Whom You Know is Thrilled to Kick off Coverage of Fox Run Vineyards!
Made in New York!
Everyone loves a great Chardonnay, and the Reserve Chardonnay Kaiser Vineyard 2011 Seneca Lake from Fox Run Vineyards is definitely one to try! It’s one of those Chardonnays that anyone can enjoy because it’s not too oaky and not too citrusy. It has just the right combination of each: a little bit of oak, a little bit of citrus… a lot of flavor.
This Chardonnay is refreshing, medium-bodied, flavorful. It can hold its own and is delicious both by itself and with a great meal. I paired it with some delicious sautéed tilapia and roasted broccoli (with lemon zest, almonds and parmesan). What a great combination! The citrus in the wine was a fantastic highlight to the fish, and the oakiness and full flavor held its own against the broccoli (which had a lot of flavor itself). I look forward to trying more from Fox Run Vineyards… the Chardonnay definitely impressed me!
The Fox Run Vineyard Reserve Chardonnay is from the Kaiser Vineyard at Seneca Lake, New York, Fox Run’s oldest vineyard. I could taste herbs as well as pear, citrus and spice flavors with a subtle mineral overtone. This Chardonnay is not too “oakey”, as are many California chardonnays. This delightful wine was a perfect match for my dinner of paleo lasagna --lasagna layered with zucchini, almond flour and a rich Bolognese meat sauce. A real treat! It was lovely. Refreshing, yet strong enough to stand up to the meat. A wonderful sipping wine for cocktail parties. Or for a lobster dinner!
For a crisp, clean finish to a summer afternoon, open a bottle of chilled Fox Run chardonnay. With a perfect balance of oak with a citrus edge, their Reserve Chardonnay Kaiser Vineyard 2011 will bring cheer to the table. White wines are a natural in the summertime, or as a transitional mood extender to each season, and Fox Run has an extensive portfolio to satisfy your taste. If you see their lands on the website, you’ll want to run out to the vineyards and celebrate the experience in person in one of their tasting events. Savor this particular Chardonnay as an aperitif or have it with dinner.
It’s a wine that Julia Child might have had all through the show, and toasted the audience afterwards with her iconic “Bon Appetit”. I made a satisfying acorn squash/pine nuts/rice and raisin dinner, and enjoyed the oaky finish of the Chardonnay with the delicate flavors of the meal. It would marry well with a fish, or even a chicken dinner. It’s a wine to have in stock, for guests, and for yourself after a long day at work.
Who doesn't love wine? Yes, everyone loves wine but let's be honest all wines are not created equally, especially when it comes to Chardonnay. I was delighted to try Chardonnay Kaiser Vineyard 2011 Seneca Lake. This lovely Chardonnay from the finger lakes region is wonderful. The cool climate of the finger lakes is ideal for making the perfect Chardonnay. I liked the slight oaky flavor paired with slight citrus undertones.
Chardonnay Kaiser Vineyard 2011 Seneca Lake is a great brunch wine, as it pairs very nicely with frittatas, eggs, and salads. It would also be wonderful with seafood and cheese.
Reserve Chardonnay Kaiser Vineyard 2011 Seneca Lake from Fox Run Vineyards is Highly Recommended by Whom You Know.
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Fox Run sits high on Torrey Ridge, overlooking one of the deepest parts of Seneca Lake. With fifty acres of eastern-facing vineyards, on glacial soils of broken shale and sandy loam, the winery produces a remarkable range of limited production, site expressive estate wines. Under the dynamic, forward-looking ownership of Scott and Ruth Osborn, Fox Run is one of the first artisanal wine producers in the cool-climate Finger Lakes region of New York State.
Vineyard Source: Fox Run Vineyards Block 1, Established 1984, Clays and silts with shallow topsoil, Elevation 580 ft.
Varietal Composition: 100% Chardonnay
Growing Conditions: 2011 was one of the most unusual growing seasons in memory. A wet spring gave way to hot, sunny and dry conditions from late June until early August. The end of the season saw plenty of rain, but also enough sun to fully ripen the grapes. White wines form this vintage are among the best in our history.
The Winemaking
Harvest Date: September 16, 2011
Brix At Harvest: 20.8º B
Vinification: The fruit was machine picked in the early morning when temperatures were still cool. The grapes were crushed and pressed, and the juice was settled overnight. After racking, the juice was inoculated with our favorite yeast strain, then transferred into barrels. Fermentation lasted nine days. The wine was left on its yeast lees for a further six months, after which the barrels were combined in a stainless steel tank. After settling and filtration, the wine was ready for bottling.
