2012 Releases

All 2010 reds and 2011 whites are sold out (except for what is reserved by restaurants).

2011 Releases

It was a difficult year. The hot dry conditions of the 2010 harvest meant that tonnage was way down on the fruit, as the grapes were small, resulting in very little white wine. After Memorial Day, some white wine may be available to our wine store and restaurant customers. Despite the small production, the quality of the 2010 whites is excellent.

The 2009 reds were harvested in cold wet conditions. At lower price points on our second label, River Village Cellars, they are very attractive. There is no Petit Verdot or Syrah from the 2009 vintage.

Ron is "very happy" with all the wines.

Viognier Roussanne, this vintage a mixture that is 77% Viognier. In 2010 the blend was only 43% Viognier so these are vastly different wines. I drank a bottle of the 2010 a couple of weeks ago and you can read that here. The 2011 is much more citrusy, with orange peel and blossoms and lemon zest in the nose, along with a dose of honeydew melon. There's also a touch of green fruits, but no lavender that endeared me to the 2010. This wine is lighter on the nose and palate and is almost a full 1% less alcohol. Great acidity on the finish. The 2010 was good with grilled chicken, but I'll save the 2011 for fish and indoor chicken without the smokiness of the grill. At $16.95 a bottle one can't do better than this wine. 14.2% alcohol. 110 cases produced.

From BruceCass.com on Roussanne:

The full link is at http://brucecass.com/roussanne/447/

"Prominent among the grape varieties on display was Roussanne. I’d barely heard of it before. But the style was very attractive. It had the weight and length of good Chardonnay. By which I mean serious flavor and complexity in the mouth. It had the ability to age well in bottle. By which I mean the ability to develop enjoyable smells and flavors beyond those that could be found in the wine when it was young. And it had nuanced fruit and floral aromas to which no Chardonnay has ever laid claim. Finally, there was this utilitarian, root vegetable patina to the wine which spoke of noble yeomen, honest labor, and good health.

Roussanne is often blended with other grapes: Marsanne in the northern Rhône; Grenache Blanc in the south. This trick is not to demean Roussanne wine quality, it is a relatively difficult grape to grow, subject to mildew in moist summers and not very productive. The blending grapes add some complexity, but mostly they are used because they are reliable producers, and there are lots of them planted. Assume what you may as to implications for the quality of white wines from the Rhône in the future. My advice: taste each vintage before you buy any quantity to cellar.

If there is a classic dish to pair with Roussanne, I’d vote for cassoulet. No question about the dish being a classic anyway. Personally, being a Californian, I’m more likely to have some Thai soup redolent of lemon grass and loaded with coconut milk. Those elements really have got Roussanne’s number. Put a little seafood in a tomato bisque. Add lots of vegetables. Light it up with some hot sauce. Put in the coconut milk, the lemon grass, and some turmeric. Light chill on the Roussanne. Not a first course; serve as a meal with crusty bread."
 

"On the right is the White Revelation, a blend of chardonnay, sauvignon blanc, semillon and a few other white grapes. Stick your nose in this wine and you are immediately transported to the grapefruit groves in Vero Beach, Florida in mid January. Sweet grapefruit aromas that leave no doubt in the mind what's happening here. There's a hint of some floweriness and just a touch of herbs in the nose. The taste is pure citrus, sharp, tart, refreshing and just crying out for halibut or cod. $13.95 and the bargain of the year so far. 13.5% alcohol. 86 cases produced."

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I love this quote. "It must be fun to be a winemaker," said Fred Tasker in The Miami Herald. "As little as one percent of a contrasting grape" can "noticeably change" the flavor of wine built from a different varietal. Imagine then, the complexity of flavor that can be achieved in a wine made from three grapes... or five." Kinkead Ridge Revelation anyone????

I recently had feedback second hand from a Cincinnati oenophile that our 2011 Riesling is EXTREMELY similar to Dr. Konstantin Frank Riesling. (New York). High praise indeed. And ours at $12 is $6 less expensive than theirs!

A review of their 2011 semi-dry: "The 2011 Semi Dry Riesling presents with a light golden hue and a nose of orange blossom, lavender and pear. A vibrant mouthfeel with flavors of apple, peach and mandarin oranges with a zesty fruit finish. Serve with light spicy foods or dessert." -
 

Dr. Konstantin Frank ignited the “Vinifera Revolution” a movement that forever changed the course of wine growing in the Finger Lakes and the United States. Dr. Frank’s vision, knowledge and determination are credited with elevating the New York wine industry from a state of happy mediocrity to a level that today commands world attention.
In 1962, merely a decade after arriving in America, Dr. Frank founded Vinifera Wine Cellars. The winery quickly earned a reputation for spectacular Rieslings and its original planting of vines formed the backbone of New York’s world-class wines and champagnes. Dr. Frank’s Wine Cellars is proud of its international winemaking team with each member bringing in their particular expertise. The talented group includes winemakers from California, Australia, France and Germany.

"A little over a month ago I looked at the 2011 white wines released at the end of May by Kinkead Ridge.

At that time I described the 2011 Riesling as light and nondescript. I also mentioned that I had seen the same thing from previous vintages of this wine. It was such a hot week last week that something light in the wine department sounded good so I pulled the cork on one of the Rieslings. Six weeks out and the wine is beginning its change. There is more aroma of apples and honeysuckle coming out of the glass and the flavors are becoming more distinct. It's beginning to taste like Riesling instead of a generic white wine. There's a little more body and a little more substance to the wine. The finish had just a hint of sweetness that complimented the wine.

It took three days to drink the bottle, having a large glass with several different types of food. It was best on the second day some chicken thigh yakitori. Nice pairing with the soy sauce, brown sugar, mirin, and ginger in the yakitori sauce."

Happy 577th Birthday Riesling! The first recorded mention of Riesling was on 13th March 1435, when Klaus Kleinfish purchased six Riesling vines from Count Katzenelnbogen in Rüsselsheim

Medal Winner, American Wine Society Commercial Competition

"the 2010 CS is quite possibly the best wine I have ever had. Yours is the only wine we get that I make a concerted effort (and it's hard) to put down in our cellar to age. We still have a little 2008 PV. I put down the odd other bottle but they are seldom better later. But yours ages wonderfully."

First review: Dan McGrew, Sept. 1, 2012

Next in line for me was the Cabernet Sauvignon. This was an inky dark wine that never thought about paling at the edges. It had a big, muscular frame that was evident just from the aromas. It had rich flavors of black cherries, black currants, oak and vanilla. There was nothing shy or reticent about this wine. It made a delicious statement. Good acid, strong tannin and a mouth filling finish. Very young and needs a couple of years to come together. 15.2% alcohol. $20.99. 180 cases produced.
 

Deep ruby red; cedar and floral nose; red and black fruits, herbs, big tannins and good acidity making for a medium finish. While the nose isn't jumping out of the glass like the 2008 did, this has a great, well balanced palate. I'm a big Bordeaux fan and I'm not exaggerating when I say that if tasted blind, I would have guessed right bank Bordeaux...seriously. Rated 92

First review: Dan McGrew, Sept. 1, 2012

Cabernet Franc... This is usually the most forward of the Kinkead Ridge red wines and this year is no exception. There's a brighter color to this wine and the shades are more red than purple. Fresh aromas of red cherries and a bit of red currants in the nose. There's some vanilla from the oak as well. Bright, cheerful flavors of those red fruits are supported by a good structure of acid and tannin. It has the sweetest taste of any of the red wines, almost candy like on the first couple of sips. There's a tiny bit of heat at the finish. This wine will be gone by the time the Petit Verdot is ready to drink. 15.3% alcohol. 180 cases produced. $19.99.
 

Let's start with a wine that was far and away my favorite of the four wines released, the 2010 Syrah. The wine was a dark purple color and was a bit paler at the edges - almost an electric purple. Wonderful fruity nose on this wine with bits of oak and a hint of smoke. It has deep flavors of black and red plums and white pepper, very deep flavors. The wood is noticeable but not overpowering and there is a good amount of tannin. The acid is great in this wine and it gives the wine a sharpness and an edge that balances out the deep flavors. The finish is long and smooth. Over the years I've tasted nearly every vintage of their red wines on release and this one is certainly at the very top. A year or so ago I opened a 2005 Syrah and it was the best wine I've had from Kinkead Ridge. I'm hoping for the same with this wine. 14.8 % alcohol, $20.99. 91 cases produced.
 

There was Petit Verdot for this vintage, something that doesn't always happen, the last time being 2007. The best way to describe the color is "black." This is a dark, highly extracted wine with loads of black fruit and even more loads of tannin. Good fruity aromas of blackberries and earth, almost jam like in the nose. That sensation of jam carried over into the taste as well. To be fair, this wine hasn't totally come together in the bottle yet, but when it does it promises to be a mouth full. The 2005 is delicious at the moment and this wine should come along and in five years or more should be wonderful. 15.5% alcohol $21.99. 63 cases produced.

By way of comparison, the 2010 vintage is 42% Viognier, the 2009 was 79% Viognier and the 2008 was 57% Viognier, with the balance being Rousanne. Those figures probably explain the difference with past vintages. Come fall it may be time for a vertical tasting on this wine since I have five vintages in the cellar."
Kinkead Ridge's signature white blend. The 2003 was rated in the Top 100 Exciting Wine Finds in the World by Tom Stevenson, British editor of the New Sotheby's Wine Encyclopedia.
For seven years, the federal government approved this label with the sentence "A Rhone blend of aristocratic varieties." This year we were thrown into a tizzy with our label printer when the label was rejected. They wanted it to say a "Rhone STYLE blend of aristocratic varieties." Luckily, through WineAmerica, a lobbying organization for U.S. wineries that we belong to, we were able to get a "Use Up" approved to print the labels as is this year.
 

"Cool, crisp, fresh and primary also describes the 2010 Kinkead Ridge Ohio River Valley Riesling we had with dinner Thursday night. When this wine was released back in May it had just been bottled and seemed loose and light. Four months bottle age helped this wine. Now it is definitely focused and the Riesling flavors are coming to the front. This wine had a very linear taste - most of the flavor seems to run down the center of the tongue while the sides pick up the acidity. Very good with two grilled Kurabota pork, rib chops. One was cooked with minimal seasoning of salt and pepper and the other had some added paprika and once it was flipped on the grill the top was coated with a mango chutney. Hard to choose between the two chops but the wine was great with both."

First review: Dan McGrew

"The Kinkead Riesling is usually my favorite white from this winery, but not this year. The wine was very reserved and not forthcoming with much in the nose. After some swirling there was a floral bouquet that began to peek out. Light and crisp on the tongue the apple tastes were dominant but balanced by a little residual sugar, 1.2%. I liked the wine, but this year it wasn't my favorite. Considering it has only been in the bottle for only a week or so I will put mine away for six months and try it again this autumn. 11.8% alcohol and $11.95. 82 cases produced."

Nancy's comment: Some people liked this wine the best! Different tastes for different folks!
 

Not entered into any competitions due to small quantities and lighter style.

2010 Wine Releases

2008 Cabernet Sauvignon

Released Labor Day Weekend
Sept. 4 and 6

100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Alcohol 15.0%

GOLD MEDAL: 2011 Finger Lakes International Wine Competition

WINNER: Third annual Ohio/Michigan Wine Clash

WINE OF MERIT: Jefferson Cup Invitational 2010

Silver PLUS medal at the American Wine Society competition judged in October.

Hand-harvested on October 20, this dark ruby, well structured, complex wine displays classic Cabernet aromas of cassis, plum and black cherry. Enjoy with beef, lamb, or wild game. $19.95. Production: 364 cases.

