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Pinnacle Wine and Liquor

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Pinnacle Wine and Liquor

Pinnacle Wine and Liquor Rochester, NY, wine and spirits shop with a finely curated collection of spirits and fine wines, incl

02/07/2025

Something very cool is happening in the Obermosel.

This region of Germany, close to the border with Luxembourg and a bit under 100 miles from the more famous Mosel area, is home to one of Germany's most exciting young winemakers, Jonas Dostert. He is primarily working with Elbling, which thrives on the gentle slopes and limestone soil in the Obermosel. While the grape used to cover most of Germany and Luxembourg in medieval times, it's now the 23rd most planted grape in the country (bet you can't name 23 German grape varieties!). It is high in acid and low in alcohol; the best description I've read for the role it plays in the area is that it's like Aligoté's relationship to Chardonnay in Burgundy.

Dostert is harolding in a new age for Elbling, showing its enormous potential. The grape is usually made into refreshing, pretty neutral bottles; not in Dosert's hands. He studied under Leflaive in Burgundy and he still uses fûts from the region to age his wines. He picks his grapes earlier than others, presses directly and then puts the wines directly into barrels for relatively long periods of élevage. The wines are then bottled with no filtering and minimal use of sulfur.

Dostert's Pure Dolomite cuvée is a blend of Elbling (40%) and Chardonnay (60%). It's got the fleshiness of Chardonnay balanced by the stoney, minerality of Elbling. The slightly rounder texture of this wine makes it more elegant and austere than you would expect. If you love high acid wines like I do, you'll be thrilled with this!

You can get this in-store (German and natural sections) or online at the link below:

https://www.pinnacleliquor.com/wines/Jonas-Dostert-Jonas-Dostert-Pure-Dolomite-2022-w8570924ko

02/05/2025

Fourth gen winegrower Jean-Francois Debourg () tends 40 hectares of organically certified vineyards in southern Beaujolais's Saint-Germain Nuelles. While his family has grown grapes since 1850, Jean-Francois only began making his own wines in 2016 under the mentorship of natural wine producer Francois Ecot ( L’Insolent Négoce).

His Numero MMXVIII cuvée, named for his son Clément, showcases the potential of carefully farmed Gamay. Following natural winemaking principles, the grapes ferment with indigenous yeasts and age for 30 months on fine lees in large wooden vats without added sulfites.

The resulting wine is softly textured and generous, offering beautiful notes of black currant, cherry, raspberry, and forest floor. This is a classic, slightly rustic French bistro wine to me. We got this wine through the teeny tiny distributor (kiki.et.romeo.selections), so you won't find this one in too many spots. Have it with friends, have it at family dinner, have it whenever!

You can get this wine in-store in our natural section or at the link below:

https://www.pinnacleliquor.com/wines/Jean-FranA-ois-Debourg-Jean-FranA-ois-Debourg-NumA-ro-MMXVIII-2018-w0786307e6

02/04/2025

Here are this week’s Cooks’ World/Pinnacle Liquor Cocktails of the Week from the Libation Lounge Blog: Three delicious, low-alcohol cocktails using one of the best Spanish vermouths you’ll ever taste.

Pinnacle recently added another sherry vermouth to its shelves—Navazos Palazzi Vermut Rojo—and I’m really enjoying this expression! It’s an excellent, moderately sweet oloroso sherry infused with botanicals including savory, coriander, elderflower, juniper, and bitter orange peel. On the palate, this vermouth is full-bodied and fruit-forward, approaching the richness of a ruby port or even venturing into cream sherry territory. It’s incredibly delicious!

To learn about the vermouth and get the recipes, click through to the complete blog post. You’ll also find links to sources and some interesting background information: https://libationlounge.com/2025/02/02/cocktails-of-the-week-old-hickory-friends/

For a little Vermouth 101, also visit this Libation Lounge post: https://libationlounge.com/2023/09/13/i-know-why-you-dont-like-vermouth/

Get your ingredients here at Pinnacle Wine & Liquor and the cocktail tools and glassware you need from our friends at Cooks’ World!

01/30/2025

Last week, Matt had the privilege of tasting through a portion of 's direct import portfolio. This is when living in the state of New York pays off, as these wines are normally not available through regular distribution channels.

His close friend and sommelier extraordinaire Brian Butterfield (, ) joined him for this whirlwind one-day trip to New York, where he tasted through 22 wines selected by Erica Sigler, Kermit’s New York Wholesale Manager.

