"The other night we had the pleasure of opening a truly remarkable wine at the new home of our friends Mike and Carol. While unpacking their wine cellar after the move, they came across a bottle of 1998 Fox Run Lemberger. None of us knew what a surprise was waiting inside.
When Mike poured the wine into my glass, the color caught me off guard. After nearly 28 years, this aged red wine still looked remarkably youthful: a deep purple with only a slight shift to brick red at the rim. There was almost no browning that I could detect.
The nose was just as impressive. Blackberry fruit was still front and center, with subtle jammy notes and a hint of black pepper, the spice that makes Lemberger (also known as Blaufränkisch) so recognizable. As the wine opened in the glass, layers of plum came forward, and a lovely touch of vanilla carried through the finish.
Lemberger isn’t usually the first grape people think of when they talk about age-worthy wines. A bottle like this makes a strong case that it should be. It shows what this variety can do in the cool climate of the Finger Lakes, and how gracefully a well-made Seneca Lake red wine can develop in the cellar.
It was one of those unexpected discoveries that remind us why we love wine. After nearly three decades in the bottle, this Lemberger still had beautiful color, expressive fruit and plenty of character. Thank you to Mike and Carol for thinking to share it with us and a group of our friends! It was a wonderful surprise and a night we won’t soon forget."
-Scott Osborn, President & Co-Owner of Fox Run Vineyards
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