Apollo’s Praise: an exciting new producer in New York’s Finger Lakes wine region
Website: https://apollospraise.com/
This is an exciting new project in the Finger Lakes of New York State. Julia Hoyle (winemaker at Hosmer) and Kelby Russell (who was winemaker at Red Newt) managed to buy the Lahoma vineyard in 2023 from grower Ken Fulkerson. For a long time Lahoma had been the source of many of the best wines from Red Newt.
It’s a 20 acre site, and has some special plots, most notably The Knoll, a small hill (maybe hill is too strong a word).
The name Apollo’s Praise comes from Kelby’s musical interests: in a previous life he was an orchestra manager. He performed a song called Glorious Apollo with the Harvard Glee Club as an undergraduate.
Currently the wines are made in two locations. Kelby looks after some at Sheldrake Point, while Juila looks after some at Hosmer.
Apollo’s Praise Dry Riesling Lahoma Vineyard 2024 Finger Lakes, New York
This is made by Juila. 20% neutral French oak, 80% stainless steel. Macerated for 2-3 days, then inoculated with a range of strains. This is textural, dry and balanced with some weight to the citrus fruit, showing some depth and some fruit sweetness. Textured and nicely complex. 93/100
Apollo’s Praise The Knoll Riesling 2024 Finger Lakes, New York
This is made by Kelby. 5 days on skins then pressed off for wild ferment, all in stainless steel. Wonderful aromatics here, with lively spic-laden citrus fruit and a hint of apricot. Crystalline in the mouth. Textured, fine and pretty, but with structure. Such precision and purity. 95/100
Apollo’s Praise The Knoll Riesling 2023 Finger Lakes, New York
13% alcohol. Great to try this, the first release of the Knoll, the flagship wine from Kelby Russell and Julia Hoyle’s new venture, after they bought the vineyard that Kelby had been working with at Red Newt for many years. Fruit crushed, cold soaked for 4 days, then fermented with indigenous yeasts in tank. Lovely precision and detail with lime, lemon and then some almost floral notes, with great intensity. Such elegance and precision in the mouth, combining sweet citrus fruit with fine spicy detail, tapering to a fine finish. This has power and refinement and is truly exceptional. 95/100
Apollo’s Praise Lahoma Vineyard Riesling 2024 Finger Lakes, New York
Made in a Kabinett style, 56 g/l rs, 8.7 TA, 3.04 pH, 8% alcohol. Off-dry, juicy and lively with nice pure citrus fruit as well as melony richness. Good energy to this pretty wine. 94/100
Apollo’s Praise Pentecostal Block Riesling 2024 Finger Lakes, New York
This is from another hill 50 m away from the Knoll. Barrel-fermented, made in a Spätlese style. Off dry and textural with lovely balance and nice freshness, showing good balance and nice acidity countering the sweetness. 93/100
Apollo’s Praise Grüner Veltliner 2024 Finger Lakes, New York
There’s half an acre of this planted on the back part of the Knoll. Supple, fresh and textural with trademark white pepper and crystalline citrus fruit. Such texture here. Well balanced and fine, with nice length. 94/100
Apollo’s Praise Chardonnay 2024 Finger Lakes, New York
All fermented and aged in puncheons, some new. Fresh, linear and stylish with integrated oak, subtle mealy detail, some brightness and lovely balance. Pure and textural. 94/100
Apollo’s Praise Cabernet Franc Picardie 2024 Finger Lakes, New York
This isn’t all from Lahoma. Fresh and supple with raspberry and cherry fruit. Juicy, stony and mineral, with nice weight and lovely drinkability. 92/100
Apollo’s Praise Gamay Noir Lahoma 2024 Finger Lakes, New York
Fermented and aged in a 2500 litre cask. Some reduction. Juicy and crunchy with nice bright cherry and berry fruit, showing purity and freshness, finishimng bright with good energy. 93/100