First review: dogswine.blogspot.com

Cabernet Sauvignon. What a mouthful this wine was and of all four wines this is the one that needs the most time to show its promise. Dark cherries and some red currants in the nose led into a huge mouth feel of those same fruits. Soft oak flavors added some complexity along with some sharp acid. This was a more in your face wine and had much more body and substance, but the bottom line for me is that this wine is going to be elegant in about two years. Everything this wine needs is there, but it's not ready. When the parts do come together it will be wonderful. I loved the 2007 vintage of this wine, and I very much liked the 2005 and 2004 vintages. This wine is better. 15% alcohol, $19.95 and 364 cases produced.
 

The ruby hued Kinkead Cabernet Sauvignon has a brilliant crimson edge, which has this bottle showing some minor aging. The nose has a focused core of distinctive smokey black currant, along with blackberry, and an undertone of aromatic clove. Lively and juicy in the mouth with tastes of black currants and tart black cherries. The average finish continues with more of the same. This Cabernet is really dialed in on the black currant theme, but keeps from being a one act show with the lively acidity. Really very nice for the price. Probably will hold for another 3-5 years. It is drinking well right now & in no way could be described as old and tired." Rated 89 on 9/5/2012

Originally from Bordeaux, Cabernet Sauvignon has a tremendous presence in the California wineries where the grape favors the warmer climate, and enjoys the popularity as the most sought after red wine. Cabernets are medium-bodied to full-bodied and characterized by a high tannin content which provides structure and intrigue to the wine and supporting flavors reminiscent of a rich, ripe berry, tobacco and sometimes green pepper. Cabernet Sauvignon is an ideal wine for aging, with 5-10 years being optimal for peak maturation. The longer maturation process allows the wine’s flavors to mellow, and makes the Cabernets ideal for blending with other grapes, primarily Merlot to add appealing fruit tones, without sacrificing character. Cabernet Sauvignon is best served at 59-64F, and pairs wonderfully with red meats, lamb, cheeses of strong flavor and dark chocolates."

2008 Cabernet Franc

Released Labor Day Weekend
Sept. 4 and 6

100% Cabernet Franc
Alcohol 15.0%

This wine is sold out except for what we is reserved for restaurants; consequently there is no point entering it into the Finger Lakes Competition.

Tweet from Brian Kirby, http://www.theother46.com. "Christmas came early. The 2008 Kinkead Ridge Cabernet Franc is unbelievable."
 

Silver medal at the American Wine Society competition judged in October. As usual this wine is very young to be judged this early. In the past these wines have won Silver at AWS in November and Gold at the Finger Lakes in February.

From Murphin Ridge Inn, West Union, Ohio. The 2008 Cabernet Franc "has been the second most successful wine at Murphin Ridge. Never have we sold a single wine in such a short period.... Number one, Cinnabar, Mercury Rising Paso Robles every vintage 2003-2007 are great. We use 15 – 20 cases per year. So the Cab Franc has out sold all others Oct-‘10-Mar. 14 ‘11. This wine is special."

Another fantastic review of the 2008 Cabernet Franc:
"hey nancy, just wanted to say hello and pass on a note that I got from a friend of mine. he's out in northern california and he has a little circle of wine geek friends that do these dinner parties. i guess that they all individually take notes and score wines then compare them collectively. So it was your cab franc, a nickel and nickel cab and then a hutchinson cab that garnered a 95+ robert parker score. needless to say your cab franc won the tasting and was 3 points average higher than both of the other two wines."
 

Since this wine is now fundamentally sold out, except for what we are holding for restaurants, it will not be entered into the Finger Lakes International Wine Competition or others. So we will never know how it would have fared.

Hand-harvested on October 13, this wine's fragrant aromas of violet and black cherry precede a taste of full-bodied, richly flavored complexity, with raspberry and spice overtones. Enjoy with beef, turkey, pork and rich stews. $18.95. Production: 388 cases.

First review: dogswine.blogspot.com

The Cabernet Franc is the best yet from this winery. Bright, tart, red cherries in the nose and a clear red in the glass. This is a medium weight, highly flavored wine with great acid, ample tannin and a wonderful refreshing quality. There's just enough spice and oak to wake up your mouth. This is also the wine that is closest to being ready to drink and the one that will be hardest to hold onto for that reason. 15% alcohol, $18.95, 388 cases produced.

From an Akron Wine Store Manager:

"I was at a small tasting last night with a supplier of Italian wines and the subject of Cabernet Franc came up and I told them about yours and that it was one of the best I'd ever tasted. "

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Kinkead Ridge 2008 Cabernet Franc reviewed by theother46.com. Currently a front runner for 2011 Wine of the Year... http://theother46.com/2011/02/14/kinkead-ridge-2008-cabernet-franc/

"A small number of wines and wineries have developed an almost cult-like following east of the west coast. Paumanok Vineyards Chenin Blanc, Barboursville Vineyards Octagon and rockstar-turned-winemaker, Maynard James Keenan portfolio of wines have all been certified platinum by wine writers and critics alike. After tasting the Kinkead Ridge 2008 Cabernet Franc, I’m convinced the list just got a little longer.

Two years ago I began reading and hearing lots of wine chatter about Kinkead Ridge Estate Winery, a small producer in Ripley, Ohio. Renowned for their Cabernet Franc, Kinkead Ridge also grows Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Petit Verdot, Viognier, Riesling, Roussanne and Sauvignon Blanc on their 5-acre estate vineyard.

Excited to learn more about Kinkead Ridge and especially their wines, Owner and Managing Partner Nancy Bentley kindly sent me 3 wines to sample, led by their Jefferson Cup Winner 2008 Cabernet Franc.

Dark fruit dominates the nose with a hint of red cherry, tobacco and spice. Blackberries, cherries, herbs and green peppers explode on the palate. A medium-bodied wine with balanced acidity and tannin. An outstanding effort, especially at $18 retail.

A front runner for my 2011 wine of the year, the Kinkead Ridge 2008 Cabernet Franc delivers on all fronts. Cheers!

--Brian Kirby

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Kinkead Ridge 2008 Cabernet Franc to be featured in internationally published volume "1000 Great Wines" by a publishing house in Britain in October. Details to follow.

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Kinkead Ridge written up in the Washington Post! The "terrific Cabernet Franc from Ohio's Kinkead Ridge"

The bright ruby Kinkead Cabernet Franc is medium bodied with a very forward nose of mushroom, cedar, violets and faint hints of raspberries. Soft in the mouth with mouth watering tastes of red raspberry and bing cherry. The fruit is amazingly bright with plenty of acidity to really give the wine some zip. The slightly hot finish has medium plus length, actually very nice for a Cabernet franc, with bing cherry, red raspberries, and tobacco leaf.  Rated 88 on 3/14/2012

The Kinkead Cabernet Franc is a brilliant ruby wine with impressively long legs in the glass. Notes of violets, red currants, vanilla and an elusive hint of savory tobacco leaf tantalize the nose. Velvety soft in the mouth with tastes of red raspberries, red currant and a touch of oak. The juicy finish provides red berries, vanilla and oak on a nicely lingering finish. Rated 89 on 3/22/11

"Originally from the Bourdeaux and Loire Valley region, Cabernet Franc enjoys the growing climates of California, Washington State, Australia, Chile, Canada, and South Africa. It is a wonderfully fruity wine, having lower tannin levels and a more distinct flavor reminiscent of berry; mainly blueberry, raspberry and at times plum. Cabernet Franc is more subdued and softer than its cousin Cabernet Sauvignon and is sold as a single varietal. However, it is ideal for blending with its cousin Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Cabernet Franc is best served at 59-64F and pairs well with Mediterranean Greek and Middle Eastern dishes as well as poultry and pasta."

From http://cabernetfranc.blog-cool.net/

From KM, Loveland, Dec. 2010

"My wife and I enjoyed your Labor Day tasting and learned a lot from Ron at the vineyard. We, with a small group of couples, have regular wine-tasting dinners and we decided to feature cab franc at our dinner, including your 2008 cab franc. Five were tasted blind and I asked the group to simply identify which area the wine came from: France, California, Ohio or Kentucky. Not only was your cab franc the overall winner in terms of the tasting but the biggest surprise when they learned it was an Ohio wine. (Some of the members of our group are well educated about wine.) The others were Philippe Alliet, Burnet Ridge Lake Erie, Lang and Reed North Coast, and Stone Brook Winery."
 

2008 Syrah

Released Labor Day Weekend
Sept. 4 and 6
This wine is sold out except for what we is reserved for restaurants; consequently there is no point entering it into the Finger Lakes Competition.

100% Syrah
Alcohol 15.2%

Review from Molly on yelp.com

"I was at North Market yesterday and decided to pick up a bottle of wine. I've been wanting to try an Ohio wine for years but have always hesitated. How can Ohio have good grapes? Plus, I've heard from many sources that Ohio wines are gross.

Anyway, one particular bottle stood out to meand it was the Kinkead Ridge Syrah (2008 vintage). At $20, it was a little more than I usually spend on a bottle (yes, I'm cheap), but I thought, "What the hell?"

Let me just say.....*swoon.* This wine was amazing! Ballsy, spicy, full of body - just the way we like it. I can't believe the vines in the winery are only 10 years old! Probably one of the best Syrahs I've had in a long time. Plus, at 15.2% alcohol content, it was worth the $20. When I was finished with the bottle, I was thoroughly schnockered.

I WILL come to this winery when it opens back up over Memorial Day weekend!"

Since this wine is now fundamentally sold out, except for what we are holding for restaurants, it will not be entered into the Finger Lakes International Wine Competition or others. So we will never know how it would have fared.

Hand-harvested on October 23, this intriguing, intense and luxurious wine has excellent balance, deep ruby color and flavors of spice, pepper, plum and blackberry. Enjoy with beef, lamb, braised chicken and wild game. $19.95. Production: 194 cases.

Looking forward to a review by theother46.com who has already tweeted:

"Kinkead Ridge has done it again with their -08 Syrah (yep, Syrah in Ohio). Ridiculous!"

Given their review of the 2008 Cab Franc the word "ridiculous" is a very positive one.

First review: dogswine.blogspot.com

Darker color than the Cab Franc and a much different nose. Dark fruit and just a subtle hint of the raw meat aroma I love in a Syrah. The fruit was a medium dark plum and some dark cherries thrown in for good measure. I got a touch of cinnamon as well as vanilla in this wine. There was a little more weight than the Cab Franc, but still I would describe the weight as medium. Nice finish with acid and tannin to clear the palate. I will age some of this wine. Good effort from what has been my least favorite red from this winery. 15.2% alcohol, $19.95, and 194 cases produced.

Bill Nelson, former executive director of WineAmerica, Washington DC has moved to Portland Oregon. He brought the 2008 Syrah to a group of "wine geeks" and they were "totally impressed".

"I just threw a dinner party for an international business team. I like to try foods from the country I'm visiting so I decided to serve an American wine. After I spoke with a Whole Foods wine specialist I decided go with a local wine and purchased several bottles of Kinead Ridge Syrah, 2008 it was amazing w/ our beef tenderloin! Perfect! They loved it! Yipee!"

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"Australia and South Africa call it Shiraz. In France, it is known and grown as Syrah, but it happens to be the same grape varietal that produces a deep-purple color and bold, spicy, red, medium- to full-bodied wines with firm tannins with rich flavors reminiscent of black cherry, blackberry, plum, bell pepper, black pepper, clove, licorice, dark chocolate and smoked meat. Best served at 59-64F, Shiraz/Syrah pairs wonderfully with spicy Mexican, Cajun and barbeque dishes, grilled fare, beef stews, red meats, even pizza and meat lasagna."

