A visit to Ravenhurst / Busch-Harris

The Lake Erie shore and the Ohio River Valley tend to dominant discussions about Ohio wines. There are quality producers in central Ohio ( Quality in my backyard? ) and I have been equally guilt in giving them short-shrift. One of the oldest is Ravenhurst Champagne Cellars (no website). There wines are on the list at one of the top restaurants in central Ohio ( The Refectory ) and I have very much enjoyed their top of the line sparkling for its aged-Champagne-like qualities.

I have never taken the opportunity to visit and rectified that when returning from a snowboarding trip at Mad River Mountain. They were not open for tasting, but I did purchase a case of their wines (they are not commonly for sale at retail) and, since they were sold out, the last bottle of their Terre Riche at a local drive-thru. I then invited some of my usual gang of local, local wine-tasters for a tasting. The notes are mine and there was a rare degree of uniformity with my tasters.

 

RAVENHURST / BUSCH-HARRIS - (2/27/2010)

 

First off were the sparkling wines.

• N.V. Ravenhurst Blanc de Blanc - USA, Ohio
  Good mousse. Slight funk on the nose. Very light and short on the finish, but a good finesse and some fruit. Just on the positive side of enjoyable and will likely knit together some more. (Liked less by my tasters. )
• N.V. Ravenhurst La Terre Riche Brut Rosé - USA, Ohio
  Ugly color - candy pink. Nice body and structure with a good persistence. Slightly lemonhead fruit and nice crispness. Good. (Very liked with a couple of exceptions.)
• N.V. Ravenhurst Petit Rouge - USA, Ohio
  Cruciform nose. Some good fruit and body, but also displaying that same funk and not in balance.
• N.V. Ravenhurst Chambourcin Brut Noir - USA, Ohio
  Cough syrup on the nose and palate. Or maybe cheap cherry lambic according to a friend. Just not correct.

 

N.V. Ravenhurst La Terre Riche Grande Cuvee - USA, Ohio Damn. Nice sherried character on the with a full body, beautiful tiny mousse. Develops a kettle corn nose and a cider-y aged Calvados aspect on the finish - in a very good way. Stylish and perspicacious. Really loved it.  (Greatly like by the tasters and really revelatory.) It is a shame they are not making this anymore.

 

Under the Busch Harris label, they make a series of still wines.

 

• 2007 Busch Harris Pinot Noir - USA, Ohio
  Not much nose. Thin, some berry elements. Metallic grill grate cleaning scent/taste. Stems. Not integrated and overall lacking.
• 2008 Busch Harris Cabernet Franc - USA, Ohio
  Odd nose with garden elements. Nice berry juice quality on the palate. Dr Pepper aspects. Very tight and tannic. Overall good. (My tasters liked it more than I.)
• 2006 Busch Harris Cabernet Sauvignon Second Son of Hammer - USA, Ohio
  Not good. Oak, alcohol. Off-tannins. A mess.

 

In years where conditions are right, they make botrytis-ized sweet wine. Two of the vintages in particular were really good and worth special consideration. Greatly loved by the tasters.

2007 Ravenhurst Deux Corbeaux - USA, Ohio Oatmeal on the nose. Slight cognac element from alcohol. Liqueur and honey elements. Odd finish with artificial element. Nice legs and overall good.

• 2006 Ravenhurst Deux Corbeaux - USA, Ohio
  Green, herbal bitters on the nose, slightly acrid. Good sweetness and acidity and white pepper on the finish. Green bitter elements do overwhelm and this doesn't work.

2004 Ravenhurst Deux Corbeaux - USA, Ohio Nice honeyed nose with some poire and spice. Really pretty textures with a delicate finish. Balanced and on point all around. Very nice.

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