The Wine
Residual Sugar: 0.2%
pH: 3.33
Acidity: 6.7 g/L
Alcohol: 12.1%
Bottling Date: August 29, 2012
Production: 1500 cases
On The Palate
Classic cool-climate Chardonnay aroma notes: pear, apple, and green olive, supported by hints of oak and creamy yeast. Snappy and refreshing on the palate, with medium body and great flavor persistence.
FOX RUN VINEYARDS · 800.636.9786 · 
Under the passionate ownership of Scott Osborn and Ruth Osborn, Fox Run Vineyards is one of the first and truly great artisanal wine producers in the cool-climate Finger Lakes region of New York State.
Fox Run sits high on Torrey Ridge, overlooking one of the deepest parts of Seneca Lake. With fifty acres of east facing vineyards on glacial soils, the winery produces a remarkable range of limited-production, site-expressive estate wines. For more than a century Fox Run was a dairy farm. The first grapes were
planted in 1984 and the Civil War-era dairy barn was converted to a winemaking facility in 1990 – three years before Scott Osborn took over the helm.
Working closely with winemaker Peter Bell and vineyard manager John Kaiser, the Osborns are dedicated to a program of minimal intervention winemaking. With sustainable practices in both vineyard and cellar, Fox Run adheres to a low impact agricultural philosophy – protecting the di- verse ecosystem present on its land and the pristine waters of Seneca Lake.
In 2012, Fox Run Vineyards became exclusively family-owned. Scott and Ruth Osborn, together with Kathleen and Albert Zafonte, Ruth Osborn’s sister and brother- in-law are setting the course for an exciting new chapter. “We are redefining our legacy”, says Scott Osborn. “The team is tight here.
Our acclaimed winemaker, Peter Bell, has overseen 18 estate vintages and John Kaiser, our vineyard manager, began developing the vineyards in 1984 – even before I set eyes on this magnificent property. We are all excited about the future here and our focus will center on the signature wines of the estate.”
Producing 15,000 cases annually, Fox Run Vineyards plantings include: Riesling, Chardonnay, Gewurztraminer, Lemberger, Cabernet Franc, and Pinot Noir. Current releases include Riesling, Reserve Riesling, Chardonnay, Reserve Chardonnay, Lemberger, Lemberger Rosé and Pinot Noir. Fox Run also produces a Meritage blended from Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc plus a Blanc de Blancs sparkler made from estate Chardonnay.
There are several wood-aged fortified wines – including a Tawny and Ruby-Style Port. Hedonia, a White Port, is made entirely from Traminette grapes. The
Geology Series represents Rieslings sourced from specific vineyard blocks on the estate, that lie within the boundaries of ancient lakes and shorelines.
In 1996, a new wine facility was completed with state-of-the-art capabilities
and views of Seneca Lake that remain unrivaled. In 2001, architects Jim Durfee and Scott Hemenway redesigned the original dairy barn, creating a new wine center and tasting room that maintains the original rustic character, while taking further advantage of the dramatic panoramic views of Seneca Lake. The original barrel room remains at the heart of the 2001 design, retaining the dramatic timber frame character and soaring space. Pine plank floors and timber detailing extend the “Finger Lakes” style and an expansive stone terrace extends behind the building. The impressive wine center also features a market and café where visi- tors can stock up on specialty items from the Empire State, or sit down to flights of signature Fox Run wines, well-matched to selections of local farmstead cheeses and farm-to-table specials.
and views of Seneca Lake that remain unrivaled. In 2001, architects Jim Durfee and Scott Hemenway redesigned the original dairy barn, creating a new wine center and tasting room that maintains the original rustic character, while taking further advantage of the dramatic panoramic views of Seneca Lake. The original barrel room remains at the heart of the 2001 design, retaining the dramatic timber frame character and soaring space. Pine plank floors and timber detailing extend the “Finger Lakes” style and an expansive stone terrace extends behind the building. The impressive wine center also features a market and café where visi- tors can stock up on specialty items from the Empire State, or sit down to flights of signature Fox Run wines, well-matched to selections of local farmstead cheeses and farm-to-table specials.
Scott & Ruth Osborn
For Scott Osborn, international politics were the first interest of this Rochester, NY native. The son of two professors, Osborn attended the Friends World College with campuses all over the world, and studied in Kenya, India, Thailand, Japan, and England. After college, in the mid 1970s,
he went into the real estate development business in Lake County California, where he discovered his passion for wine. In 1980 he took his first job in the industry, labeling bottles at Konocti Winery. His aptitude led to cellar master positions at Zaca Mesa and Byron Winery.
Returning east in 1986, Osborn soon realized that the Finger Lakes region was where he wanted to make his mark producing wine, eventually with his own winery.
Osborn is a frequent participant in wine judgings,
panel discussions, and symposia relating to fine wine production in the Finger Lakes.