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2010 Releases |
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2008 Cabernet Sauvignon

Releasing Labor Day Weekend
Sept. 4 and 6
100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Alcohol 15.0% |
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.
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"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." |
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2008 Cabernet
Franc

Releasing Labor Day Weekend
Sept. 4 and 6
100% Cabernet
Franc
Alcohol 15.0%
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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.
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"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/ |
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2008
Syrah

Releasing Labor Day Weekend
Sept. 4 and 6
100%
Syrah
Alcohol 15.2%
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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. |
"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." |
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2008 Petit Verdot

Releasing Labor Day
Weekend
Sept. 4 and 6
100% Petit Verdot
Alcohol 15.1%
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Hand-harvested on November 1, this intensely-colored
dark purple tannic complex wine displays a fragrant nose with tones of
violet and leather. Enjoy with beef, lamb, or wild game. $19.95.
Production: 76 cases. |
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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. |
SOLD OUT at the winery. Hand-harvested on October 1st and 5th, this complex
and enticing wine has the orange blossom and golden raisin aromas of
Viognier merging with the kiwi and guava aromas of Roussanne. An
excellent, dry wine with fish, shellfish, and poultry. Serve slightly
chilled. $14.95. Production: 126 cases. "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
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Here is the first on-line reviews of our 2009
vintage wines, courtesy of Dayton blogger "Two Dogs, A Flamingo and a
Bottle of Wine"
"2009 was a virtual disaster for production at Kinkead Ridge due to a
horrendously wet October, but they managed to salvage two white wines, 126
cases of their Viognier - Roussanne and 42 cases of all the other white
varieties blended together. In this case it was Chardonnay, Sauvignon
Blanc, Riesling, Semillion and whatever other grape happened to have a
little juice left in it. The wine was released under a second label,
River Village Cellars, and sold for a whopping $9.
The nose had some honey and some citrus peel, a wee bit of grass, and that
pretty much described the flavors as well. Their was some herbaceous taste
to the wine that I liked and I loved the sharp acid. Medium weight, light,
pleasant flavors, nice acidic finish. For the price you won't beat it.
Good hot weather wine.
The Viognier - Roussanne is usually two parts
Viognier to one part Roussanne but this vintage (2009) it became almost a
four to one ratio. This was a very different wine than in the past. It
lacked the depth of flavors and the viscosity that I always liked in this
blend, but it was still quite tasty. This wine is lighter in style but
still with a good nose of orange pith, a wee bit of lemongrass and bit of
blanched almonds. The taste goes more into light tropical with some kiwi
and ultra ripe peach. The acid is good and the finish more than acceptable
in length. Easy wine to drink and a very good effort for a poor year.
Sometime this autumn I crack open one of these alongside the last two
vintages of the same wine and have a shellfish meal to go along with it."Our 2009 harvest was a difficult one. We join the
ranks of vineyards throughout the world who have good years and bad years.
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." |
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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. |
Our second label, complex and aromatic everyday
wines. Hand-harvested on September 30th, this winegrower's blend is crisp
and refreshing. The wine has flavors of grapefruit, melon and pineapple
with a honey note and a mineral finish, and is a blend of Sauvignon Blanc,
Semillon, Riesling and our miscellaneous whites including Chardonnay. This
was a difficult, wet and cold vintage, which affected quantities. $9.95.
Production: only 42 cases. 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.)
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There is no 2009
Riesling, white Revelation, or Traminette.
There is no 2008 red Revelation. |
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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. |
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2007 Kinkead Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon

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. "
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SOLD OUT AT THE WINERY. Hand-harvested on October 12th, this dark ruby, well
structured, complex wine displays classic Cabernet aromas of cassis, plum
and black cherry. Aged 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. Alcohol 15.0% by volume. This wine is stylistically much more
similar to big California Cabernets than to our historic European style.
Production: 246 cases. $18.95 Production was limited due to the Easter
frost of 2007. Alcohol 14.9% by volume.
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."
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Feb. 2010 Review from Loren Sonkin on Mark Squires Bulletin Board. 90
points. "I think this is one of the best wineries in Ohio and certainly
the best for red wines. 2007 was also one of the best vintages in these
parts. I served this blind and Jeff thought it was local. Most others
found it to be very good although no one pegged it for a Cab. Light ruby
in color, clear and bright. The nose has pretty strawberry notes with some
cherries. A bit of an herbal note as well. Nice texture. This is a very
good red wine. I don't know about "varietal correctness" but it is
delicious. For $17 Ohio, I am going to lay down a few. I think it ages
well for 5 to 10 years as it got better all night long. (90 pts.)"
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!"
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2007 Kinkead Ridge Cabernet Franc (blended with
Petit Verdot)

