Billsboro Winery was opened as Geneva's first winery in the spring of 2000 by Bob Pool and Jennifer Morris and is home to 26 acres of rolling hills, vineyards and forest. remembered commenting on an older post that this was may be the best Sauvignon Blanc I tasted outside of my favorites from New Zealand. That happened this week.

Here is what I like about them: The reds tend to be somewhat "old-world" in style - they offer complexity and balance that can be elusive among new world wines made with the big three Bordeaux grapes. They grow and make good Cabernet Franc. very tasty bottle of Loire Cab Franc from a good producer can cost about $15.

blend of 47% Merlot, 34% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 19% Cabernet Franc. Second Place - 2001 Sterling Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve, Napa Valley $68 : one 1st place vote, one 2nd place vote, one 3rd place vote = 9 points. blend of about 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, and the rest Petit Verdot. Simple

As is common in New York, a combination of artists and other intrepid souls in about 2000 began moving to Red Hook for the low rents. C&P Breton make Bourgueil ( boor-geye) wine, beloved in France as everyday drinking wine, and largely unknown here. These wines are made soley from cabernet franc.

We emerged from our tasting there with a few bottles of their 2002 Cabernet Franc Reserve and a 375 ml of a 2004 zippy desert wine made from late harvest chardonnay called Allegra. The 2000 Estate Selection Merlot is an excellent Bordeaux-styled wine, with plummy and earthy aromas, a light texture, and lots of dark fruit on the palate.