2011 Releases

It's 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.

2010 Kinkead Ridge Viognier/Roussanne

First review, Dan McGrew

"One of the best parts of late May is the annual release of wines by wineries in southwest Ohio. Yesterday was no exception as a number of them released their wines, and among the group was Kinkead Ridge with the release of their white wines from 2010. There wasn't much of it but it was worth the drive to Ripley OH to pick up a case, especially considering that the 2009 vintage was so poor that most of the whites were on the second label and there was no Riesling at all.

The Viognier / Rousanne was distinctly different this vintage and was far and away my favorite. The last several vintages this wine were predominantly Viognier but in this vintage it was predominantly Rousanne. There was much more of a white peach and pear element to the wine and less of the orange and citrus quality. The oily viscosity was still there - this is a wine that coats the mouth. That unctuousness was balanced with great acidity and this wine had by far the longest finish of any of the white wines. For me this is the best vintage ever for this wine and maybe the best white ever from Kinkead. I liked the way it tasted and I loved the mouth feel and refreshing finish. Time will tell. 15.1% alcohol and $15.95. 124 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."

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.

"Revelation is a blend of the estate's white varieties, including sauvignon blanc, chardonnay and other white varieties. To my palate there seemed to be more sauvignon blanc in the mix this vintage since I got a greater then usual impression of herbs and fresh cut grass in the glass. The wine was citrusy and had a mineral quality similar to a French white from the Savoie. The wine had an austere and crisp quality to it that I liked. 14.8% alcohol and $13.95. 67 cases produced"

"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!
 

The 2009 vintage in this area, southwest Ohio, was miserable from a weather standpoint. It was wet and cold and basically a washout. Still there were grapes and if there are grapes there must be wine. There was.

There was a pan roasted rib eye steak the other night so I grabbed a 2009 River Village Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon. This is the second label for one of my favorite wineries, Kinkead Ridge. The year's entire production of red wines was moved off the primary label and bottled under this second label and sold at a more than reasonable price.

Nice cherry flavors with some earth notes underneath it, and surprisingly it was dry earth and not the wet mud that dominated much of the harvest. There was a small suggestion of darker fruit, but this primarily stayed on the red end of things. Unmistakably Cabernet, but definitely on the light side.

Good wine with the steak, and there was no sauce or heavy seasoning on the meat, just a simple steak and a simple wine to go with it. Nothing wrong with that, and at the price a good buy.

There are no Kinkead Ridge red wines from 2009. All are second label. There is no Petit Verdot and no Syrah.
Thanks to Mother Nature.

2010 Releases
(2009 Releases are described below)
Comprehensive table of wine releases 2001-2009 is at the bottom of this page.

All 2008 red wines are 100% varietal. "Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication". --L. Da Vinci

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.
 

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"

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 me and 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!"

August 2011 via Facebook from Kim in San Antonio Texas:

"I purchased a bottle of your 2008 Syrah while visiting Columbus recently, and have to say it is one of the best wines I have ever tasted. Do you ship to San Antonio, TX? I have to have more!?

May 2011, www.theother46.com

"Syrah is renowned throughout the Rhône Valley in France, famous across Australia (Shiraz) and continues to grow in popularity in California. So imagine my surprise when I pulled the cork on a varietal Syrah from Ohio. You read correctly, Ohio! The Syrah hails from Kinkead Ridge Vineyard and Winery, located in Ripley, Ohio. I’ve raved about their wines before, and tonight, I showcase their estate Syrah.

The Kinkead Ridge 2008 Syrah showed a deep ruby red hue in glass with wild berries, pepper and spice on the nose – and a subtle hint of smoke that lingers after the first swirl.

In the mouth, blackberry, plum, vanilla, cloves and tobacco flavors shine through. A balanced, medium-bodied wine with great acidity and refined tannins, making this age-worthy Syrah a perfect match with dinner.

Only 194 cases were produced, and at $19.95, Kinkead Ridge delivers one of the best quality to price ratio Syrahs in the United States. Once again, Kinkead Ridge has proven that Ohio has the terroir (and talent) to produce world-class wines. Cheers!"

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".

From Fayne, February 2011

"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.

Review of the 2008 Petit Verdot on cellartracker.com.