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."
__________
Silver Medal, American Wine Society 2009
competition. Judged in October, only one month after release, and very
young.
_________
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!"
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SOLD OUT AT THE WINERY. 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
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.
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February 2010. Loren Sonkin rates this wine 90 points on
cellartracker.com. ""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." |
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." |
SOLD OUT AT THE WINERY.
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...."..
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The 2003 Viognier/Roussanne was rated as one of the Top 100 Exciting Wine
Finds in the World, Tom Stevenson, British editor of the New Sotheby's
Wine Encyclopedia. The 2005 was put out under our second label River
Village Cellars. The 2006 won a Gold Medal at the American Wine Society
Competition. The 2007 vintage was frosted, only 48 cases were made, so it
was not entered into competition. Don't miss this blockbuster! |
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2008 Kinkead Ridge white Revelation

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. |
SOLD OUT AT THE WINERY. Hand-harvested on September 20th, this winegrower's
blend is crisp, bright, aromatic and refreshing. The wine has aromas of
pineapple, grapefruit and melon, with a honey note and a mineral finish.
This zesty wine with bracing acidity stylistically resembles a French more
than a California character. A classic accompaniment to full-flavored
cuisine. In 2007 this blend was
predominantly Roussanne. This is like the 2006, a Sauvignon Blanc and
Semillon blend with other miscellaneous whites including a small amount of
Chardonnay. Production: 147 cases. Alcohol 14.0% by volume. $13.95
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."
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The 2007 Revelation was predominantly Roussanne, so this is like our prior
vintages which were Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon. 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. |
SOLD OUT AT THE WINERY. Hand-harvested on September 29th, honeysuckle,
banana, peach and ripe pear 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. Alcohol 12.1% by volume.
Production: 225 cases. $11.95 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 |
Review from Andrew Hall, wine blogger, Columbus
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."
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2008 River Village Cellars Traminette

Released Memorial Day Weekend 2009 |
SOLD OUT AT THE WINERY. Hand-harvested October 4th. Traminette is a new
world hybrid grape with a pronounced varietal character reminiscent of
Gewurztraminer from Alsace, which is one of its parents. Its fruity and
spicy nutmeg flavors, floral aroma and refreshing finish make it a perfect
match for Southwest and Asian cuisine. Served on its own, well chilled, it
makes a great sipping wine. 100% Traminette. Grapes grown in the Ohio
River Valley by Rock Springs Vineyard, Kentucky. Production 73 cases.
Alcohol 13% by volume. |
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There is no 2007
Syrah. |
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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 (releasing Labor Day
weekend 2010). See above for a description of the past vintages.
Ron Barrett, Winegrower
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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
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"Rest assured, the quality at Kinkead Ridge is very high, and I would
argue represents the best in Ohio and possibly the eastern US. I would
also add that yes indeed their terroir is worth expressing! A good sniff
and a quick taste will prove that to anyone. The important thing to me is
that these are not wines of ego, rather they are clearly wines of place.
Ron and Nancy have worked hard to clearly express the virtues of their
vineyard, and have given the wine drinking public something rare indeed…
an entirely new wine region, with its own unique combination of flavors
and aromas. To me this is exactly what fine wine is all about." Click here
to read all of Ann's writings about Kinkead Ridge.
--Chuck and Ann Boucher, Serendipity Wine Shop, Columbus
Although all our wines are priced under $20, this sentence resonated,
particularly 'the confidence of quality.' And this is why we have a second
label in some years. "When you spend more than $25 or $30--most of my
wines sell for $55 or more--when you spend more than that, you're not just
buying the intrinsic product--you're buying other things. You're buying
the rarity--you're buying the image, the confidence of quality." Allen
ShoupReleased 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.
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