Posts Written OnSeptember 2005

Basic Juice Wine Meme — The Best in the Last 30

My Utah-living vinobrother Beau of Basic Juice has started a wine meme — with two tails, and he’s called upon me as his first "tag, you’re it" victim. For wine bloggers, he’s interested in knowing what the best wine (bottle or glass) is that I’ve tasted in the last 30 days. I’ve tasted so many wines in that span that it’s tough to say…but luckily I’ve got my handy dandy wine notebook to guide me. Thumbing through, there are several contenders…but the winner is:

The First New Wines From Old Vines at Vineyard 48

                    I first introduced you to Vineyard 48 in early May when they released their first wines under the Vineyard 48 label. Even though Italian-born Rose Pipia and her son Joseph Pipia had taken over the old Bidwell Winery in Cutchogue a year before that, the wines were really old Bidwell stock that was tweaked by winemaker Mathew Berenz and winemaking consultant Roman Roth of Wolffer Estate. While most of the releases were palatable, the ten-dollar red table blend was probably my favorite.                    Everyone at Vineyard 48…

Long Island’s Route 48 Wine Trail Featured on Dr. Vino Wine Blog

Head on over to Dr. Vino, one of the world’s seven best wine blogs, to read a piece I wrote about Long Island’s Route 48 Wine Trail. The story started as an email exchange between Doc and myself…and has turned into a three-part serious on Long Island wineries. In coming weeks I’ll be exploring Long Island’s other wine trails — Route 25 and the Hamptons. Check out the story and if you have any questions, feel free to get in touch with me.

Wine Blogging Wednesday Logo Design Contest

I’m pleased to announce the first contest here at LENNDEVOURS — the Wine Blogging Wednesday Logo Design Contest. It’s pretty simple…I think WBW needs a logo, an icon if you will, to take it even further in the food and wine blogging world. This logo would be used to: Identify each month’s host (they could put it on their blog’s homepage) Announce new themes every month (in the post itself) Make the designer famous in the blogosphere, or even more famous depending on the winner I’m not going to set forth a bunch of rules for this…that mutes creativity. Here’s…

Wine Blogging Wednesday #14 Announced — New New-World Pinot Noir

Ah pinot noir. Sideways sure helped but I think it’s popularity was on the rise even before the movie’s release. For October’s vintage of Wine Blogging Wednesday, Jens of Cincinnati Wine Garage has chosen the theme New New-World Pinot Noir. What is new New-World pinot noir? That would be New World Pinot Noir that doesn’t come from France or the West Coast of the United States. You know I’m game for this topic, as New York is producing some good pinot these days (and I happen to have several I may taste through for WBW)…and I expect we’ll see a…

An Idea Whose Time Has Definitely Come

You may or may not know this, but New York State passed a law a year or so ago that allows you to take home wine (from a bottle) that you don’t finish at a restaurant. Not many people know this — including many restaurants — so it’s important to get the word out.   There are, of course, conditions that must be met to avoid being in violation of NY’s open container laws, including: The wine has to be purchased with a "full-course meal" The restaurant must provide a dated receipt for the meal and the wine The bottle…

Wine Blogging Wednesday #13 Round Up — Like Wine for Chocolate

September’s vintage of Wine Blogging Wednesday has come and gone — so head on over to Chocolate & Zucchini and read Clotilde’s round up of WBW #13 Like Water for Chocolate.  I know that this was probably one of my favorite vintages of WBW and judging by the fact that we had 56 participants (a new record!)…I’m not alone. Keep an eye out for the annoucement of Wine Blogging Wednesday #14. And thanks again, Clotilde, for the great theme idea and serving as our humble host. You’re the best. Want to host an upcoming episode of the world’s premier wine…

Orphan Wines Worth Taking Home With You

Every few months, the “wine for review” portion of my wine cellar begins to overflow with bottles that I refer to as “orphans.” These wines are new releases from local wineries that just haven’t worked their way into my articles – often because I can’t devote an entire column to just one or two new releases – not because they aren’t column-worthy. Pet adoptions is a wonderfully rewarding experience (we just adopted a beagle puppy from Kent Animal Shelter in Calverton) and taking one of these orphan wines home with you can be, too. Adopt one of these wines today.

Ben Gets in on the Act

It was really only a matter of time…children (and apparently puppies) learn by watching and emulating their parents. Our little guy, Ben Roethlisbeagle has officially started his wine education, sniffing at just about every glass of wine poured in the LENNDEVOURS household. At right, the pup prodigy can be seen enjoying the aromas found in Laurel Lake Vineyards’ 2003 Pinot Noir. He liked what he smelled…and let’s face it, his nose is the most astute in the house. Maybe we have the next (first?) Robert Barker on our hands.

Riding a Wave at Waters Crest Winery

Waters Crest Winery, co-owned by Jim and Linda Waters, is still a relatively new winery, tucked into a small industrial park in Cutchogue. And while the tasting room and production facilities may be among the smallest around, the wines that come out of them are far from diminutive. To the Waters’, the winery is truly a family affair. Visit on most any day and you’re just about guaranteed to meet Jim, Linda or even their daughters. They are a warm, charming family and they’ll make you feel right at home as you taste the wines and, if you like, get…