April 2011
Review from dogswine.blogspot.com

"Last week we opened the 2008 version with a slow roasted rack of lamb from the grill, one of the few days it has been possible to grill here in the last month with all the rain. The featured wine of the night was supposed to be a 1999 Chateau Ste. Michelle Meritage from Washington State. Very good wine with rich fruit, some wood, a little bit of earth, and very nice with the lamb. The Kinkead Syrah was opened primarily to check on its progress after I liked the 2005 version so well.

By now I guess I should stop being surprised about the Kinkead wines, but the KR quite simply blew the Ste. Michelle wine out of the water. Lots of dark fruit with some blackberries and blueberries on the nose and a small hint of the raw meat smell that I like so well in northern Rhone wines. The taste was full with those same fruits but there was more acid in this wine to cut through the richness of the lamb. There was some good mouth feel of oak and nice finish to the wine. My only complaint was just a touch of heat at the very end, but that was a minor price to pay for a very good wine.

The best part may be that there are more bottles of this resting in the cellar and I will get to revisit this wine for several more years. If it matures the way the 2005 version did there are some seriously good bottles waiting down the road.

15.2% alcohol, 194 cases produced and $18.99. "

2008 Petit Verdot

Released Labor Day Weekend
Sept. 4 and 6
 

100% Petit Verdot
Alcohol 15.1%

Rated 88 points by Loren Sonkin.
 

First review: dogswine.blogspot.com

Petit Verdot. While I'm not trying to be like Gary Vaynerchuk from Wine Library TV in New Jersey my first impression of this wine was that someone took a handful of freshly picked, wonderfully ripe blackberries (brambles) and smashed them in my face. What a unique and unmistakable nose and it totally immersed my nose in that fruit. Those blackberries were there in the taste as well, and they brought some totally ripe blueberries along for the ride. The wine virtually coated the tongue with flavor, but there was also correct acid and enough tannin to support that fruit. This is a high alcohol level wine that manages to keep a fresh and light approach. All I could think about was a year's bottle age and some venison medallions with a blackberry sauce. Of all the KR reds I've had over the course of the last several years, this one is the best. 15.1% alcohol, 76 cases and $19.95.

Deep garnet wine with a nose of blackberry, cedar and vanilla. Round in the mouth with a briary edge, the Kinkead Ridge Petit Verdot had tastes of blackberry, cedar, spice box and white pepper. Finishes with blackberry and white pepper on a medium length finish. This was tasted side by side with the 2006 Joseph Phelps Insignia, which is pretty tough competition for an Ohio wine. The Kinkead Ridge PV held up reasonably well against one of the big boys. Rated 89 on 7/16/2011

2009 Viognier/Roussanne

Released May 29 and 31, 2010

79% Viognier/21% Roussanne

Alcohol 14.2%

2009 River Village Cellars White Wine

Released Memorial Day Weekend
May 29 and 31

Alcohol 12.9%

 

2008 Kinkead Ridge Viognier/Roussanne
57% Viognier/43% Roussanne

Released Memorial Day Weekend 2009

 

2008 Kinkead Ridge white Revelation

Released Memorial Day Weekend 2009

GOLD: Best of Appellation, www.appellationamerica.com

2008 Revelation Ohio River Valley GOLD
Distinctive, subtle florals with earthy accents, perhaps indicating some hybrid wine in the blend. Lemongrass, red pear, watercress, pear, and banana aromas. Rich, clean full and intriguing. Outdoorsy odors of wild flowers, lush summer meadows and fertile soil after rain.

2008 Kinkead Ridge Riesling

Released Memorial Day Weekend 2009

DOUBLE GOLD: Best of Appellation, www.appellationamerica.com

2008 Riesling Ohio River Valley DOUBLE GOLD
Intense pear, pear, pear. Lilac, apple and wet stone petrichor (look it up). Off-dry with bracing acidity, suitable for shellfish or fatty sausages. Wonderfully mouthwatering, lean, long and palate cleansing with lingering flavors of cucumber and well water.

Review March 2011, dogswine.blogspot.com

Not that it ever went out of season, but it is definitely Riesling weather; sunshine, cool breezes, crisp evenings. Throw in some good food and it makes for a great day.

The wine of choice was the 2008 Kinkead Ridge Riesling. A good whiff of kerosene when first opened blew mostly away with some glass swirling. Tart citrus and peach flavors blended with the remainder of the kero. Interesting mix of flavors. Just off total dry in the mouth with great acid and a clean, sweet feeling in the mouth. After dinner and after the wine warmed a little there appeared to be some papaya flavors coming out of the glass.

So what was for dinner? I went Asian again. This time it was monkfish which was seared on one side in a wok. After a couple of minutes we turned the fish and sprinkled it with chopped garlic, chopped ginger, and chopped red and green chilies. In went a little soy sauce, some sesame oil, Shaoxing rice wine, lime juice and green onions. We basted the fish with the sauce until it was done. At the last minute we stirred in some fresh watercress. A little brown, basmati rice completed the meal.


Very nice pairing with the wine. There was definitely some heat from the chilies and the pungency of the ginger but the little bit of residual sugar in the Riesling took away the burn. Cool and crisp finish to the wine after a bite of the food and that was exactly what I was looking for. There were some definite German tendencies to this wine but there was a strong resemblance to Australian dry Rieslings as well. Nice balancing act.

2008 River Village Cellars Traminette

Released Memorial Day Weekend 2009

Released Labor Day Weekend 2009

Kinkead Ridge 2007 Cabernet Franc rated top Ohio wine in the 2nd annual Ohio Michigan wine clash. It was the only Ohio wine in the top five, and the least expensive wine in the group... at $17.95, besting the other retail prices of $60.00, $45.00, $40.00 and $35.00. For details see http://www.ohiovsmichiganwineclash.com

From OhioWineGuy

"Cabernet Franc is my favorite varietal because it is food friendly and can be pleasantly imbibed by itself after a long day. When done well as it is by Seth Meranda of Meranda-Nixon Winery, Greg Pollmann, winemaker at Valley Vineyards, or Ron Barrett at Kinkead Ridge Winery all in the Ohio River Valley there is no comparison. We have the mineral soil, rain in the spring, warm summers, and the fruit generally can hang into October for maturity and the right touch of the winemakers to make it very approachable here. "

From Joel Goldberg, Michigan Wine Blogger:

"...you’ll be hard-pressed to keep your hands off this, with a berry nose that jumps from the glass and silky, fruit-driven palate that seduces your taste buds with a serious “yum” factor."

Silver Medal, American Wine Society 2009 competition. Judged in October, only one month after release, and very young.

From my eye doctor in Washington Court House, March 2011:
"I just opened a bottle of the 07 Cabernet Franc. I remember once opening a 1976 BV Georges Latour Private Reserve. The memory of that wonderful wine remains in my memory even today. Your 07 Cabernet Franc it its EQUAL!!!"
 

Very solid showing. 07 truly was a special vintage in Ohio. This wine held its own. Its in a good place right now and may be maturing a bit faster than some of the wines on the table, but still not fully mature. Purple in color. The nose has some funk, and bit of Kirsch. Some tannins. This has a nice depth and complexity to it. It improved over the few hours it was open. Good fruit. Glad to have a couple of these left. For around $17 at release, a great QPR. Rated 90 on 2/26/2012

REVIEWED DECEMBER 2010, Dayton blogger, dogswine.blogspot.com

The wine of the evening was the 2007 Kinkead Ridge Cabernet Franc. If you're fortunate enough to have some of this wine I'd suggest you open one and drink it. Wonderful aromas of fresh, tart fruit, a hint of oak and vanilla, great medium body, and perfectly balanced between the acid and the fruit. Just about everything in this wine has come together into a wonderful package.

It had only a couple of minutes in the glass but it opened up quickly to do a pas de deux with the lamb chops. What a great pair these two made. It was very difficult to save any of this wine for tasting on a second day, but there is one small glass under vacuum. It's a little high in alcohol at 14.9% but it drinks like a wine at 13.5%Hand-harvested October 1st (Franc) and 15th (Petit Verdot), this complex wine's fragrant aromas of violet and black cherry precede a rich finish with chocolate and raspberry overtones. Small lot fermentations with hand punch-downs and classic small scale winemaking techniques were used to create this wine. Enjoy with beef, turkey, pork and salmon. Aged in premium French and American oak. 84% Cabernet Franc and 16% Petit Verdot. Alcohol 14.9% by volume. Production: 216 cases. $17.95. Production was limited due to the Easter frost of 2007.

From Wineaux Wine Blog, April 2010

WINEAUX Kinkead Ridge Cabernet Franc Ohio River Valley 2007- This was given to us from our family in Ohio, aromas of cherry, raspberry and black currant, a blend of 84% Cabernet Franc and 16% Petit Verdot. This wine has nice balance with a hint of cola on the finish . Price Range-Under $20.00

Gaiter/Brecher, Wall Street Journal on Petit Verdot

Why do producers select the particular varieties they blend to create a specific bottling?
There are many reasons, from adding complexity to simply including the varieties that are growing in the vineyard. Here's an example. In our recent tasting of "Costco Cabernets" -- widely distributed American Cabernet Sauvignons that we found at Costco and Sam's Club -- we found it interesting that three of our five favorites included some Petit Verdot. In fact, our favorite wine, a 2005 from Charles Krug, was fully 9% Petit Verdot (along with 6% Syrah, 2% Cabernet Franc, 2% Malbec, 1% Merlot and 1% Carignan). Petit Verdot is one of the classic grapes of Bordeaux -- it adds color, tannins and maybe some spiciness to a blend -- but it was never much of a factor in the U.S. That is changing as more wineries seek to add depth to their wines. The number of acres planted to Petit Verdot in California has tripled since 2000, though it's still small (1,743 as of 2007). And it's not just California: We noticed that the most recent Assemblage blend from Paumanok Vineyards on New York's Long Island, the 2005, is 22% Petit Verdot.

Charles Krug didn't add Petit Verdot to its wines until 2001. Why now? We spoke to Peter Mondavi Jr., a co-proprietor of the winery. (His father, Peter Sr., is the brother of the late Robert Mondavi.) Mr. Mondavi told us that the use of Petit Verdot represented "a certain sea change in philosophy on our end," a move away from the feeling that wines needed to be 100% of a varietal. "We were in that purist camp and some other people around us began blending more, making proprietary blends. When we started our [Mondavi Family Reserve] Generations wines in 1991, we got some experience with blending and it opened our eyes up, what blending could do with these varietals. It makes more complex, more interesting wines. We blended with Cabernet Franc first and then added Petit Verdot in 2001 and a small amount of Malbec." The Petit Verdot, he said, is "a beautiful complement to Cabernet Sauvignon. It has added subtle complexities and nuances. It's not just taking Cab and making it darker, not just increasing those classic Cab tannins. It's taking on other complexities and supplementing them. It's adding more dimensions," he said, explaining that its tannins "tend to boost up the middle body of the Cabernet."

As more wineries grow a little Petit Verdot for blending, more are also making a small amount as a stand-alone varietal, often available only at the winery. A long time ago, we were so eager to find out what Petit Verdot tasted like as a varietal that John talked to wineries all over California before he finally found one that made a small amount of it: Guenoc. He ordered two bottles as a Christmas present for Dottie (well, yes, this is romantic in its own way), but the winery wouldn't ship it to us, so we had to have it trans-shipped by another company. We still remember the dark, spicy wine.

