Full Review

Quartz Rock Vineyard

Quartz Rock Vineyard
2021 Estate Chambourcin Vidal Blanc Iced Wine, Hudson River Region

Pair this wine with:
Dessert

Category: Ice Wine

Date Tasted:
Country: USA
Alcohol: 17% RS: 8%
Not Recommended
$61

Quartz Rock Vineyard
2021 Estate Chambourcin Vidal Blanc Iced Wine, Hudson River Region

Pair this wine with:
Dessert

Category: Ice Wine

Date Tasted:
Country: USA
Alcohol: 17% RS: 8%
Khaki orange color. Unpleasant aromas and flavors of animal hide, roast boar, week old fruit in a gym bag, and strawberry vinaigrette and jelly with a lean, crisp, sweet light-to-medium body and a tingling, odd, buoyant finish with overtones of stewed fruits and prunes in yogurt, brown grass, and peach pith and pit. Truly offensive nose, the palate is somewhat better, but still affected by the heavy sulfury, meaty animal notes of the nose and lingering pithy bitterness. Does not meet the expectations for an iced wine.

Tasting Info

Wine Glass Style: Funky
Aroma Aroma: animal hide, roast boar, week old fruit in a gym bag, and strawberry vinaigrette and jelly
Taste Flavor: Same as aromas with overtones of stewed fruits and prunes in yogurt, brown grass, and peach pith and pit
Sweetness Sweetness: Sweet
Enjoy Enjoy: Not Enjoyable
Recipes Pairing: Strawberry Shortcake, Creme Brulee, Mixed Berries
Bottom Line Bottom Line: Truly offensive nose, the palate is somewhat better, but still affected by the heavy sulfury, meaty animal notes of the nose and lingering pithy bitterness. Does not meet the expectations for an iced wine.

The Producer

Quartz Rock Vineyard

The Producer
40 Mountain Rd
Marlboro, NY 12542
USA
1 845-236-3265

Ice Wine

Wine Glass Dessert.jpg
Serve in a Copita
Ice Wine is a dessert wine that is made from frozen grapes that are harvested very late, anywhere from December to early March. At peak, these frozen grapes have at harvest, a water content in which 80% remains as frozen crystals. Fermentation takes months to complete.

Ice wine is made from white and red grapes, primarily Riesling as well as Vidal, while Cabernet Franc is the leading red variety. Most examples of ice wine are still, but there are also sparkling versions produced.

Canada is a major producer of Ice Wine, most notably in the Niagara Peninsula in Ontario and the Okanagan Valley in British Columbia. Residual sugar is quite high (about 150 grams per liter, similar to Sauternes from France), but since the acidity is usually high, ice wines do not taste overly sweet.

Ideal consumption time is from eight to ten years; these are best enjoyed on their own or with blue cheeses.