Tasted by The Kokopelli on 9/4/2010 & rated 91 points: The Kinkead Petit Verdot is a stellar effort at the $20 price point. Petit Verdot varietals are rare, and good ones even more so. Kinkead doesn't disappoint with the 2008 vintage. With only 76 cases produced, this will quickly be hard to obtain. A layered, complex nose of cedar, spicebox, vanilla, rich earth, blackberry and violet sets a high expectation before the first taste. In the mouth, saturated and opulent tastes of pure blackberry lead the assault. Silky smooth with good acidity to boot. In comparison to the blackberry, the oak and pepper are virtually unnoticed. The medium plus finish is soft and round with loads of blackberry, spicebox and a slight pepperiness near the end. This wine is well balanced and will cellar well for 5+ years, if you can refrain from drinking it all now... (326 views)
May, 2011

From dogswine.blogspot.com

In a couple of weeks there will be some new releases from Kinkead Ridge so it was time to make some room in that part of the cellar. I opted for the heavy weight part of the crew or the biggest puppy in the litter. In this case it was the 2008 Petit Verdot. Still inky dark purple in the glass the wine is nearly black. Lots of sweet, jam like fruit in the nose with blackberries dominating some darker plum aromas. There nothing shy about this wine, it's intense and almost brooding with its full flavors of those dark fruits. Despite all the heavy fruit there was still a bit of vegetable flavors just before the finish that was really appreciated. The tannins are starting to settle but are still strong and there is just enough acid to carry everything along. There was a sweet and warm after taste to the wine that was perfect for a day that got colder as it went along. Definitely not a summer weight red so the remaining bottles will have to wait until fall.

2009 Viognier/Roussanne

Released Memorial Day Weekend
 May 29 and 31

79% Viognier / 21% Roussanne
Alcohol 14.2%

From: http://baldwinegeek.blogspot.com

Another white wine worthy of your attention, this time from the state of Ohio. This white blend from ohio river valley producer Kinkead Ridge is 79% viognier and 21% roussanne. Kinkead Ridge produces some excellent wines in both red and white varietals. This one sells for about $15 and can be difficult to find as this was a poor year for the Ohio wineries due to heavy rains during the October harvest. The nose is loaded with orange blossom notes, along with nice tropical fruit aromas too. The palate is more of the orange blossom, along with guava and i got a little honeysuckle in the finish as the wine opened up. nice finish that was crisp and acidic. Fish, chicken or shellfish are great pairings with this wine.

Kinkead Ridge 2010 Viognier/Roussanne to be featured in internationally published volume "1000 Great Wines" by a publishing house in Britain in October. Details to follow.

"I took some of your wine with me to Taos. Shared some with the chef/Owner of a place called Graham's Grille. We tasted it with Tablas Creek Blanc, and La Vieille Ferm Blanc. Never guess which one came out on top?!!! They were BLOWN away!!" WG, Columbus OH

Photo credit: Shane Gamble, taken at 2009 Gourmet Sensation

From dogswine.blogspot.com, August 2010

"A few Nantucket scallops, some fresh spinach, a few crusty rolls and a very good bottle of wine. That made for a very nice evening on Wednesday.

The scallops were seared in butter and olive oil in a well seasoned, hot, cast iron pan. At the end we squeezed in some lemon juice, added some lemon zest, some parsley and one snipped chive. The spinach was washed and lightly dried then tossed in a hot skillet and seared in about a teaspoon of bacon drippings. The spinach got just a wee bit of finely chopped fresh tarragon at the end. Heaven.

The wine was the 2009 Viognier Roussanne from Kinkead Ridge. Ripe, fresh, clean and a little restrained the wine was a perfect match. Great acid and Viognier flavors matched well with the scallops while the earthiness of the Roussanne matched up with the spinach and the tarragon."






 

Guido Rivella, enologist for Gaja:

"You know with good grapes this job is a lot more interesting. You can make two kinds of wine: a good one or a poor one. With poor grapes, there's no suspense."

The manager of Chateau Latour, Lamothe, wrote in 1816: "When Nature fails to provide the ingredients of good wine, man cannot compensate for the deficiency. He will never achieve anything greater than mediocrity."

Guido:

"The wine makers job is a lot like the cook's. Of course, a cook can try things out every day, while we get a crack at it only once a year. And a cook doesn't have to wait years to judge the results, as we sometimes do... In the end, of course, even the greatest chef is no better than the quality of his raw materials. He can cover up defects with a heavy sauce, just as you can mask the shortcomings of a wine with a lot of new oak, or a little residual sugar, but that'll never be great cooking. Like the chef, the wine maker should exalt his ingredients, the characteristics of the grapes he gets in a given year from a given vineyard. My job is to get the best out of the grape."

