The Hampton's" Long Island, NY (13%), $32
Blend of 43% Cabernet Franc, 30% Merlot, 27% Chardonnay.
Sight: Copper/ rose.
Smell: Floral aromas of rose petals, bergamot, minerals, and red cherries.
Taste: Creamy, high acid, fresh fruit cream, strawberry, and lemon drop. Long pleasant finish.
Thoughts: Elegant and sophisticated Hamptons Rosé pairs with just about every cuisine.
2024 Summer in A Bottle Rosé - Côtes de Provence, France (12.4%), $27
Blend of 50% Grenache, 20% Vermentino (Rolle), 17% Syrah, and 13% Cinsault.
Sight: Pale salmon.
Smell: Terroir-driven characteristics, rose petals, earthy geranium, Herbs De Provence, lavender, and rosemary.
Taste: Lush fresh fruit flavors, strawberry, raspberry, bergamot, with balanced acid and tannins. Long finish.
Thoughts: A fun rosé that reflects all that Provence is meant to be.
2022 Antonov Sauvignon Blanc- Long Island (13.4%), $32
100% Sauvignon Blanc Musqué clone.
Sight: Bright, shiny, light gold.
Smell: Dried grass, minerality, green bell pepper, and apple with an earthy nose.
Taste: Warm citrus fruit, bracing acidity balanced with herbal minerality. Long finish continues and begs for food.
Thoughts: This lush and vibrant wine proves that world-class Sauvignon Blanc is possible on Long Island.
2021 Caya Cabernet Franc—Long Island (13.5%), $37
87% Cabernet Franc, 13% Merlot from vines planted in 1990.
Aged in (40% new/60% used) French oak barriques.
Sight: Dark ruby.
Smell: Warm berries, intense fruit, tart cherry, ripe plum, tobacco, cocoa powder.
Taste: Clean fruit, plum, black tea, balanced tannins, forest floor aromas, and a delightfully long finish.
Thoughts: Intense, vibrant, beautifully balanced, exquisite red wine demonstrating Long Island's high-quality terroirs.
2020 "The Grapes of Roth" Merlot- Long Island (13.6%), $50
92.5 % Merlot grown by McCullough Vineyard in Cutchogue and 7.5% Cabernet Franc.
Aged for 20 months in (33% new and 67% used) French oak barriques.
Sight: Dark ruby with red brick hue.
Smell: Prunes, ripe figs, big baked berry, black pepper with balanced chocolate.
Taste: Clean, soft, and velvety black cherry, blueberry, balanced by enough acidity to pair with food. Long finish but brief with fruit.
Thoughts: Classic, rich, round Long Island Merlot that says move over Bordeaux!
2019 Christian's Cuvée Merlot -Long Island (13.7%), $100
97% Merlot from the estate's oldest vineyard, planted in 1990. 2% Cabernet Franc from Surrey Vineyards, 1% from Leslie Vineyard.
Aged for 20 months in (42% new and 58% used) French oak barriques.
Sight: Opaque with red brick hue.
Smell: Big baked berries, black plum, figs, earthy pine, tobacco, and smoky wood.
Taste: Baked dark fruit, black olive, espresso, nice acid with balanced tannins. Great finish.
Thoughts: This luxurious wine contains an epic mosaic of baked fruit flavors, textures, and layers. It perfectly represents Christian Wollfer's ultimate dream of making astonishing wine.
