Palate
Like Lena, the wine tells a story of how exceptional vineyards, passion and family can coincide to produce a wine of brilliance. Diverse characters bring ample complexity to the party, each barrel offering bounteous flavors. The power of the black fruit carries through into a riff of chocolate, earth, and cedar oak spice. Built with firm and grippy tannins, its ready for long aging. Sophisticated, polished and delicious, a Finger Lakes red that is sure to become a classic.
Growing Conditions
The blend for Lena Reserve is chosen by our winemaking team. The blend includes our best tasting barrels from our highest quality cooperage. Each variety was aged for 8 months individually. The Blaufrankisch was aged in a new Hungarian barrel while the remaining 5 varieties were aged in 2-3 year old French barrels. After 8 months, the barrels were blended together and then aged an additional 12 months in French oak. 150 cases produced.
Harvest
In 2019, budbreak and flowering started about two weeks later than normal. Temperatures during the summer were moderate, and much cooler than in 2018. August and September were cooler than average. Luckily, the weather in the fall was extremely favorable with extended periods of sunny and dry days followed by cool nights. This offered excellent conditions to fully ripen the grapes well into October.
Winemaking
VARIETY
1 Barrel Each: Amur, Blaufränkisch, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir.
VINIFICATION
De-stemmed. Several Day Cold Soak.
FERMENTATION
Traditional. 3 Times Daily Manual Punchdowns.
Aging
ÉLEVAGE
20 Months Aging. 5 French Oak Barrel and 1 Hungarian Barrel. 16% New.