2009 River Village Cellars White Wine

Released Memorial Day Weekend
 May 29 and 31

Alcohol 12.9%

A blend of everything we could salvage! Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Riesling, Chardonnay and other miscellaneous whites. A tough vintage.

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.)
 

There is no 2009 Riesling, white Revelation, or Traminette.
There is no 2008 red Revelation.

2009 Wine Releases - All 2007 red wine and 2008 white wine is sold out at the winery.
These wines may still be available throughout Ohio in some wine stores.

Released Labor Day Weekend 2009

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

If we had named the winery "Glacier's End", I wouldn't get emails like this one!

From a William Kinkead descendant, Charles in Kentucky...

"A good friend of mine was recently in Ohio and brought me a bottle of your cabernet; it was superb! My Great Grandfather x4 was William Kinkead, and I wanted to enquire into the possibly of purchasing a case, and getting it shipped to KY. "

Review in August 2010 from dogswine.blogspot.com

"This wine has been sitting in the cellar since I picked it up at the winery last September. Since the new 2008 vintage is out in two weeks it was time to see what a year of bottle aging did for the 2007 wine.

The color was a medium to dark red in the glass with a slight purple edge to the rim. Still young. The nose was full out fruit and a large whiff of oak with some vanilla and cinnamon peeking out. The first impression from tasting the wine was a dry Coca Cola with some black cherry syrup mixed in for good measure. The wine was full bodied with a great mouth feel. The flavors finally settled down to the dark cherries playing with some fresh oak and spices. It was warm and inviting. Good acid, good depth of flavors and a nice bite a the finish made this wine go down quite easily. This is a big wine with the flavor and the oak influence, but it was well balanced and delicious."
 

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."

Review from Italy!

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!"
 

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."

From H., Woodbury NJ

"Had the 2007 Cabernet Franc at Christmas. It was outstanding."

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

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From one of our wholesale customers: "We have had your cab franc on our flight menu for about a week now. I cannot begin to tell you the remarkable response we are getting. If I had the supply, I would have already sold more than 3 cases of it! The flight has your cab franc, another Ohio cab blend (made from California grapes) and a Napa Cabernet. Every single person who has tried the flight has picked yours as the favorite--most of them have asked to buy at least one bottle. Two people asked to buy a case.

You wouldn't believe how thrilled I am to have some that I can offer people on our flight menu! I am so grateful that you were able to bring those to me!"

Customer review: March 2011

A note about the 2007 Cabernet Franc: "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!!!"

And another:

"We had a bottle of the Cabernet Franc at Murphin Ridge Inn this weekend and were blown away that a wine that good could come out of Ohio. We are fans of Cabernet Franc, preferring those from the Loire Valley in France (oh, to have a steady supply of Clos Rougeard). So coming across your finely crafted wine was a true delight. Well done, indeed."

December 2010

From a friend of the wine buyer for Whole Foods Columbus who owns a restaurant in Colorado and imports wine from the Languedoc.

"My dear friend
Last week Janie and I were in Languedoc doing our blends. Every year my producers put on a lunch for us and everyone brings a wine to serve blind. So I brought over a bottle of the delicious 2007 Cab Franc you sent me. Everyone guessed classified Bordeaux including a British MW who was present. It was superb. Please tell them the French love their wine!!!"

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

From Dan McGrew, January 2010:

"I decided it was time to try one of the 2007 Kinkead Ridge reds and opted for the Cabernet Franc, primarily because that was the wine where my hand first came to rest...

Definitely a big nose on the wine and some dark fruit peeking out. When dinner was ready we swirled and tasted. The nose was still somewhat closed but rich, ripe fruit was foremost. The color was medium dark and youngish. There was also some oak in the nose. The wine tasted of dark cherries over the top of some more tart red cherries. There was a hint of tobacco in the nose, but I couldn't pick it up in the taste. The oak was there as well, coating the side of the tongue. This is a big, full flavored wine. There was good acid and a long finish that ended with some deep, dark fruit and a final bit of tannin. Good wine that is still a year or more away from being ready, but with a good hearty beef dish it's certainly an option right now.

The wine is 84% Cabernet Franc and 16% Petit Verdot, and I suspect the the PV was responsible for that dark tannic finish."

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.

