On a recent trip to the Finger Lakes, I stopped at Hunt Country winery to escape the rain. Hunt Country is usually a pleasant enough winery to visit, but recently their wines have been a bit too sweet for my palate–I don’t think it’s a major change in their production, just a change in my taste buds.
The 2008 Seyval Blanc stood out when I tasted it as a more refined wine that my very picky husband might like, and it was on sale for $8.99 on site. Score.
Seyval Blanc is a French hybrid grape known for its resistance to the cold, which explains why it grows well in the Finger Lakes region. It is often compared to white Burgundies and is a fair alternative to some Chardonnays and Sauvignon Blanc varietals.
This particular Seyval Blanc has a lot of white Burgundy (typically Chardonnay) characteristics, such as the tropical fruit nose and flavors like pineapple and honeysuckle with some grapefruit and vanilla thrown in. It does lack minerality and there is no stoniness or edge to this wine, which most white Burgundies would have.
The wine has a moderate acidity and you can tell that it’s been held in the barrel for a while due to the oakiness in scent and flavor. And just FYI, most French white Burgundies start at $20-$25 a bottle and can cost as high as $300.
