I am really glad to see that Millbrook Winery is taking the lead on wine education.  This summer they have been hosting a series of wine education classes once a month Saturday evenings.  A few weeks back I was suppose to be fishing off the coast of Massachusetts but family illness kept me in the Hudson Valley.  Making the best use of my time, I attended the Burgundy Wine Tasting at Millbrook that was taught by Bob Brink who is the chief wine buyer at Arlington Wines & Liquors.

The wines being tasted were 4 white wine selections and 4 red wine selections.  Of course one selection in each group was a wine from Millbrook.

Paul and I sat in the back of the tent quietly as the tasting began. We tasted through the whites and began the reds. The last selection of red was the 2008 Millbrook Pinot Noir Block Three East.  Bob was so excited about this wine.  He said “This makes the statement that New York is producing World Class Wines.” Then he brought me into the conversation about this wine winning the Hudson Valley Wine Competition.  It was the 2007 Block Three East that won the Best Hudson Valley Wine in the 2009 competition.  I wasn’t expecting that, but was delighted that I could add to the seminar.

There is one more wine seminar on Saturday August 13 – Loire Valley Wines with Valerie Antoine.  For more info visit the Millbrook Vineyards website

Here are the wines and my notes from the tasting.

Bernard Moreau Bourgogne Blanc 2009 – Melon lime and tangerine on nose with hints of minerals.  Palate is citrus and light.  Mineral after taste.  Wine was lightly oaked and finished in steel.

Chanson Vier-Clesse 2008 – Nose is musty and minerally.  Palate – high acidity, founded feeling, lime, lemony and racy.

Louis Latour Chassagne-Montrachet 2008 – retails for $30. Spice on the nose with some limestone.  Palate, not much flavor with a tart finish.

Millbrook Chardonnay Proprietor’s Special Reserve 2009 – Grown on 2 acres with 1300 cases produced.  Aged in 80% 2yr old French oak.  Nose oaky with pear aromas.  The palate had pear, nice body with hints of oak.

Henri Delagrange Bourgogne Hautes-Cotes de Beaune 2009 – retails for $20.  The appearance was bright and exciting with aromas of cooked strawberry jam.  Palate had nice acidity, lean linear taste, sour cherry, red fruit and bright red fruits pop out on the finish.

Domaine Thenard Givry Premier Cru Clos Saint-Pierre 2006 – retails for $25.  Aged in 34% new oak and the rest neutral oak. The appearance was brickish, with a nose of cranberry, anisette and tea.  Strong anisette on the taste with fine tannins.

Nicolas Potel Nuits-Saint-Georges 2006 – retails for $54.  Aged in neutral oak and made with old vines.  The nose of maraschino cherries, strawberry and oak.  Palate is rich on the entry and full of cherries.

Millbrook Pinot Noir Block Three East 2008 – Nose of earth, mushroom and black cherry leading way to a palate of mushrooms, cooking spice and dark fruit.