Please note all retail prices are estimates and may be higher/lower depending on your geography!
CIDERS
2017 Floral Terranes Cider, “Outlands” ~$13 retail
This is a collection of the moraine sites, running along the north shore Long Island. The most integrated of all the ciders, this is in turns funky, earthy and saline (is it too much to project the salinity of the Long Island sound into this cider? probably), yet also clean and driving. Not too lush, not too cut – really lovely balance and energy. For the price, KILLER. Stock up, if for no other reason than this is the only cider or wine with the quantities that make “stocking up” somewhat realistic.
2017 Floral Terranes Cider, Restoration Farm ~$17 retail
Much different, wilder than the “Outlands,” the Restoration Farm is much more explosive, vivid, showing an almost technicolor green nose – some implausible combination of sea salt, lime zest, granny smith apple and wild flowers. On the palate, it is denser than you might expect, a bit meatier with riper stone fruits and a sort of suave, rounded acidity. For those who care, this is a blend of Golden Russet, Newtown Pippin, Northern Spy, Black Gilly Flower and two other non-identified apples.
2017 Floral Terranes Cider, Rosemary Farm (Seminary) ~$20 retail
An absolutely exuberant nose, again, reverberating with that wiley green nose similar to the Restoration Farm (above) – maybe a bit more green, more herbal, with spearmint, anise, fennel and a bunch of shit I’m too old to identify. The palate is really where the difference is, vis-à-vis the Restoration. The Rosemary Farm is much sharper, the acidity is more palpable and direct. If the Restoration is a bit more Burgundy, slinky and sexy, the Rosemary Farm is Riesling, sharp and cutting.
2017 Floral Terranes Cider, Banbury Farm (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Site) ~$20 retail
* 8 cases available (12 x 500ml) *
A very, very slight spritz (almost like the delicate edge of a fine Moselle) elevates this, the darkest and chewiest of the ciders. While there was no maceration here, the tiny, radical crab apples are very high in tannin and so the cider is plush and textural. Good acids because of a relatively early harvest (August 25th or so), but still the core of this cider shows dark apple skin notes, a certain creaminess, almost nougat and milk, edged and brightened by a fascinating spearmint edge. Powerful and contemplative.
WINES
2017 Floral Terranes Goldmuskateller Southhold Farm ~$25 retail
* 17 cases available (12 x 750ml) *
Really clean, beautiful, luxurious nose, dried apricot and peach, candied stone fruits: great high-toned acid, with a honey core edged by lemon pith and citrus. As luxurious and decadent as the nose is, the wine itself is actually quite taut, linear, clean, tannic, structured. Almost austere on the palate, fresh, stony and grassy with grape skin phenolics. A beautiful and fascinating wine; a wild one. Will develop nicely.
2017 Floral Terranes “MX” Southhold Farm ~$30 retail
* 6 cases available (12 x 750ml) *
A blend of Teroldogo, Lagrein and Syrah, this wine is sourced from one single row at Southhold Farm. Dark fruited, saturating and spicy, this inky wine nonetheless shows a great acidity and remains fresh and poised. Still young and burly; can’t wait to see where this goes.