 

""IMO, this is the best winery for red wines in Ohio. And, 2007 was the best vintage in these parts in a long time. Perhaps it truly will be a vintage of the century. I drank this bottle over two nights. $18 Ohio. Ruby in color with some opaque qualities to it. On the first night, it showed plenty of raspberries and some cassis. While these remained, on Day 2, a bit of green tobacco and an underlying earthiness came out. On the palate, this was medium bodied raspberry juice on Day 1, but it put on weight and showed much more complexity on Day 2. Layers of fruit and earth. I think a year or two in the cellar (or at least a couple of hours in a decanter), but this is a quality Cab Franc. It does not have any off green flavors. Want to impress someone with the quality of an Ohio red wine? This is it. And, the price is very reasonable for the quality."

According to Andrew Hall, Lenn Thompson, New York Wine Blogger gave this wine 4 out of 5 stars.

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

Released Memorial Day Weekend 2009

August 23, 2009: Only about 80 cases left. We have decided not to enter this wine into the 2009 AWS competition because it will be sold out or close to when awards are announced in December. So we will never know if it would have gotten a Gold or Double Gold medal.

From Tom Day:
"Kinkead Ridge's 2008 Viognier/Roussanne jumped into my top five this year."

From Aaron Fetters on www.uncorkedcincinnati.com
"this is a white from one of my favorite Ohio River Valley wineries that we picked up last weekend, and wow do I love it! I know Ron and Nancy out at Kinkead Ridge are very excited about this wine and after tasting it I understand why. This wine is SO refreshing and flavorful all at the same time - it made a wonderful pairing with our cajun shrimp and pasta alfredo tonight! It's a 57% Viognier, 43% Roussanne blend and I detect a bit of honeysuckle on the nose in addition to the fruit forward aromas. In your mouth the wine has just a tinge of tingliness and I actually noticed a bit of spice, almost like ginger or something, again, in addition to the very flavorful fruit notes like orange and pear.

I've always been a big fan or Ron's red wines such as his 2006 Revelation Red and before that the 2005 Syrah, but this white may actually be my favorite wine he has produced. The wine runs $15.95 a bottle and is well worth that."

Mike Rosenberg on Viognier:

"Viognier is a notoriously tough grape to grow. One theory about the name of the grape is that because of low yields and susceptibility to mildew, "Viognier" is actually a modification of the Latin "via Gehennae" -- which means "road to hell." ... Viognier is most well known as a component in many of France's Rhone wines."

Rated 87 by the Wine Enthusiast. # Review: This fun, flirty Viognier/Roussanne blend starts with lively lemon and citrus aromas and leads into a joyful blend of curvy honey and plucky spice. Fruit and acidity are in good balance. A pretty wine with character. - S.K. (2009-11-12)
 

A Rhone blend of aristocratic varieties. The Viognier was hand-harvested on September 27 and the Roussanne on October 2. 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. Serve slightly chilled. Alcohol 14.8% by volume. Production: 367 cases. $15.95

From David Schildknecht, who writes for
Robert Parker. He tasted this wine at a "Dinner Club" menu at Nectar, Cincinnati, featuring peaches.

"Then I noted Kinkead Ridge 2008 white and thought "hm ... peaches and Viognier ... and this wine has been good before." It was not only a terrific wine - one of many in my mind that demonstrate why Viognier is a bit too much on its own but can be great blended - but superb with our favorite course, the farro salad with grilled peach, Pecorino, and basil and pistachio pesto. (It was also nice with the salmon.) "

Photo Credit: Shane Gamble, taken at 2009 Gourmet Sensation

November 2009, from Dan McGrew:

"The wine could still use some time in the bottle, but there was more than enough to like about it now. Fresh and young, it tasted like a very good Rhone wine. The melon flavors were there along with some earthy spice, a little citrus and tart young grapes. It had the oily mouthfeel of a Condrieu. It was great with the turkey and with its notes of citrus peel it matched well with the oyster stuffing."

From Jeremy, Columbus

"For the fifth time in as many weeks, your 2008 Viognier/Roussanne has comprehensively kicked our wine loving tail ends. We have loved Elk Cove Pinot Blanc/Gris's for 15 years but this blend of yours makes us not worry about the Columbus distributors who can't seem to buy enough. We simply buy all we can find of your spectacular stuff. The only thing better than hoarding all we can find for ourselves is forcing it down someone's throat who think all Ohio wine has to be cloying. Thank you for all your hard work.......

Please understand that our crab cakes this evening were better because of Kinkead Ridge...."..
_____

Releasied 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.