Erica and Matt go way back—she was one of the first reps to truly invest in Rochester when she represented the portfolio years ago, and we've always admired her commitment to giving so much of her time to restaurants and retailers here in Western NY. Matt credits her with introducing him to so many of the producers we love and rely on today.

Thanks to our direct partnership with KLM, we are excited to offer Matt's favorite wines from this tasting at some amazing prices. This sale has everything from a dry Muscat to an old vine Etna Rosso to Sciaccarello from Corsica (as well as some classic Kermit staples, like Rhone and Burgundy beauties).

Access the sale at the link below! We brought in 30 cases total; if we had to guess, they'll be gone by tomorrow morning.

https://www.pinnacleliquor.com/topics/Kermit-Lynch-Sale-g2721866hu?mc_cid=0cd853bec2&mc_eid=a8ecf706b5

01/29/2025

Mitch and Katie had an awesome time last night at the dinner at . Thank you so much to everybody who came! The wines and food were phenomenal. Big shoutout to Derek, the winemaker at Garage Wine Co; Abel, our rep; and Mike and his absolutely amazing staff at Carnegie Cellars, who absolutely nailed the pairings and service.

01/28/2025

There's three things to know about Patrick Meyer's wines, which he makes under the Julien Meyer label (his dad's name):

1.) They are very rarely imported into the US.
2.) The price to quality ratio is insane, especially for a wine that both natural and classical wine lovers can enjoy!
3.) Patrick Meyer is one of the OG natural winemakers in Alsace, a region that is huuuuge in the natural wine scene.

This wine, Les Pucelles Maceration, is a 100% biodynamically cultivated Gewürztraminer from Nothalten (halfway between Strasbourg and Colmar). The grapes are macerated for 1-2 weeks and then age in neutral barrels for up to a year -- a hallmark of Meyer's style is a slow maturation and intentional oxygenation, which adds complexity and amplitude to his wines.

I was a little worried I would find this wine too perfumey or funky for me (mea culpa!). I couldn't have been more wrong. This wine is just gorgeous. Floral, but not overwhelming, super fresh, saline, a bit mineral. This is not orange natty kombucha juice. This is a real, beautifully constructed grown up wine. It's something special.

Aaron Ayscough in his phenomenal book From The World of Natural Wine says: "After an early test run of chemical agriculture he'd been taught in school produced lamentable results, Meyer took a different approach, eventually embracing organic and later biodynamic certification... Today, alongside Jean-Pierre Frick, Meyer ranks among the most passionate biodynamics enthusiasts in Alsace, and often hosts training sessions for other vignerons." What's not to love?!

Get this bottle in our natural section or at the link below:

https://www.pinnacleliquor.com/wines/Julien-Meyer-Julien-Meyer-Les-Pucelles-Maceration-w1831180l1

01/24/2025

Here’s this week’s Cooks’ World/Pinnacle Liquor Cocktail of the Week from the Libation Lounge blog: The Caprice—a sweet, herbal variation on the classic Martini.

Click through to the complete blog post for more information and links to sources for what you’ll need: https://libationlounge.com/2025/01/24/cocktail-of-the-week-the-caprice/

Get your ingredients here at Pinnacle Wine & Liquor and the cocktail tools and glassware you need from our friends at Cooks’ World!

01/21/2025

German wine can be really intimidating to customers; luckily, we've got Mitch, who lived in Germany for a few years and is super passionate about the wines! Mitch here explains the concept of "GG" Rieslings, and you can read more information about them and peruse a list of all our current GGs in the store at the link below:

https://www.pinnacleliquor.com/websearch_results.html?tag=GG+Riesling

01/17/2025

This week’s Cooks’ World/Pinnacle Liquor Cocktail of the Week is here: Isolation Proof’s Limited Edition Orchard Gin—and four tasty cocktails you can make with it.

Isolation Proof Orchard Gin (now available at Pinnacle, but it’s a limited edition and won’t last long) provides a delightful twist on Old Tom Gin—full-bodied and infused with traditional gin botanicals, along with macerated wild apples (harvested from the distillery’s property), diced and dried pears, and a hint of Assam tea. In the name of public service, Marty finished an entire bottle of Orchard Gin to create and share four delicious recipes with us.

Click through to the complete blog post for all of the recipes and links to sources for what you’ll need: https://libationlounge.com/2025/01/17/cocktail-of-the-week-a-gin-to-transform-your-favorite-whiskey-and-rum-cocktails/

Get your ingredients here at Pinnacle Wine & Liquor and the cocktail tools and glassware you need from our friends at Cooks’ World!