A few years ago, we bought a 1998 Petit Verdot when we visited Murphy-Goode Estate Winery in Geyserville and now seemed like a good time to open it up. Murphy-Goode first made Petit Verdot as a varietal in 1997 when there was enough left over from blending. "We have used the Petit Verdot in numerous wines over the years," winemaker David Ready told us. "The adds have ranged from 0.5% to 12%. The Petit Verdot adds a variety of qualities including color, depth and richness." Murphy-Goode now releases a varietal Petit Verdot in most vintages. It didn't make one in 2006 or 2008, but made 200 cases of 2007, which will be released in the next year or so.

 

Released Labor Day Weekend 2009

Silver Medal, American Wine Society 2009 competition. Judged in October, only one month after release, and very young.

From AndrewSGHall

Ohio River Valley 2007 Cab Shootout : Kinkead Ridge 3:1 winner. Other two (Vigna, Meranda-Nixon) also good. 2007 gave ripeness.

From Dan McGrew, 11/28/2009

First reviews of 2008 reds from Dan McGrew, http://www.dogswine.blogspot.com

"The 2007 wines are big, full flavored, young and delicious.

This past September I purchased a mixed case of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc from the 2007 vintage, and it was good to taste those wines again to see how they were developing. I have yet to open any of mine. I was more than pleased with the progress the two wines showed in the bottle. Again, the Cabernet Sauvignon was my favorite."

Emanuele Marro who is one of the owners of the Hotel L'Antico Pozzo, in San Gimignano...

"I must confess that I was not able to wait until the wine got
older: some friends of mine from Verona who work as professional
somellier came to visit and saw the bottle in my house. They were very
curious about it so I took the chance to share it with them. They gave
very positive response and I also found the wine very good and full
bodied. Forgive me for not waiting but I assure you it was very appreciated!"
 

2007 Kinkead Ridge White Revelation

On the verge of picking Roussanne, I came across a great article about this Rhone variety by Patrick Comiskey: "...the single white Rhone variety that has winemakers losing sleep, the one that lures them with its promise and its complexity, just as surely as Ulysses was lured to the rock by the Sirens, is Roussanne... the vine is designed to give winemakers a lifetime of mystery... " Click here to read the article.

Production: 48 cases. $13.95

This wine was predominantly Roussanne. Click here for a great article, "Getting Your Head Around Roussanne."

2007 Kinkead Ridge Riesling

Production 38 cases. $11.95

"Giving Riesling A Go"

"Riesling is the fastest growing white varietal in the U.S. Sales of domestic and imported Riesling have risen for the last two years, with total sales reaching 1.8 million cases for the 52 weeks ending May 31.

Riesling is clean, crisp, classy and food-friendly... pretty much every wine writer and wine professional in the U.S. feels Riesling is the most under-appreciated grape in America."

Review from http://dogswine.blogspot.com

Last night was a 2007 Kinkead Ridge Riesling from southern Ohio. Those are Kinkead Riesling grapes pictured above. There is a whiff of kerosene at the start, then the nose is all about lime peel and white flowers. The taste is citrusy with enough underlying oiliness to give it some body while still retaining the guise of being delicate. It's a nice balancing act and they got it right with this wine.

2006 River Village Cellars Cabernet Franc

Silver Medal, Finger Lakes International Wine Competition

 

This is a guest post written by our good friend, Aaron Fetters, wine connoisseur and someone extremely active in the Cincinnati wine community. Aaron will be a regular contributor and we’re super happy to have him!

It’s been a long day and nothing sounds better right now than a nice glass of red wine to finally slow things down. Playing single parent tonight as the wife’s out of town, so decided to open one of my favorite local wines – a 2006 River Village Cellars Cabernet Franc from Kinkead Ridge.

Kinkead Ridge is a local winery located in Ripley, Ohio and run by a great couple named Ron and Nancy. Ron is dedicated to growing and producing French varietal grapes/wine that mirror European styles. I’ve been to his vineyard and I have to say it’s amazing. I would call Ron very Type A when it comes to managing his vines, they are impeccable. So on to this Cab Franc…

Kinkead Ridge released this wine under their 2nd label of River Village Cellars, and this tells you a little something about how particular Ron is about his wines. The Cab Franc has won several medals in both domestic and international competitions and has been compared to wines at 3 or 4 times it’s price range. They offer the Franc at $12.95 a bottle and it’s well worth it.

As to my personal thoughts on the wine – the nose is interesting, a combination of earthy and smokey aromas hits me. It’s a very approachable wine, with a good balance of acidity and tannins allowing it to sit easily in your mouth. It’s flavors include a bit of spice as well as typical Cabernet Franc tastes. Overall, I highly enjoy this wine. I would strongly encourage you to check out Kinkead Ridge’s website and give them a visit when they open back up in the summer. Just tell them you enjoy the first miracle and heard they have some good wine!

The link is at:
http://www.uncorkedcincinnati.com/articles/cincinnati-wine-review-kinkead-ridge-cab-franc/
 

2006 River Village Cellars Syrah

Hand-harvested on October 18, this spicy, intense and luxurious wine has excellent balance and notes of earth, plum, cloves, black pepper and dark berry. The grapes were cold-soaked, fermented in small bins, and punched down by hand. Oak-aged. Excellent with beef, lamb, braised chicken and spicy cuisine. Medal winner, American Wine Society International Competition.

Production: 179 cases. $10.95

November 2010 blog review

"ohio winery kinkead ridge is in ripley, ohio near the ohio river, east of cincinnati. they make some excellent wines and this syrah is no exception. this is under the river village cellars label which is their lower priced, every day wine label. the nose was dark fruit (black cherry, blackberry), some spice notes and that wonderful earthy note i love so much in syrah. the palate had plums and blackberries, followed by spice and earthy flavors. beautifully silky on the tongue, this is a must try wine if you can find it. the winery sells out fairly quickly as they have a very big fan base. count me in as one of them. this one sells for about $12"

2005 Cabernet Sauvignon

The 2004 won a Gold Medal at the Finger Lakes wine competition. Only 141 Gold Medals were awarded to 2126 entries. Only 15 Cabernet Sauvignon's won a Gold Medal. Kinkead Ridge won the only gold medal for a vinifera wine from Ohio. The 2005 won a Silver Medal at the American Wine Society competition when it was very young..

From Irv, New York/NY:

"We're still clearing room for the 2008 Kinkead Ridge red wines by drinking some older vintages. Last night was the 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon.

Bright, clear red in the glass this wine lacks the depth of color of the 2007 wine. The nose is tart red cherries, cedar, a hint of cinnamon and a touch of vanilla. The taste is pure, sweet fruit that immediately livens up your tongue. There are some tannins, but they are well integrated and there is an almost perfect balance of acid to fruit. I was expecting a shorter finish, but the clean flavors persisted. Light, elegant, refreshing and classy. It's an afternoon wine or a Cabernet Sauvignon for a lighter meal as opposed to a hunk of beef or game.

Dinner was a chicken breast roasted in parchment paper and some pommes Parisian skillet roasted in duck fat. The potatoes balls were crisp and crunchy on the outside and soft and creamy on the inside. We added some roasted corn with basil and along with the wine it made for a mid-week feast.

I loved this wine and fortunately there are two more in the cellar. 13.1% alcohol land $18. "

From Dan McGrew's blog, November 2009:

"On Friday night we opened a 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon and couldn't have been happier with the results. This wine is doing great in the bottle - and is doing better out of the bottle and in the glass. Great Cabernet structure with some forward fruit, good body, nice acid and tannins and oak that have integrated into the fruit. The nose was fruit, wood and tannin and smelled like Cabernet should smell. It was extremely food friendly. Very good wine that has to be at its peak, but not showing any signs of fading."

From Dan McGrew's blog, February 2009:

"The wine of choice for last night was a local wine, a 2005 Kinkead Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon.

There was a really nice bouquet when the cork came out with dark fruits and sweet oak. The color was medium dark and after a few swirls and a sip there were definitely some cassis and black cherries and just a hint of tobacco. A little more swirling and the tobacco faded. This was the first time for this wine other than tasting it at the winery when it was purchased on release. It has settled and matured nicely in the bottle into an extremely drinkable wine. There is nice acid, and there's a tremendous balance between the fruit and the oak. It's a sweet oak taste with soft tannins that sort of envelop your tongue. There's enough in this wine to last a few more years, but it is excellent right now."

Higher alcohol wines should stop! We agree. Read this fabulous article by Randy Dunn of Dunn Vineyards! Click here.

“It is time for the average wine consumer, as opposed to tasters, to speak up. The current fad of higher and higher alcohol wines should stop.”
 

So begins Randy Dunn, weighing in against the current trend of high alcohol wines. He joins a growingly concerned chorus of respected industry and trade voices lamenting the demise of diversity in the wines of America's most celebrated appellations.

Red Wine Helps Circulation in the Young As Well as the Old. Click here

 

2005 Petit Verdot

The first Kinkead Ridge wine to be on allocation. Production: 76 cases.

From HC, Cincinnati:

"Upon receiving my allocation of the 2005 Petit Verdot from Kinkead Ridge, I brought a bottle home to try with my husband. That evening, I gave it to him blind, as I often do, so as to get his honest reaction. He swirled and took a good sniff. Over the glass, he raised his oversized eyebrows and threw a hopeful glance my way. He then took a sip, chewed and slurped the wine for a moment. 'Very nice. Definitely French,' he announced, 'but I can't quite place it.' I quickly retorted that it was Petit Verdot from Kinkead Ridge. He quickly swallowed the remainder of his small sample and dashed for the bottle. Truth be told, I drank my full glass in a few moments and followed right behind him, as I wanted another look, as the wine was quickly opening up. Although we have been strong advocates of this producer since our founding, we had yet to try any of their Petit Verdot. We refilled our glasses and also drank the whole bottle in a half hour, toasting Ron and Nancy in our kitchen with each newly refreshed glass. I was just dumb-struck how absolutely charming the wine was, with its fragrant pepper and spice nose, beautiful palate, and a very good finish."

May 2012

In this case, finger licking good does not apply to Colonel Sanders and Kentucky Fried Chicken, it applies to the 2005 Kinkead Ridge Petit Verdot. The new white wines from Kinkead Ridge are just a few weeks away from release so some space needed to be made in the cellar for them by opening a few bottles of past vintages.

First up was the 2005 PV and a New York strip steak from the grill done on the rare side of medium with the remaining morels sauteed in some butter. Yum.

Inky dark wine in the glass, almost black, and I kept thinking back to old legends in the wine world of the "black wine of Cahors." Robust and earthy aromas of black plums, blackberries and just about any other black fruit one can name. Definitely full flavored with blackberries and black raspberries. The best thing about this wine was that the oak has finally integrated fully. With previous bottles the oak was a predominant flavor, but now it has mellowed into vanilla and cinnamon and it plays a supporting role. Very proper acidity and a lush mouth feel to this wine led to a long. slow, ripe finish with just a bit of vegetable at the very end. Absolutely perfect with the steak and morels. The best news is that there are two more in the cellar, but the wine is drinking so well right now that it will be a shame to hold on to them.

Ann Boucher names 2005 Petit Verdot her 2007 Wine of the Year. "My reasons for this choice and the long introduction are simple; the wine is very good and by industry standards is completely unknown. Furthermore, consider that the vineyards are still young and owners, Ron Barrett and Nancy Bentley, have literally and figuratively only scratched the surface of their site. Give the high quality I have observed this far, I do predict big things from Ripley in the future. Chave Hermitage big? Perhaps not, but I think Kinkead Ridge is producing exciting and novel wines, while at the same time quite literally giving birth to a new fine wine region. For this alone they merit high praise and loyal patronage."
 

