Red Newt Cellars, Laboratory Series Notopthalmus 2012, Finger Lakes, New York

Tasting Note: A wine geek’s white blend that’s eminently accessible.

Lemon in color this aromatic wine has a nose of lychee, banana, passion fruit, and red apple compote with toasty, vanilla baking spice.

On the palate the off-dry, medium-bodied white blend expresses red apple on the attack followed by the flavors suggested on the nose.

This predominately pinot-gris-based blend is intriguing with gewürztraminer’s lychee quality juxtaposed against riesling’s tropical fruit character, both situated atop the more structured, and somewhat formal pinot gris.

The medium-acidity, wine could be brightened with a touch more acidity, but even at its current level, the wine sings.

Bottle Note: 72% Pinot Gris, 18% Gewurztraminer, 10% Riesling. Identifier: Notopthalmus. Rich and luscious. Spicy and fruity. Cool and delectable. Barrel fermented, malolactic, and not. Intriguing and intellectual. Guttural and ethereal. Meant to relish, intellectualize and enjoy.