01/15/2025

It seems that every time a customer comes back from a European vacation, they rave about how good the table wine is at the restaurants they visited (and yes, we are always very jealous). Imagine that same approachable, balanced style... from Oregon!

That is exactly what Kate Norris and Thomas Monroe set out to do when they founded Division Winemaking Company in Portland in 2010. Inspired by their stints in winemaking in the Loire, Beaujolais, Burgundy and the Northern Rhone, Kate and Thomas bring together a mix of varieties from the Pacific Northwest (their palate, as they call it) and maintain minimal manipulation in the cellar to make tasty bistro wines.

The Béton blend consists of a Loire clone of Cabernet Franc from the Applegate Valley, organic Côt (Malbec) fromYakima, a good bit of Gamay, and smaller amounts of Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon. After being aged for 5-6 months, this wine is beautifully balanced, complex but not overcomplicated, and never overly heavy or boozy.

Fresh notes of raspberries, strawberries, red currants, blackberries, and light floral flavors make this a really fun, delicious wine that still has depth and character -- perfect for the dinner table. You can find this wine at the link below or in-store in the natural section:

https://www.pinnacleliquor.com/wines/Division-Villages-Division-Villages-BA-ton-Red-2022-w829414946

01/10/2025

Jonas here!

Santi Degasperi and Nico Monforte have been friends since childhood and ended up going to oenology school together in Uruguay. After doing several solo adventures into the wine world within Uruguay and other countries, they ultimately partnered together to start making wine under the label Nakkal Wines in 2020. They strive to create wines that express the land they came from, vying for minimal intervention throughout the winemaking process.

The Nakcool Tinto is an exciting mix of Merlot grapes from Canelones and Muscat Ottonel grapes from abandoned vineyards in Rincón Del Cerro. The vineyards are located in two regions in the south of Uruguay, El Colorado, and Paso de La Arena. They are both hand harvested and fermented separately. The Merlot was the first to have been harvested, looking for low alcohol content and a lot of freshness, while the Muscat Ottonel was harvested at the maximum point of maturation, macerated with skins for a week to provide aromatics and body.

It’s got savory notes of pepper, rosemary, and mintiness that pair well with the sour cherry finish. Highly recommended if you’re looking for something lower alcohol by volume in the colder months! Pair with a delicious Pizza Wizard special or a veggie burger plate from Dogtown.

Get yours here:

https://www.pinnacleliquor.com/wines/Proyecto-Nakkal-Proyecto-Nakkal-Nakcool-Tinto-2024-w2579478xe

01/08/2025

is one of our favorite Chilean wine producers, so when we were asked to be the retail partner for a pairing dinner with the winery's founder Derek Mossman Knapp at beloved , we jumped at the chance!

Join us Tuesday, January 28 at 6:00PM to try five different Garage Wine Co. wines with Chef Blaise Russotti's expert pairings.

You can buy your ticket at the link below. If you're interested, act fast, because this event will sell out!

https://www.exploretock.com/carnegiecellars/event/526578/chilean-wine-pairing-5-course-dinner

P.S. We are Rochester's exclusive seller of the Garage Wine Co. wines, so even if you can't make it to the dinner, we've got four of the wines on the shelf!

01/07/2025

Salty wine lovers rejoice: this single vineyard Chardonnay from Les Maizières in Rully is drinking beautifully right now.

Burgundy fans already know François de Nicolay for his work as cellar manager at Chandon de Briailles, but may not be aware that he makes wines under his own name from organic/biodynamic négoce fruit in the same cellar. Nicolay uses minimal intervention techniques and doesn't add sulphur to the wine; his help on the domaine consists of 11 workers and 4 horses.

Aged for 14 months in used oak, this richly textured Chard is reductive, with salty, mineral notes that make the wine hard to put down. A touch nutty, a touch flinty, a touch fruity -- pair this wine with a white pizza or seafood and you'll be in Heaven (though I paired it with a slow Sunday at the store, and it worked just as well for that!).

Nicolay is one of the true non-interventionists in the region, and his wines are always a delight. Get yours at the below:

https://www.pinnacleliquor.com/wines/Francois-de-Nicolay-Francois-de-Nicolay-Rully-Les-Maizieres-2020-w3037374ec

01/03/2025

We're starting the new year with some updated hours! We will be open 10:00AM-7:00PM Monday-Thursday, 10:00AM-8:00PM Friday, 10:00AM-7:00PM Saturday, and 11:30AM-6:00PM Sunday.

12/31/2024

Here’s this week’s Cooks’ World/Pinnacle Liquor Cocktail of the Week from the Libation Lounge blog: The Winter Waltz—rye whiskey’s answer to mulled wine, rich with allspice and the aromas of Grandma’s kitchen.