A guest at the winery in July from Paris told me that the Petit Verdot is so prized by French winemakers, that they often bottle it only for themselves and their families.

Petit Verdot on the Rise in Bordeaux, click here.

Recent posting from blog Two Dogs, a Flamingo and a Bottle of Wine about our Petit Verdot. See http://dogswine.blogspot.com/2009/07/kinkead-ridge-petit-verdot-2005.html
"I've been sitting on half a dozen bottles of the Kinkead Ridge 2005 Petit Verdot for almost two years since its release, tasting it only at the winery on two occasions. Yesterday evening I was moving some wine from one location to another and decided it was time to see if the wait paid off. Dinner was two small lamb chops and some rosemary roasted potatoes and the weather was cool for this time of year. Out came the cork from the bottle.

The wine was intensely dark purple, almost black in the glass. After five or ten minutes it began to open up and offer dark, ripe plums and cassis and a few super dark cherries thrown in the mix. The nose was earthy and there were a few herbs and flowers coming out of the glass as well. The taste was equally about dark fruit, plums and blackberries mostly. The wine was very tannic, but the tannin never interfered with the fruit. During the course of the evening the tannin finally began to settle a little though it still had a wonderful grip. There was good acid and with the tannins softening the finish was smooth, clean and long.

I've had numerous bottles of Kinkead Ridge's wine, both red and white over the last few years and have appreciated all of them. Some are obviously better than others and bottle for bottle my favorite is still their Riesling. This wine, however, is the best I've had from them. It's hard to imagine that it could get any better. Total production was only 76 cases and the wine checked in at an almost perfect 13.4% alcohol. I'm very happy there are five more bottles in the cellar. "
 

 2005 Cabernet Franc

The 2004 won a DOUBLE GOLD Medal, November 2006 American Wine Society International Commercial Competition, Baltimore Maryland. The 2004 was rated 91 by Andrew Jones, International Wine Reviewer.

2004 Cabernet Franc just rated one of the Top 100 Exciting Wines in the World, Tom Stevenson's 2008 Wine Report. Tom is the British editor of the New Sotheby's Wine Encyclopedia.

October 2007 American Wine Society International Competition, Silver medal, garnered when the wine was extremely young, in competition only one month after release.

We think maybe the "wine honeymoon" wasn't over... "Bottle aging is the anaerobic process when the aromas of the grapes and the aromas and extractives of the oak are married into the bouquet. Grgich called this process, which takes one to two years, "the wine honeymoon."

We're releasing our reds only several months after bottling, and this is why they continue to develop dramatically over time.

From the Tastings column, Wall Street Journal, Dorothy Gaiter and John Brecher:
"Give the little guys a chance. It's hard to be a small producer. Small producers often offer wines with special individuality and character... these wines are rare."

"Winemakers aren't what makes wine. Wine makes itself in the vineyard.   We are just wine-watchers."
Jess Jackson. 

Hand-harvested on October 12th, this complex wine's fragrant aromas of black cherry and violet precede a rich finish with chocolate and raspberry overtones. Small-lot fermentations with hand punch-downs and classic small scale winemaking techniques were used to create this wine. Enjoy with beef, turkey, pork and salmon. Aged in premium French and American oak. $17.95. Production: 383 cases.
Medal Winner: 2007 American Wine Society Competition.

Mark Fisher, Dayton Daily News Wine Blog on Kinkead Ridge: Click here...These are NOT Your Grandma's Ohio Wines!

Unsolicited testimonial from David, Powell, Ohio:

October 2007
David Rose blog posting 'Great red wine from Ohio? I found one!'
"The 2005 Kinkead Ridge Cabernet Franc is outstanding! I actually did a blind tasting and had no idea what I was about to discover. The nose was brimming with juicy black berry/cherry and floral accents, finishing with a sweet touch of smoky oak. Then I tasted it... WOW! Top quality! I love the rich smokiness, delicious fruit, and the right amount of spice". Click here to read the post.

"Like all of their wine, the 2005 Cabernet Franc reflects both the unique attributes of Kinkead Ridge's vineyard site and the meticulous viticulture practiced therein. The wine offers readily identifiable varietal characteristics, but taken together its various features are not directly comparable to any other Cab Franc, old or new world. It is unique and I think reflective of this up and coming wine region.

The nose is fragrant, buoyant and bright, somewhere between Chinon and St. Emilion. There is a prettiness to its bouquet that I typically associate only with French Cabernet Franc. I'm happy to report that the promise of the nose is fulfilled on the palate, where bright, well-expressed fruit and delicate floral notes combine with a subtle hint of baker's chocolate. There is a nervy, cherry-ish brightness to the palate, akin to Cru Beaujolais,  but with the addition of deeper flavors. It is old world in style, and if pressed, I would describe it as an artful combination of equal parts St. Emilion, Chinon, and Cru Beaujolais. This is a wine for the table and will compliment a wide range of foods, including the eclectic spread found on the Thanksgiving Table."

--Ann Boucher

 
Wine making is witchcraft... sometimes the spells work, and sometimes they don't. There are no recipes." Nancy Bentley, Kinkead Ridge.
Partner Ron (engineer) has a different perspective... but this is what it seems like to me!

"Wine has to reflect the place it comes from... otherwise it's just a brand name."
Antinori, creator of Ornellaia, 1998 Wine Spectator Wine of the Year, in the movie Mondovino.

From Dayton Wine Blog, April 2010
For wine we opened a 2005 Kinkead Ridge Cabernet Franc. Great, mature color in the glass and the nose smelled of ripe black cherries with a hint of dark chocolate. There was also the sensation of rich, black soil with spring dampness to it. The taste was loaded with those cherries, along with a few black raspberries, the hint of chocolate and that sensation of dark soil. The acid was more than good and there was just enough tannin on the finish to clear the palate. Since the steak wasn't overly smokey this wine was a perfect match. I'm becoming a big fan of KR's reds when they are about three of four years out from the vintage. The youthful exuberance is gone and replaced by a delicious maturity. The current release of this wine is 2007, with the 2008 vintage due out in September.


 

   2005 Syrah

Kinkead Ridge 2005 Syrah rated on the Most Exciting and Unusual Finds list, Atlantic Northeast Region, Tom Stevenson, British Wine Editor of the 2009 Wine Report. "Ohio Syrah? Yes! Former Oregon grower Ron Barrett keeps proving the viability of the limestone soils along the Ohio River."
 

The 2004 was rated 90 by Andrew Jones, International Wine Reviewer.
 

December 2010

Blog post from Dan McGrew on the 2005 Kinkead Ridge Syrah:

No need to beat around the bush here so let's just go for a one word description. How about amazing.

About a month ago when I matched a physical inventory of my wine with the computerized inventory I found a discrepancy for this wine. The computer showed that I had one bottle, while the physical inventory proved there was really two bottles. A delightful problem. Of the four Kinkead Ridge red varieties the Syrah has usually been my least favorite. During tastings at the winery and elsewhere I've always liked the Syrah, but it was usually my least favorite of the reds.

I opened this bottle last night wanting a simple red with a pan seared, small steak. What popped out of the bottle and into the glass was anything but simple. The noses was classic, cold climate Syrah. It smelled of dark fruit, raw meat, white pepper, and spice. The color was a glorious medium red, and that was the only indication this wasn't a wine from the northern Rhone. The taste was fruity and spicy with a great depth of pure syrah fruit, wonderful acidity and just enough oak to balance everything. There was a natural sweetness to the wine that had nothing to do with sugar or over extraction, it was sweet because of perfectly ripe fruit. The tannins had settled to a supporting role, but they were still evident and gave the wine a great structure. It was good with the steak, but in this case the steak was almost secondary. Five years after the vintage this wine was a shining star and a credit to the vineyard and the winemaker.

My only regret is that I only have one more bottle. Rest assured that the three bottles of the 2008 that I own will not be touched until 2013. And I know what local market still has a few bottles of the 2008 vintage sitting on the shelf - at least until the weekend.
 

We are often asked how long you can cellar our wines. Here's a 2007 Christmas review of the 2001 Syrah:

"I had family over for Christmas and I wanted a special wine for the occasion.  I dug around in my wine cellar and I found a bottle of 2001 Syrah from Kinkead Ridge. I was the best I have had.  It aged perfectly.  The nose had a very light scent of oak/earthy. The taste up front was fruity (blackberry to current) with a pleasant amount of astringency. It finished with a wonderful amount oak/chocolate and even a little vanilla.  It was great wine thanks." --Russ Berry

Snooth on Syrah:

"One of the few grapes to really be a global success. Syrah combines a meaty core of ripe berry fruit, with tones that range from herbal to peppery, in a package that tends to be medium bodied with good acidity and moderate tannins. With age the wines can gain lovely leathery and black olive notes that make them a great match for savory and gamy dishes."

2006 Viognier/Roussanne

The 2004 Kinkead Ridge Ohio River Valley Viognier/Roussanne ($15) bested the 2003 Domaine du Vieux Lazaret Chateauneuf-du-Pape Blanc, France ($25) in the first-ever Ohio Wine Challenge, in which wine experts from North America judged Ohio wines against wines from Europe and California. Click here for the press release.

Tom Stevenson's 2006 Wine Report. 
Kinkead Ridge 2003 Viognier/Roussanne named one of the top 100 Exciting New Wines in the World. 
Viognier/Roussanne 2003 Kinkead Ridge, Ohio (Atlantic Northeast, US $15). Sandra Silfven, wine writer Detroit Daily News: "Crisp, flinty, bone-dry, palate-coating tropical flavours. Starkly clean"

GOLD MEDAL, 2007 American Wine Society Competition, October 2007.

A Rhone blend of aristocratic varieties. The Viognier was hand-harvested on October 6 and the Roussanne on October 9. This complex and enticing wine has the kiwi and guava aromas of Roussanne merging with the orange blossom and golden raisin aromas of Viognier. An excellent, dry wine with fish, shellfish and poultry, or serve as you would an aperitif. Serve chilled. $14.95. Production: 303 cases. 

Bernard Portet, the founding winemaker of Clos Du Val in the Napa Valley and of Domaine Nizas in France says this about the 2004 Viognier/Roussanne:

"Finally did I find the opportunity to open up your bottle of Viognier-Roussanne with a couple of friends and then with John Clews, the VP, Director of Vineyard and Winery Operations of Clos Du Val. I did like it very much. I did find it very fragrant but not shouting “Viognier” all over the place, elegant, with plenty of charm. Balanced and equally elegant and charming palate. Much of the character of its aroma could be found in its taste. There was a great balance of fullness, freshness, and good complexity, along with a good finish. Definitely a very enjoyable wine. John did concur with the above. Congratulations!"

Jon Christensen (Columbus Dispatch) reviewed our Viognier/Roussanne
2004 Kinkead Ridge (Ohio River Valley) Viognier-Roussanne ($14.95)
"This remarkable achievement deserves to be compared to the priciest dry whites from France's Rhone Valley. Its rich hints of apricot and other stone fruits, minerally crisp finish, food-accompanying versatility and restrained alcohol put this southern Ohio gem ahead of just about anything close to its price. "

A wine writer tasted this wine with an importer and colleagues at the Winds, where they were presenting their wines from the south of France, including a new Roussanne-Viognier cuvee. The group was "enormously impressed and amazed. The wine displayed the kind of balance they are trying to achieve."

