Dr Konstantin Methode Champenois 2018
Vinifera Revolution, godfather of natural winemaking and 4 Generations of sustainable and organic winemaking and growers - that’s Dr Konstantin Frank. Located in the Finger Lakes AVA of New York State, USA. 1957 Dr. Konstantin Frank was the first to plant vinifera vines in Eastern USA called the Vinifera Revolution as it changed winemaking in NY and area. The winery started making sparkling wine in 1980s when they purchased the chateau and underground cellars originally built in late 1886 owned by Western NY Wine Company till prohibition. The Keuka Estate has 70 acres of 11, the oldest being Riesling, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
Why is the Keuka Lake AVA so ideal for growing grapes to make traditional method sparkling wine? Cool temps, lake effect, snow insulation, soils with high levels of shale, silt loam all provide the high acidity and elegance to the wines, ideal for sparkling wines from Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Meunier, as well as still Riesling…. along with Elevations range from 950 ft to 1200 ft (Keuka Lake is at 710 ft above sea level)
Dr. Konstantin Frank Brut 2018
Blend of 55% Chardonnay, 40% Pinot Noir, 5% Pinot Meunier
Single Vineyard old vine (average age 40 years old), steep slopes of Keuka Estate on Keuka Lake. Hand harvested. Made in the Méthode Champenoise style with a minimum of 36 months on the lees with 2% of the Pinot Noir was barrel fermented in French oak. Lower dosage at 8 g/L and disgorged in November 2021.
Medium golden color and a creamy mousse as it pours into the glass. Bright aromas of lemon curd, ginger, white blossoms, apricot, toasted biscuit, strawberry, baked red apple, lime, pear and electric bubbles are just humming away as if they are their own entity. Focused and alive acidity, the wine wine finishes on toasty biscuit and minerality thanks to the 36 months on the lees and high levels of shale and silt loam soils. This is the type of traditional method sparkling that’s fresh, easy to drink with our with out food a has less autolysis than champagne. This is a wonderful QPR at $30
Pair with a rich Lobster bisque, freshly shucked oysters or a fritto misto.