Click through to the complete blog post for more information and links to sources for what you’ll need: https://libationlounge.com/2024/12/30/cocktail-of-the-week-winter-waltz/

Get your ingredients here at Pinnacle Wine & Liquor and the cocktail tools and glassware you need from our friends at Cooks’ World!

12/30/2024

There's something incredibly exciting happening in Champagne right now: a new generation of young vignerons inheriting their families' precious old vineyards and reimagining what's possible.

At just 30 years old, Adrien Renoir exemplifies this changing of the guard. He's taken the reins of his family's historic Grand Cru sites in the Montagne de Reims - massale-selected vines that his grandparents and parents tended for decades - and is crafting something entirely his own.

With only a few vintages under his belt, he's already turning heads.

Here's what makes this wine so special: it sits in this fascinating sweet spot between two styles of Champagne. It offers the broad, gastronomic depth that wine lovers seek in serious food wines, while also delivering the mineral tension and complexity that makes great Champagne so thrilling.

In the glass, it's a study in contrasts. The Pinot Noir (50%) provides a crescendoing texture - imagine a wave of flavor that builds and expands across your palate. Meanwhile, the Chardonnay (50%) delivers a mouthwatering mineral tension that keeps you coming back for more.
For the wine geeks among us, here's the technical side:
- All fruit comes from the Grand Cru village of Verzy
- The base vintage is enhanced with 20% reserve wine aged in large oak foudres
- 80% of the wine is vinified in stainless steel, with 20% in barrel
- 24 months aging on the lees develops that beautiful texture

At $81, this isn't an “everyday” Champagne. But here's the thing - I would happily pay $100 for this wine! When you think about the meticulous farming of old Grand Cru vines, the generous use of reserve wine, and the proper lees aging - it's an absolute steal. This is one of those bottles that reminds you why Champagne holds such a special place in the wine world.

Personally, this is what I'm drinking to celebrate the new year. Not convinced? just included it in his latest article about excellent Champagnes.

Get this in our Champagne section or at the link below! And a reminder: we will be open until 8:00pm tonight, and then from 9:30AM-6:00PM tomorrow.

https://www.pinnacleliquor.com/wines/Adrien-Renoir-Adrien-Renoir-Assemblage-Le-Terroir-Grand-Cru-Champagne-w6040519uo

12/27/2024

Here are our upcoming holiday hours:

Sunday 12/29: 11am-6pm
Monday 12/30: 9:30am-8pm
Tuesday 12/31: 8:30am-6pm
Wednesday 1/1: 11am-5pm
Thursday 1/2: 10am-7pm
Friday 1/3: 10am-8pm
Saturday 1/4: 10am-7pm

We're ready for all your New Year's needs and look forward to seeing you!

12/24/2024

We are open! We still have plenty of wine, liquor, and gift cards. We will be closing a bit early tonight at 6pm, so don’t be caught wineless 😆

Address

1720 Monroe Avenue
Rochester, NY
14618

Opening Hours

Monday	10am - 7pm
Tuesday	10am - 7pm
Wednesday	10am - 7pm
Thursday	10am - 7pm
Friday	10am - 7pm
Saturday	10am - 7pm
Sunday	12pm - 6pm

Telephone

+15852714931

Website

http://www.pinnacleliquor.com/

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Videos

GG Rieslings

German wine can be really intimidating to customers; luckily, we've got Mitch, who lived in Germany for a few years and is super passionate about the wines! Mitch here explains the concept of "GG" Rieslings, and you can read more information about them and peruse a list of all our current GGs in the store at the link below: https://www.pinnacleliquor.com/websearch_results.html?tag=GG+Riesling

Mystery Case Sale ALERT

On November 29th (Black Friday) at 12 pm we will offer up a huge sale for our text program that will give all of you the opportunity to grab some huge secret wine deals...that will cost you a mere $11.29 per bottle. Here's how it's going to work: 1. On 11/29 (Black Friday), we will send out a text message at noon with a link 2. The link will take you to an item on our site called "11.29 Secret Wine Sale" 3. These will be "surprise" cases filled with 12 different bottles from all over the world. 4. The case will contain all new finds (7 reds, 4 whites, 1 dry rosé) 5. The identity of the wines needs to remain anonymous so we do not undermine the wineries' original pricing. 6. You must purchase in case quantities 7. These are one-time offers and will never again be available at this price (on average $78 off per case) 8. I guarantee your satisfaction with every single bottle of wine. If you know me by now, you know that I don't sell junk to my clients. 9. Want to join the text list? Simply text the word "WINE" (no quotation marks) to 585-765-7564 or sign up via this link: https://widget.smsinfo.io/v2/aa6331c76d036394e687f81d1d1fe7b9?st-lid=12651020 P.S. The first 25 customers to order a Mystery Case on 11/29 will receive a FREE Finger Lakes Wine & Travel Card! This digital pass unlocks exclusive discounts at 50+ FLX spots like Wiemer, Weis, Keuka Spring, local breweries, and creameries. Perfect for exploring wine country and saving on tastings and bottles - it makes a great stocking stuffer for the wine lovers in your life!