 2006 Revelation 

Still available in selected stores around Ohio. Hand-harvested on September 22, this winegrowers' blend of Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, and small quantities of Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc and Melon, is crisp, refreshing and aromatic. The wine has aromas of melon, grapefruit and gooseberry with a mineral finish. This zesty wine stylistically reflects a French more than a California character. A classic accompaniment to shellfish, mildly acidic cheeses and full-flavored cuisine. Serve chilled. $12.95. Production: 125 cases.

White wine turns up in King Tutankhamen's tomb! Click here to read the story

Dorothy Gaiter and John Brecher talk about American Sauvignon Blanc in the Wall Street Journal:

"...many people now consider Sauvignon Blanc a great summertime wine, and they're right: It's refreshing, good with lighter food and very easy to enjoy... this grape can be as bright and aromatic as fresh-mown grass in the sunshine; rich and earthy; dry or a little sweet; an elegant wine when paired with its traditional blending partner, Semillon.... In this mix, we believe that some American winemakers are now creating Sauvignon Blanc that is special, with its own style."

2006 Riesling

Still available in selected stores around Ohio. Hand-harvested on September 27th, apple, rose petal and honeysuckle notes precede a flinty finish. This racy wine's floral front palate and sweetness balance its crisp acidity. The grapes were cold-fermented to preserve aromatic components. Serve chilled with cold meats, fresh salads, light cheeses, poultry, veal and Asian cuisine. Residual sugar. 1.2%. 100% Riesling. $11.95. Production: 184 cases.

"Riesling is wine's purest play. What you find in the vineyard is what you get in your glass. Everywhere you find Riesling, you can find a truth of place." Matt Kramer

Is Riesling Finally Chic?
"After years of snubbing by high-octane cabernet drinkers, riesling is finally experiencing a revival, driven by the industry's top writers (Jancis Robinson and Hugh Johnson), numerous chefs and restaurateurs, and even some daring American wine writers like Dan Berger. Younger drinkers who want to distinguish thems from the BFC crowd will likely be riesling buyers, and while semi-sweet riesling sells like hot cakes, dry riesling can appeal to connoisseurs. All of this is a boon to riesling producers in the east."
Richard Leahy, Vineyard and Winery Management, March/April 2006

Review from Dan McGrew, August 2010:

"Back to trying some previous vintages Kinkead Ridge wines. The latest was the 2006 Riesling. The bloom of true youth is off this wine and it has settled into a lovely life as a mature adult. Not as sharp, tart and focused as it was a couple of years ago, this wine has matured gracefully.

There's still some lemon/lime aspect to it but now it's a more general, tart citrus. There's also a subtle touch of apricot in this wine that was just beautiful. It doesn't taste old, but it has evolved into a more complete wine. The fruit is still good, the acid is still there to clear the palate, but that touch of apricot just adds a bit of elegance to the wine.

Drank over two nights, the first with a German seasoned pork chop and the second with some Asian spiced rice. There are two more in the cellar and we'll mark them for late August consumption in 2011 and 2012. 10.6% alcohol and 1.2% residual sugar. "

Review in April 2010:

In mid afternoon we pulled the cork from a Kinkead Ridge 2006 Riesling. We drank a bottle of the current vintage (2008) a few weeks ago and decided it was time to try an older one. The nose was still kerosene and lime zest. The color had darkened just a bit but it still was bright and clear. After a few swirls in the large glass the aromas switched positions with the lime zest being a little stronger than the kerosene.

Nice tart taste from the wonderful acidity. I could pick up the lime in the taste but it was mostly a white peach and yellow apple taste. Very appealing. Medium weight and being just off dry gave the wine a wonderful mouth feel. I loved this wine when it was fresh and new, and I like it just as well now. It was easy to sip with some crackers and an appetizer of chicken and lemon grass.

Matt Kramer, Wine Spectator, on Riesling:

"What's so fascinating about Riesling is not only its range of flavor expression but also its geographic range of performance. Although Chardonnay is seemingly grown everywhere, it's too often banal. This is why winemakers go through so many cellar contortions involving oak, lees stirring and the like just to give it some personality. Riesling, on the other hand, delivers characterful goods in an amazing array of location.
What's more, apart from a decision about how much residual sweetness to leave in, winemakers tend not to do much to Riesling. There's no lees stirring, no business about medium or heavy toast oak, and little agonizing over yeasts or enzymes.
Riesling is wine's purest play. What you find in the vineyard is what you get in your glass. Everywhere you find Riesling, you can find a truth of place."

 
2004 Cabernet Sauvignon

GOLD MEDAL. Finger Lakes International Wine Competition, March 2007.

Rated 91: Andrew Jones, International Wine Reviewer

Silver Medal, November 2006 American Wine Society International Commercial Competition, Baltimore Maryland
 (This wine was very young at this point and tight. As evidenced by the gold medal above, it is now showing its promise.)

Click here for the newspaper story about this wine.

December 2010:

Facebook post from Jens Rosencrantz, owner of the Cincinnati Wine Garage: "One advantage of having a poor inventory system in the cellar, is that you get surprised by a case that you entirely forgot about. 2004 Kinkead Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon. Wonderful."
 

Released September 2006. SOLD OUT August 2007. Hand-harvested on October 11th, this dark ruby, well structured, complex wine displays classic cabernet aromas of cassis, plum and black cherry. Toasty notes come from ageing in premium French and American oak. Small-lot fermentations with hand punch-downs and classic small scale winemaking techniques were used to create this wine. Enjoy with beef, lamb, or wild game. $17.95

Perry, Cincinnati, says: "Do you still have the 2004 Cab available at the winery?  I went to a local vendor and they were out.  We went to your "opening day" tasting and bought a 3 bottles of your cab. That night, I made a nice flank steak on the grill and the cab was AWESOME!  It was as good if not better than Grgich Hills and Jordan I have had on business trips."

2004 Cabernet Sauvignon rated 91 by Andrew Jones.
"This rich ruby coloured wine is 75% Cabernet Sauvignon and has been blended with 6% Cabernet Franc for the first time, as well as 19% Petit Verdot making it the type of classic Bordeaux-style blend you would find in many chateaux in the Médoc region. It has quite a deep ruby color, offers vanilla hints from a mix of American and French oak and tempts with classic blackcurrant, plum and violet aromas before producing Morello cherry flavours on the flavorsome palate. The oak aging has contributed hints of vanilla and gentle, soft tannins which balance well with the fruit."

 
August 4, 2007
The last bottle of 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon, autographed by the winegrower, leaves the winery with Liz.  This wine may still be available in wine stores in Ohio.

Write-up by Dan McGrew in November 2009, from California:

"Earlier in the week there was a rib eye roast that was seasoned simply and cooked in in a moderate oven. I always make it a habit to take a bottle of wine with me so this year for the first time I took an Ohio wine, Kinkead Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon from the 2004 vintage. Like the title of this piece says, taking an Ohio Cabernet to northern California is rather like carrying the coals to Newcastle to help the city burn a little more. It was a very good wine that is now at its peak. The tannins have matured and softened a little but the wine retained good acid and its currant flavors. Good match with the rib roast and not out of place in any way in some very good company. "

Greg, NYC: 2004 Kinkead Ridge Cab Sauv, Ohio River – what to say about this wine that Loren brought. I was simply floored. If you are not going to expect much in the way of wine from a state, that state has to be Ohio. Or so I thought.

Not true.

The wine was stunning, partly because my expectations were so low and even more because it was so damn good. That was a real cab. The nose demonstrated the expected varietal cassis and herbal qualities, the palate had the tart black fruit, a touch of herbs, some tobacco, a bit of wood that hasn't yet integrated fully – in short, just a wonderful young cab. And seventeen bucks. I'm trying to think of a cab from California that delivers at the same level for the price. Perhaps Beckmen? BV Rutherford? I'd like to try this blind with some of those. This was just a wonderful surprise from Ohio.

Perry, Cincinnati, says: "Do you still have the 2004 Cab available at the winery?  I went to a local vendor and they were out.  We went to your "opening day" tasting and bought a 3 bottles of your cab. That night, I made a nice flank steak on the grill and the cab was AWESOME!  It was as good if not better than Grgich Hills and Jordan I have had on business trips."

Review from Bridget in Cincinnati:
"WOW, your 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon was spectacular! I have to admit, I was "all about" the California wines and did not think that an Ohio wine could wine me over, but after smelling and tasting this gem... Well, let's just say that there is a new kid on the block in my wine cabinet these days! Great job! Thank you for making such a wonderful wine!"

 2004 Cabernet Franc

DOUBLE GOLD Medal, November 2006 American Wine Society International Commercial Competition, Baltimore Maryland

"I am a member of the American Wine Society and part of the competition committe. As (pay) for helping we get a few bottles of wine to try. In 2006 I got your 04 Cab Franc that was a double gold. While rearranging my cellar I ran across it and since we were going to a friends house (3 of A.W.S. judges)for dinner I took it along to try. WOW it was great. It was soft with good mouth feel and all or the qualities that a cab franc should have. Thank you for making such a nice and enjoyable wine." J. Hoffman

Released September 2006. SOLD OUT at the winery December 2006.  This wine may still be available at our wine stores and restaurants throughout Ohio. 

Hand-harvested on October 1st, this wine's fragrant aromas of plum, violet, and black cherry precede a taste of fruity, full-bodied, richly flavored complexity, with chocolate, spice and raspberry overtones. Aged in premium American and French oak barrels. A fine companion for beef, turkey, pork and richly flavored stews. $16.95

Lenn Thompson, New York wine writer on this wine:

As someone who was born and raised in western Pennsylvania, four things come to mind when I think about neighboring Ohio – bad drivers, Sea World, Cedar Point amusement park and the much-hated Cleveland Browns. I wouldn't go so far as to say that I was raised to loathe our neighbors to the west, but they definitely weren't looked upon fondly.

Now, after tasting the wines of Kinkead Ridge, An Estate Winery, there is at least one thing I can say that I love about the Buckeye State.

Located just outside of Ripley, Ohio, Kinkead Ridge Winery grows only vinifera grapes in their vineyard, including Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Riesling, Viognier, Roussanne and Sauvignon Blanc. The vineyard lies on ridges rising more than 400 feet above the nearby Ohio River and the soil is 30 inches deep to broken limestone, rich in clay and well drained. This drainage is ideally suited to growing fine wines, though winter can be cold enough to damage less hardy varieties.

Cabernet Franc is one of my favorite varieties, and if you love the red wines of the Loire Valley, I can't recommend Kinkead Ridge's 2004 Cabernet Franc enough.

A deep violet-crimson in the glass, black cherry dominates the nose with more subtle aromas of dusty cocoa, black pepper and violets. This is an extremely full flavored wine, with black raspberry, cherry, black pepper, and dark chocolate flavors mingling on a rich, balanced palate. Well-integrated, smooth tannins and just a little lick of acidity make this a wine of unusual character and balance.

Best of all, at $17 per bottle, it's an excellent value.

Kinkead Ridge 2004 Cabernet Franc rated one of the Top 100 Exciting Wine Finds, international list compiled by Tom Stevenson, British editor of the New Sothebys Wine Encyclopedia and publisher of the paperback Wine Report 2008. "Succulent, intensely flavored fruit, ripe, supple tannins, and a truckload of flavors--from cherries, cassis, chocolate, and cream, to vanilla and coconut."--Sandra Silfven, Atlantic Northeast editor of the 2008 Wine Report "This shows what promise there is in Ohio." --Tom Stevenson

2004 Kinkead Ridge Cabenet Franc, #7 on the Top 10 List of Greatest Quality Wines from the Atlantic Northeast

Feedback from Gourmet Sensation. The chef from Michel Rostang, Paris, France, (www.michelrostang.com) was given a taste of this wine. Later in the evening he came back and asked for a glass. When we told him the price, he asked us to repeat the price several times. He said it reminded him of a Chinon and could not believe it was only $16.95!