From: WineJoy blog

"Kinkead Ridge would rank at the top for me for Ohio wine producers. Located in the Ohio River Valley, their vinifera wines can stand their own against any wines at similar price points on the West Coast. Their 2008 whites were released Memorial Day weekend and I got to taste through them with Nancy of Kinkead Ridge a couple weeks ago.

You can't go wrong with any of the lineup, but I was a fan of the Revelation White Wine, a blend of 55% Sauvignon Blanc, 40% Semillon and 5% "experimental grapes," all estate grown. On the nose, there was orange citrus and light grass clippings. Very restrained so it will continue to open and evolve in the next couple months. On the palate, a creamier texture than expected, but backed with good acid. Orange peel and white peach skins with some zing of minerality. Beautiful wine for $13.99."

 

March 6, 2010. Review from Andrew Hall, wine blogger Columbus

2008 Revelation White. Predominantly Sauvignon Blanc, this was the clear winner in the 2008 white line-up. Crisp mineral and herbal nose with nice persistence. Good lines and cut. Nice intensity of the acidity and mineral. Nice integration which carries its 14%abv well. A revisit showed an elegant side to this wine. Very good, best white Revelation I’ve had. Wide open for business as well.

From Dan McGrew, wine blogger (http:://www.dogswine.blogspot.com)

"After a brief chill we pulled the cork on a Kinkead Ridge white Revelation from the 2008 vintage. The wine is mostly sauvignon blanc and semillion with a few other varieties blended in for good measure. It was tart and fresh with a great herbaceous feel to it. There was a little bit of apple and a small bit of pear in the wine and maybe just a touch of yellow fig, but the acid is was its greatest asset. The wine tasted like spring and that's what I was looking for. The wine retails for $14 and is 14% ABV. "

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.

The 2008 Riesling was in the top 11 2nd annual Ohio Michigan wine clash, and was the least expensive wine on the list at $11.95.

Review in October 2010 by Dan McGrew, Dayton Blogger

"Yesterday we opened the 2008 vintage as a precursor to an Italian meal. Crystal clear color of pale gold in the glass the wine hit you with a brief whiff of kerosene before settling down to smelling of lime zest and wet rocks in the rain. Medium body with flavors to match the nose. Good citrusy quality, a touch of the wet rock and some herbaceousness on the front of the tongue and great acid on the back end. Good flavor to finish with a touch of sweetness at the end and then the last little bit of acid to clear the palate. It was a great match with some grilled shrimp with garlic, rosemary, lemon zest and lemon juice.

Riesling may not be Kinkead Ridge's best wine but to me it has been the most consistent over the number of vintages I've consumed. They are always good, sound and flavorful and true to the grape. They are also fairly priced."

From Eric Asimov, NY Times, The Pour blog about Riesling. "Kinkead Ridge, 40 miles east of Cincinnati, produces a crisp, easily drinkable Riesling, and has done so for several years. It’s not at the level of a good German Riesling, but there are hints and suggestions of those wines that makes the $12 or $13 price worth the search. Production is small but the dedication and quality is high. It’s wonderful to have a local wine in Ohio that is highly drinkable and delicious."

A post on Mark Squire's bulletin board, on www.erobertparker.com

From LS:

"2008 Kinkead Ridge Riesling (Ohio)
From one of the best wineries in Ohio. Green/silver in color, clear and bright. The nose has nice green apple notes. Medium bodied. Dry. On the palate, this is nice but on day 1, not too complex. I am told it was just delivered to my local store so there may be some bottle/travel shock. On day 2, it picked up the intensity a bit. Mostly fresh green apples with a hint of minerals. Nice finish. A nice wine, and at $12, a pretty good value. I look forward to trying the Roussanne which I have heard good things about. 50+3+12+16+7=88"

The Naked Vine Blog, all about Riesling:

http://www.thenakedvine.net/2009/08/riesling-redux.html

2008 Riesling Good nose with some verve and apple blossom notes. Nice citrus fruit notes here, but lacks the mineral verve and spine I want from Riesling. Like the V/R, ripeness of the ‘08 vintage doesn’t work for me in whites, but the alcohol is balanced here and I think is a little residual sugar which gives it body, not sweetness. (A lot of wines have this, but most don’t tell you.) I think a little time to relax from bottling will bring this to life.