Katie here: I don’t know if I’ve ever been so excited to walk into the store and see what came in the night before! This lineup from @bowlerwine and @terrestrialwine is INCREDIBLE. I’m about to blow my personal wine budget just on these guys. Here’s what just hit the shelves: 1. @maloofwines All Grapes Welcome, a gorgeous blend of Gamay, Pinot Gris, and Gewurztraminer, full of notes of cranberry and spice and perfect for the fall. New Jonas favorite! 2. @jolielaidewines Trousseau Gris, a fresh wine from nearly extinct vines planted in the 70s in Sonoma. Flavors of melon, white tea, and stone fruit, look for this one in Matt’s future emails! 3. @jolielaidewines Glou d’Etat, a juicy and extremely crushable blend of Grenache, Mourvedre and Syrah. Light, herbal, and carbonic goodness, this was a unanimous decision to bring in. 4. @stagiaire.wine Eternal Return, 100% Pinot Noir from dry-farmed vineyards over Monterey Bay. The winemaker Brent Mayeaux says this one reminds him of Alsatian Pinots, and that’s all we needed to hear! This is a new producer for us; Lyndsay happened to try them on her last trip to California and loved them, so we jumped on the chance to bring them in. 5. @fredcossard Bigotes Bourgogne Blanc. Lyndsay is a huge fan of this producer and drank them a lot when she was living in Paris. Gorgeous clean, chalky, mineral, and salty Chardonnay. 6. Cossard/Chassorney Saint-Romain Blanc Combe Bazin Quervis, Chardonnay from a single limestone vineyard in Saint-Romain. This is THE wine to try from the Cossard/Chassorney collab, and is full of tension and verve. Probably goes without saying, but it’s a Lyndsay fave! 7. @champagnechavost Blanc d’Assemblage right from the center of Champagne, which I am freaking out about. There is no sulfur added at bottling (crazy hard to do in Champagne) and fermentation is done via gravity. Pure and fresh deliciousness. These wines are now up in the store and will be up on the website in a few days. Cheer

Spooky season is here, and Jake has tips on how to celebrate! Ft. everyone's favorite boxed wine, Schplink from @communalbrands.

2024 Fireside 6-Pack

Our 2024 Fireside 6-Pack is live! Always a hit, these six reds are meant to offer depth of flavor and structure—in other words they are perfect for hearty meals or sipping by the fireplace. This year we've picked a "baby Châteauneuf" from the Rhone in France, an Australian Cabernet Sauvignon, a Montepulciano d'Abruzzo from Italy, a Pinot Noir from New Zealand, a Garnacha from Spain, and a Montefalco Rosso from Umbria in Italy. When you buy these as a six-pack you save 11% when compared to buying them individually, and as with all of our curated collections your satisfaction is guaranteed. Check them out and buy your pack here!: https://www.pinnacleliquor.com/wine-collections/2024-Pinnacle-Fireside-6-Pack-g6051066lx

Mitch's Pick: Vasse Felix Premier Chardonnay 2022

Lately Mitch and I have been talking about the hidden gems in our store that defy what you think you know about a wine region or category. A prime example is this Vasse Felix Premier Chardonnay, which would wow any Chardonnay, especially White Burgundy, fan. You can try it for yourself by getting a bottle in our Australia section or at this link: https://www.pinnacleliquor.com/wines/Vasse-Felix-Vasse-Felix-Premier-Chardonnay-2022-w6481035af

Have you seen our new expanded sake, soju, and shochu section? It’s growing by the day! 🇯🇵❤️🇰🇷

Brand new FLX wine project we’re obsessed with! Sustainably farmed, indigenous yeast, minimal SO2 Cab Franc, Chardonnay, and Riesling from @rias_wines on Seneca.

The parking lot is getting a new face lift over the next 2 days! Half the lot will be open and free parking on Glen Ellyn Way; stop in and see us for all your old and new favs!