Kinkead Ridge Cabernet Franc 2004 -- Ann Boucher, Serendipity Wine Shop

I gave this wine to my husband blind and asked him what he thought. He raised the glass to his nose, swirled and took a good sniff. Putting on his best airs, he said, without skipping a beat, "very nice... Cabernet Franc... definitely French." Then he took a good sip into his mouth, swirled and chewed the wine for a moment, and completed his diagnosis, "Bordeaux." Always the business man, he then asked, "how much and what's the stock status?" never guessing he could be wrong about the wines provenance. When I told him it was Kinkead Ridge 2004 Cabernet Franc, his eyes lit up. When I told him that it will retail for $16.99 his jaw dropped. As for stock status, only 355 cases were made. Needless to say not much to go around, and if history is any guide, it will all be gone fast.

Red Wine Ingredient May Delay Aging
Click here to read the article.

Whole Foods in Columbus Ohio chose this wine to serve at dinner to John Mackey, the founder of Whole Foods Market. 

November/December TheWineBuzz Wine Finds review:

"Aroma of dark fruit with hints of bell pepper and clove; full of bright cherry flavors tempered by substantial tannins and good acidity."

From dogswine.blogspot.com, date July 2008
With the lamb there was a 2004 Kinkead Ridge, Ohio River Valley Cabernet Franc. Nice dark cherry fruit up front with hints of bright red cherries mixed in. Good acid and plenty of soft tannin to carry everything else along. Very balanced wine with a nice finish. It seemed a little short in the finish at first but the second glass - poured from a small decanter - solved that problem. The third glass was the best and was a perfect foil for the lamb. The fruit of the wine and the gaminess of the lamb were a great match. I have said it several times, but here it is again; it's wonderful to have a local, Ohio winery producing great wines that match with good food.

 2004 Syrah

Bronze Medal, November 2006 American Wine Society International Commercial Competition, Baltimore Maryland

Rated: 90. Andrew Jones, International Wine Reviewer.
 

Released September 2006. SOLD OUT at the winery, January 2007. Hand-harvested on October 12th, this spicy, intense and luxurious wine has excellent balance, deep ruby color and notes of earth, plum cloves, white pepper, and dark berry. The grapes were cold-soaked, fermented in small bins, and punched down by hand. Oak-aged. Excellent with beef, lamb, braised chicken, and spicy cuisine. Less than 200 cases, this wine will not last long. $19.95

From PJ Sentinel.com, March 31, 2006
"Syrah the next big thing in  wine world."

"If pinot noir is the new merlot, syrah must be the new pinot noir.

Two years after the movie “Sideways” made it fashionable to drink pinot noir and diss merlot, a new kid has begun its own rise to ga-ga fame.

You can call it syrah or shiraz, as it’s known in South Africa, Australia, and Canada — the two are identical twins. And, as in the case of all good things, many people want to claim the shiraz grape as their own.

One story says the grape was named after the city of Shiraz, Iran, which some historians say originated winemaking more than 7,000 years ago. Another story says shiraz was brought into southern France by a returning crusader, Guy De’Sterimberg, who eventually became a hermit (hence the grape’s third name, “hermitage”) and developed a vineyard on one of the steep hills in the Rhone River Valley.

Those claims were refuted in 1998 when research by the University of California at Davis and the French National Agronomy Archives in Montpellier showed the grape actually originated somewhere in the northern Rhone Valley of France as a hybrid of the dureza and mondeuse blanche grape varieties. "

Click here to read the rest of the article....

Review by Ann Boucher, Serendipity Wine Shope, Columbus, Ohio Kinkead Ridge Syrah 2004
This wine brings me back to the cellar of Denis Alary, a top notch producer in Cairanne, a Village appellation in the Cote-du-Rhone. A few years back, I was sampling through various wine in barrel and came upon a Syrah of which Denis was particularly proud. Still very young and closed-up, it was obvious that the wine was going to be great. Similarly, the Kinkead Ridge Syrah is presently closed up and a bit awkward, due to its youth. But there is no doubt that this wine is going places, and I, for one, want to be there when it arrives! Everything about it hints of big things to come -- subtle raspberry, a bit of spice, with a hefty curtain of tannins, obscuring everything from full view.

Definitely not ready to drink, today, but if you are looking for a special and unique wine, that will amply reward, given a little cellar-time, you cannot go wrong with this one. As with everything that Kinkead Ridge produces, quantities are very limited, as only 149 cases were produced in 2004. Get it while you can or you may have to wait until next year.

ACT GLOBALLY... DRINK LOCALLY!

"We can detect over 10,000 different components in vinifera wines, which is a lucky break for wine critics who would get pretty bored writing "tastes like wine," over and over again."
--Jennifer Rosen, The Cork Jester's Guide to Wine

November/December TheWineBuzz Wine Finds review:

"Peppery nose with a touch of earth, cedar and vanilla; smooth black cherry flavors with a hint of cocoa and cloves. Restrained European style."

Dorothy Gaiter and John Brecher on American Syrah, September 2006, Wall Street Journal:

"Syrah should be a wine of personality, with big, wintry tastes that require big, wintry dishes, and, indeed, it was clear from the beginning of the tasting that Syrah remains a wimemaker's wine, with distinctive features shining through....while too many wines these days have become the same, American Syrah retains its personality and distinctiveness... It is impossible to know which American Syrah you might see on shelves. But our tasting indicates that it's hard to go wrong with one if you're looking for a distinctive, cold-weather wine to serve with hearty food tonight." (Note from Nancy: their favorite Syrah was Dunham, $44.99 for the 2002 and $39.99 for the 2003... makes ours at $19.95 look like a pretty good bargain!)

Last year this wine sold out in two weeks.

Kinkead Ridge (pronounced Kin-kAYd) ultra-premium and River Village Cellars (second label) premium wines are hand-crafted and reflect our unwavering commitment to quality. Our estate wines express the unique character of our ridge-top site and ancient limestone soils. 

Our  critically-acclaimed wines (all Ohio River Valley appellation) are available in fine wine stores, retail outlets, and restaurants in Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton,  Oxford, Lebanon, Nelsonville, West Union, Georgetown, Wilmot, Mainville, Middletown, New Richmond, Manchester, Ripley,  Chagrin Falls and Adams County  We also have direct web/phone sales within Ohio. 

2005 River Village Cellars White Table Wine, a Viognier/Roussanne blend.

Bronze Medal, November 2006 American Wine Society International Commercial Competition, Baltimore Maryland

Red wine and white wine may be equally good for your heart! Click here

A Rhone blend of aristocratic varieties. Hand-harvested on September 25th and 28th, this complex and enticing wine has the rich, distinctive aromas of violet, golden raisin and orange blossom of Viognier layered with the stone fruit and kiwi notes of Roussanne. An excellent dry wine with fish, shellfish, and spicy food, or serve as you would an aperitif wine. 62% Viognier, 38% Roussanne, a slightly higher percentage of Viognier than last year.  Last year, this was a Kinkead Ridge wine. Because it went through malolactic fermentation (on its own!), stylistically this is a very different wine from the 2004, and we have decided to release it under our second label. $9.95

"The world does not need another Chardonnay".  Rudy Von Strasser, Napa Valley wine producer.

ABC: Anything but Chardonnay! Try this Viognier/Roussane. You'll be pleasantly surprised.

Recently acquired by: 

2005 Riesling

Is Riesling Finally Chic?
"After years of snubbing by high-octane cabernet drinkers, riesling is finally experiencing a revival, driven by the industry's top writers (Jancis Robinson and Hugh Johnson), numerous chefs and restaurateurs, and even some daring American wine writers like Dan Berger. Younger drinkers who want to distinguish thems from the BFC crowd will likely be riesling buyers, and while semi-sweet riesling sells like hot cakes, dry riesling can appeal to connoisseurs. All of this is a boon to riesling producers in the east."
Richard Leahy, Vineyard and Winery Management, March/April 2006

2005 River Village Cellars Traminette

Second label 2005 River Village Cellars Traminette

Traminette is a hybrid grape, very winter hardy and disease resistant. One of its parents is Gewurztraminer. This wine, at 1.9% residual sugar, is our sweetest wine. The grapes were purchased from an Ohio River Valley grower. This is the only vintage of Traminette we will ever produce, as we purchased the grapes as a favor to this fledgling vineyard.

Regular visitors to this web site already are aware that we tend somewhat in our approach to stray from the local norm in growing and marketing wine. Some have alleged that we are crazy, but that's another story! From the start we have been wedded to the concept that any wine bearing the Kinkead Ridge label must never disappoint the buyer willing to pay a super to ultra-premium price for a wine. So the question becomes: What do we do with an excellent  wine  which is not in the ultra-premium category? Our solution is the European model of  creating a second label, River Village Cellars, for these  wines.  Look to River Village for value-priced, everyday wines. (In 2001 through 2003 this label was known as Kinkead Cellars.) $8.95

2003 Cabernet Sauvignon

Review by Ann Boucher, Serendipity Wine Shop, Columbus, Ohio
Kinkead Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon 2003
Although the wine shows many of the hallmarks of classic Cabernet Sauvignon: black cherry, cassis and artful barrel aging, it also exhibits charming singularities not found in Cabernet from the Napa Valley or Bordeaux. Namely, the wine is not muscular, heavy or in anyway over proportioned. Rather, it's bright and focused, a wine with poise -- more like a well-appointed debutant, than a hulking NFL lineman. We all know the latter, over extracted, over oaked... just plain over the top! Fine for sipping now and then but poorly suited for the table. Kinkead Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon offers delicate perfume. It is a pretty, almost feminine wine, and brings to mind the great reds of Chinon, Bourgueil or even Cru Beaujolais. A Frenchman would argue that the finesse and perfume comes from the limestone based soil, and I would tend to agree. This is a wine of place, very old world in style, perfectly suited to the table, and unique to Ohio.

Silver Medal, International Finger Lakes Wine Competition, April 2006. 

Bronze medal. 2005 American Wine Society commercial wine competition, Las Vegas. So many people have gotten used to the Australian and California model of fermenting the wine on oak chips so the wine is  mellow  when  released. We prefer the Bordeaux model of allowing the wine to reach its full potential over a multi-year window. This wine will continue to improve in the bottle and could be cellared for 2-3 years at least.

The Wine Spectator, May 2006, estimates that of the California cabernets, zinfandels and syrahs  "at least half, maybe even more, of the producers in California are de-alcing." There are two processes to de-alcoholize wines that approach 14-17%, reverse osmosis and spinning cones.  Some wineries add water to the fermentation vats to reduce potential alcohol... 70 gallons of water per 1000 gallons of unfermented juice. THAT'S a neat trick... more volume... more wine for sale. This is just one of many tricks that producers are using to manipulate their wines...  What I would like to say is that with Kinkead Ridge, "what you see is what you get... and what you drink is what we grew."

The Wine Buzz, Volume 3, Number 3, p. 27 WineFinds
"Kinkead Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon, 2003 (Ohio River Valley); $17.95. Medium bodied and slightly tart, with chocolaty cherry and tobacco flavors." 