Riesling Renaissance: America
From "Riesling Rules", www. RieslingRules.com

Click here

"Once again Riesling in on the rise among wine lovers. According to ACNielsen, Riesling is the #1 fastest growing varietal for the 52-week period ending December 15th, 2007... The variety's recent success has much to do with our evolving tastes in food and wine and our interest in food an wine pairing. Top American chefs and sommeliers have known for some time that Riesling is an extraordinary food companion, especially for "challenging" dishes... Riesling is a versatile food wine because its crisp acidity cuts through the richness of meats and sauces, while its fruit sweetness pairs well with spicy cuisine and lighter, more flavorful food styles... And relative to other great wines of the world, Riesling still represents an amazing value in terms of price for quality. This is a great time to be, or become, a lover of Riesling."
 

Released Memorial Day Weekend 2009

2009 Harvest Report

We ended up with about 35% of a full crop and will likely have no first-label wines. All the wines are clean and sound. The whites in particular are coming around and should be a good fit for our value-driven second-label River Village Cellars. As always with a tough vintage, it's too soon to tell for the reds. Confronted by the realities of the 2009 vintage, a professional wine spinner might be tempted to represent this vintage as a difficult one, but nonetheless with some "great wines produced". Unfortunately said spinner (typically a marketing person for a winery, or a spokesperson for a wine trade organization) would be well advised to take early retirement! 2009 was quite simply the worst vintage I have ever witnessed or experienced as a grower. It is on a par with the dismal 1977 and 1984 vintages in Oregon. We did have a promising start to the vintage with moderate weather and we missed the spring frost which decimated vineyards in northern Ohio. Then in July, the weather turned cold and wet and stayed that way through October. Our crew did the best job of canopy management ever, but to no avail. Enormous disease pressure combined with the need for extended hang time meant that we ended up selectively picking everything to avoid rot. It some cases, picking cost more than the fruit was worth.

2008 Harvest Report

As I write this in late February, the wines from 2008 have been cleaned up and are showing very well. After a cool spring which delayed bloom, the weather turned generally warm and dry until late October. Harvest dates were later than usual due to the late bloom, but full maturity was obtained on all varieties save for Petit Verdot. Brix levels were mid-20s on some varietals.
Despite extensive shoot and crop thinning, yields were high, and in some cases higher than desired. Sugar and flavor intensity levels were also high with more complexity shown in the wines than in 2007. Overall, in this winegrower's opinion, 2008 might be the best vintage yet for Kinkead Ridge. Stars for 2008 include the White Revelation (to be released Memorial Day weekend 2009) and the Cabernet Sauvignon (Released Labor Day weekend 2010). See above for a description of the past vintages.
Ron Barrett, Winegrower
 

Click here to request a copy of our retail outlets. There are two wine stores in Cincinnati that can ship within Ohio or out-of-state.

If you can't find our wines, please have your  local wine store call us at 937-392-6077, and we can arrange a delivery to them for your convenience. We do use natural cork, the best quality we can buy. But cork is a natural product, subject to failure. If you purchase a bottle of our wine that you believe is corked, please return the bottle, cork and contents to us or the wine store. We will arrange for a replacement or refund.

For information about older vintages, please check the "Earlier Vintages" link above. Some of these wines may still be available in wine stores and restaurants throughout Ohio.

A quote from Loren Sonkin on Mark Squire's bulletin board, regarding the
2008 Ohio/Michigan Wine Challenge:
"The final group was miscellaneous reds. The group’s favorites mirrored mine for this flight. They were the 2006 Kinkead Ridge Revelation Red, the 2006 River Village Syrah, the 2005 South River Karma, and the 2006 Fenn Valley Cabernet Franc. All of these are $15 or less. Mine, and the groups’ favorite came from Kinkead Ridge.
They are an Ohio Valley winery just east of Cincinnati and
in my opinion making the best red wines in Ohio.
I would easily spend the $15 on the Revelation
 or around $20 for the Cabernet Sauvignon (which was not in the tasting)."

Click here for a one page summary of our 2010 releases

Click here for a one page summary of our 2009 releases
 
Click here for a one page summary of our 2008 releases

Click here for a one page summary of our 2007 releases
 

Released in May 2008, the 2007 white wine impacted by the frost sold out in two weeks. Released in May 2007, the 2006 white wine sold out in 3 months; released in September 2007, the 2005 Petit Verdot sold out in two weeks; the 2005 Syrah, Cabernet Franc sold out in April.  We enter several wine competitions a year, and we are approaching the point where the wines are sold out before medals are awarded! So it's great to acquire our wines before that happens.