Andrew Jones, international wine writer
WOW rating: 88
"This is the first Kinkead Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon ever released and replaces the Revelation blend of 2002 and 2001. A small quantity of Petit Verdot was used in the blend. Kinkead Ridge continues to demonstrate that the Ohio River Valley can surprise America with the character and quality of its Cabernet Sauvignon. Whilst this example is not from the greatest vintage and the vines are still relatively young, the result is rewarding. This Cabernet Sauvignon has a healthy ruby color and an aroma of blackcurrants and morello cherries. Small French and American oak casks contribute to the vanilla hints and toasty characteristics. Try this wine with herb-roasted chicken, lamb sprinkled with rosemary and soft cheeses."

2003 Cabernet Franc

Released at the winery September 3 and 5,  2005 (Labor Day weekend). We recently had  the owner of La Vigne vineyard  open our 2001 Cabernet Franc. He said it was dynamite. Our wines age well in the bottle. Sandra Silfven, Detroit wine writer says: "The Cab Franc was an utter delight. I called it a "happy" wine. The nose was so bright, the flavors so over-the-top correct. In my mind, I compared the body and mouthfeel to a French red burgundy. It was not the high-extract deal, but very powerful for not having that concentration that is so popular in California. Three days later, the nose was just as sassy."

The Wine Buzz, Volume 3, Number 3: "Kinkead Ridge Cabernet Franc, 2003 (Ohio River Valley); $15.95. Rustic, slightly barnyard nose, but big juicy Cab Franc flavors of cherries, berries and herbs."

"Cabernet Franc, in addition to being easier to ripen in the East than Cabernet Sauvignon, is considered to outperform its California counterpart in winemaking." 
--Editors, Wine East Magazine, July/August 2005.

"Depending a great deal on vineyard practices, the flavor profile of Cabernet Franc may be both fruitier and sometimes more herbal or vegetative than Cabernet Sauvignon, although lighter in both color and tannins. Over-cropping and underexposure each tend to accentuate the vegetative flavor elements. Typically somewhat spicy in aroma and often reminiscent of plums and especially violets, Cabernet Franc is more often used as a secondary or tertiary element in varietally-blended red wines, such as Bordeaux or Meritage, instead of as a stand-alone varietal bottling."
http://www.winepros.org/wine101/grape_profiles/cab-franc.htm

In the 2005 bottlings, we do plan to blend some Franc and Petit Verdot into the Sauvignon, and some Sauvignon into the Franc.

 2005 Revelation 

Hand-harvested on September 18th, this winegrower's Bordeaux  blend is aromatic and refreshing. The wine has aromas of pineapple, grapefruit and melon, with a honey note and a mineral finish. This zesty wine stylistically reflects a French more than a California character. A classic accompaniment to full-flavored cuisine.  The blend consists of Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon and small quantities of other white vinifera from our experimental block.  Limited production. $12.95

White wine turns up in King Tutankhamen's tomb! Click here to read the story

2004 Viognier/Roussanne

A Rhone blend of aristocratic varieties. Hand-harvested on September 14 and 15, this complex and enticing wine has the rich, distinctive aromas of violet and orange blossom of Viognier merging with the stone fruit and kiwi notes of Roussanne. An excellent, dry wine with fish, shellfish and spicy food, or serve as you would an aperitif wine. Production: 177 cases. 66% Viognier, 34% Roussanne. The 2003 V/R won a bronze medal at the 2004 American wine society competition, and we think this one is even better.

Bernard Portet, the founding winemaker of Clos Du Val in the Napa Valley and of Domaine Nizas in France says this about the 2004 Viognier/Roussanne:

"Finally did I find the opportunity to open up your bottle of Viognier-Roussanne with a couple of friends and then with John Clews, the VP, Director of Vineyard and Winery Operations of Clos Du Val. I did like it very much. I did find it very fragrant but not shouting “Viognier” all over the place, elegant, with plenty of charm. Balanced and equally elegant and charming palate. Much of the character of its aroma could be found in its taste. There was a great balance of fullness, freshness, and good complexity, along with a good finish. Definitely a very enjoyable wine. John did concur with the above. Congratulations!"

Jon Christensen (Columbus Dispatch) reviews our Viognier/Roussanne
2004 Kinkead Ridge (Ohio River Valley) Viognier-Roussanne ($14.95)
"This remarkable achievement deserves to be compared to the priciest dry whites from France's Rhone Valley. Its rich hints of apricot and other stone fruits, minerally crisp finish, food-accompanying versatility and restrained alcohol put this southern Ohio gem ahead of just about anything close to its price. "

Bronze Medal, 2005 American Wine Society commercial wine competition, Las Vegas. Released at the winery, July 2, 2005
For more about Viognier, see www.enjoyingviognier.com

Featured on The Dish with Chef Jean Robert de Cavel. Click here  for video clips, and click on Wine Suggestions for Chicken stuffed with Wild Mushrooms and  Asparagus for Matt Citriglia's review of the 2004 Viognier/Roussanne... "sublimely fragrant and elegant restrained white wine that would stand up to any of the best that the southern Rhone has to offer"... "Most wineries in Ohio run from vinifera grapes... Ron Barrett and Nancy Bentley took on the challenge and have grown a variety of vinifera right here in Ripley on the limestone ridges." Matt is Ohio's only Master Sommelier. 

The 2004 Kinkead Ridge Ohio River Valley Viognier/Roussanne ($15) bested the 2003 Domaine du Vieux Lazaret Chateauneuf-du-Pape Blanc, France ($25) in the first-ever Ohio Wine Challenge, in which wine experts from North America judged Ohio wines against wines from Europe and California. Click here for the press release.

The Wine Buzz, Volume 3, Number 1, p. 16. 
Kinkead Ridge Viognier/Roussanne, 2004 (Ohio River Valley); $14.95
Floral, citrus and tropical notes on the nose, followed by plenty of fruit -- think kiwi and lime -- and a bit of minerality. Good balance, good acid and nice depth. Only 177 cases of this wine were made. Cheers to winery owners Nancy Bentley and Ron Barrett for trying something new in Ohio.

Andrew Jones, international wine writer and editor 
WOW rating: 88
"Another distinctive dry white blend from Kinkead Ridge, the wine kings of Ripley, Ohio. This stylish wine offers a tempting orange blossom bouquet, followed by hints of kiwi fruit, peaches and tropical fruit on the palate. Its hallmark is finesse and it leaves a lingering aftertaste. Pair this elegant wine with delicately flavored dishes, sushi or seafood risotto."

Tom Stevenson's 2006 Wine Report. 
Kinkead Ridge 2003 Viognier/Roussanne named one of the top 100 Exciting New Wines in the World. 
Viognier/Roussanne 2003 Kinkead Ridge, Ohio (Atlantic Northeast, US $15). Sandra Silfven, wine writer Detroit Daily News: "Crisp, flinty, bone-dry, palate-coating tropical flavours. Starkly clean"
Tom:
"In complete contrast to Domaine du Clovallon, this Viognier has balls: 48 percent Roussanne balls, to be precise. Excellent structure and acidity. Cutting-edge Atlantic Northeast -- I really must pay a visit!"
This wine is sold out at the winery, the 2004 is even better.

2003 Syrah

SOLD OUT within 2 weeks of release. 

Bronze medal, 2005 American Wine Society commercial wine competition Las Vegas. 

Released at the winery September 3 and 5, 2005
Early review by John Poston, www.ellerbebecket.com
"I  opened a bottle of 2003 Syrah before the official release date.  . . a lovely wine with a kind of elegance one doesn't expect from Syrah.   Visually, it reminds me of a Pinot Noir, but the nose is instantly the classic meaty Syrah.   Taste also is very classic, with that meat, olive and spice that I really love in Syrah.  All in all, nice restraint and a perfectly balanced wine.  I really, really liked it."

From: The 30 Second Wine Adviser

Syrah, Shiraz, Sirah ... what's the difference? Historically, it's been simple enough, if a bit confusing, to sort out these similar grape names:

• Syrah is the great French red-wine variety of the Rhone Valley, a grape that legend traces to the Crusaders but that in reality goes even farther back, probably brought to Gaul by the Romans some 2,000 years ago.
• Shiraz is the name that the Australians gave Syrah, perhaps inspired by that same Crusader legend, which holds - romantically if inaccurately - that the French knight Gaspard de Sterimberg brought the first vines home to his Hermitage vineyard in the Rhone from Shiraz in Persia.
• Sirah-with-an-I - Petite Sirah - is a California grape most likely named by 19th century marketers to evoke the real Syrah. Known in France as Durif and long thought to be unrelated to Syrah, it's now known to be a direct descendant of Syrah, a cross between true Syrah and another little-known French variety, Peloursin. This lineage is further complicated by the fact that some old California "field-blend" vineyards of mixed vines have traditionally been misidentified as Petite Sirah.

2004 Riesling

2004 Revelation (White Wine)

SOLD OUT JULY 4. Released at the winery, May 28, 2005.  The next wine that is very limited production is the 2003 Syrah, only 56 cases produced. 

Review in August 2008 from Jim Stutzman, Virginia:

"I was dazzled the other day. A bottle of your 2004 Revelation had wandered off to the wine cellar netherlands. When I found it, I chilled it down a bit for lunch, and when I tried it - WOW! - Very impressive."

2002 Kinkead Ridge Revelation

American Wine Society Commercial Competiton 2004: SILVER MEDAL. 

This Bordeaux-style blend has hints of cherry, blackberry, and black currant which precede a rich, complex finish. 53% Cabernet Franc, 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Petit Verdot . The grapes were cold-soaked, fermented in small bins with hand punch-downs, and aged in premium quality American oak barrels. $18

From a well-known Oregon winegrower: "We had a bottle of the '02 Revelation recently... we all thought it was dynamite and it would give a lot of Frenchies a run for their money!"

2003 Kinkead Ridge Viognier/Roussanne

Released September 4 at the winery.

International wine writer Andrew Jones gives this wine a 90.

More about Viognier:

"A few years ago, Viognier  was a rarity. In 1965, only 8 hectares were
found almost exclusively in Condrieu in the northern Rhône. Nowadays, this stylish exotically aromatic variety has been noticed, and is spreading across the south of France in Languedoc-Roussillon and Provence, as well as in California. Viognier produces an intense, dry white wine, lots of fruit and a flavour mingling apricot, apple, peach and violet with a hint of honey. Viognier is best drunk young. It is beautiful with spicy Asiatic dishes orwith medium to strong cheeses. It is also an unusual choice for simply prepared lobster, roast chicken and sole or trout."

"There is so much contained in a glass of good wine. It is a gift of nature that tastes of man's foibles, his sense of the beautiful, his idealism and virtuosity." 
Kermit Lynch, Adventures on the Wine Route

Winegrowers Note:

Because of the frost on May 29, 2002, which took out up to 80% of the harvest on the East Coast, including Ohio, New York, and Indiana, we were unable to bottle varietally; all of the red grapes were blended into the 2002 Revelation. The 2003 and 2004 vintages will be varietal only. 

2003 Kinkead Cellars Riesling

2001 Kinkead Ridge Révélation Red Wine

MARCH 2009

2001 KINKEAD RIDGE CABERNET FRANC "BEST VALUE"

A small group from the Cincinnati Chapter of the American Wine Society recently blind tasted 8 Cabernet Francs from France, California, and North Carolina.

In a field of 8 wines, the 2001 Kinkead Ridge Cabernet Franc was voted "BEST VALUE" against 6 wines from France and California, and a Biltmore Reserve.

It finished in the top three for  "BEST QUALITY" behind two $40 Napa wines.  Thea Teich, who relayed this information to me, said it was fascinating because it was one of the oldest wines and it really held up, while the one from France just died. Plus it was right up there with wines 2 or 3 times the price.

Here is the lineup.