Posts Written OnJanuary 2007

WTN: Shinn Estate Vineyards 2004 Estate Merlot

Shinn Estate Vineyards, still a relative newcomer to the Long Island wine scene, gets a ton of press for its "green" vineyard practices and its owners’ pedigree as Manhattan restaurateurs. I’ve written about them several times here on LENNDEVOURS and elsewhere. And yes, it’s true that David Page and Barbara Shinn employ several progressive sustainable and near-organic farming techniques in their North Fork vineyard. Their Greenwich Village restaurant, Home, is also a successful exhibition of local, seasonal food and wine. But it’s important not to forget about the fermented grape juice they bottle and stop with a cork. Their wines…

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WTN: Kinkead Ridge 2004 Cabernet Franc

As someone who was born and raised in western Pennsylvania, four things come to mind when I think about neighboring Ohio: Bad drivers Sea World Cedar Point amusement park The much-hated Cleveland Browns. I wouldn’t go so far as to say that I was raised to loathe our neighbors to the west, but they definitely weren’t looked upon fondly. Now, after tasting the wines of Kinkead Ridge Estate Winery, there is at least one thing I can say that I love about the Buckeye State. Located just outside of Ripley, Ohio, Kinkead Ridge Winery grows only vinifera grapes in their…

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Thinking About Rating/Scoring/Grading Systems

This blog is almost three years old, and over those thousand or so days I’ve often waffled and wavered on using scoring/grading/rating systems when reviewing wine. I’ve never considered using the 100-point scale because, frankly, I’m not sure that I can discern a 90-point wine from a 91-point one. And, I don’t think very many of you, my readers, can either. For quite a while, I used the A through F, but I found it very limiting — to the point that I found myself grading wines as a C+/B- which I guess is either a C++ or a B–.…

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Will Lenn Be the Biggest Loser?

It seems that most everyone says they are going to lose weight at the beginning of every year, but I know that I rarely follow through with it. But this year, I’m going to try to be the biggest loser. I have to admit that I’ve never watched the TV show "The Biggest Loser" but starting Monday I’ll be taking part in a local version with several of the teachers (with some spouses sprinkled in) at Nena’s school. For the next 16 weeks I’ll have to weigh in once a week and report back to my team and to the…

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Decanting the Family Through the Holidays (by Christopher Watkins)

Decanting the Family Through the HolidaysBy Christopher Watkins They pour through the door  with all the wild aggression of a blood-crimson Cabernet   cascading past the thin lips of a glistening and primed    fine decanter, landing at our table—  voices splashing and breaking— just as wine does  on the bubble at the base of a decanter’s  fragrant belly. With time, these sharp components  settle soft into the whole, down the sides of our chairs,   into the warmth of a waiting meal— camaraderie and community—  and the night takes on the smooth, even-bodied  integration of a perfectly aged blend—  a…

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Introducing Christopher Watkins, LENNDEVOURS’ Poet Laureate

It is with great pleasure that I introduce you to LENNDEVOURS’ newest contributor, and first poet laureate, Christopher Watkins. Chris is a poet and songwriter. His chapbook "Short Houses With Wide Porches" is forthcoming from Shady Lane Press, the publishing arm of The Kerouac Project. His poems are appearing or have appeared in The George Washington Review, Euphony, Talking River, Red Rock Review, and the anthology In Our Own Words: A Generation Defining Itself (MWE Press), among others. He was the Fall 2006 writer-in-residence at The Jack Kerouac Writer-in-Residence Project of Orlando. As a songwriter, he has released five albums…

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Long Island Wines in the Blogosphere

You have probably noticed already, but Long Island wines have made their way onto a few other blogs of late. Just before Xmas, Eric Asimov from the New York Times wrote about The Grapes of Roth 2001 Merlot on his blog, The Pour. Eric is clearly a fan of Long Island wines, making him one of the first prominent wine writers to wake up. The Wine Cask Blog, long one of my favorites, has also been reviewing the Lenz Winery portfolio of late, including: Lenz Winery 2000 Cuvee Sparkling Lenz Winery 2001 Old Vines Merlot Lenz Winery 2004 Old Vines…

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January Issue of canvas Magazine

The January issue of canvas magazine has hit news stands as well as the Internet. I think this issue is particularly interesting, with a great story on the power of herbs, a short piece on North Fork Table and Inn, and one about mini-vacations for Long Islanders. The more I get involved with this publication, the more I enjoy the people, the content and its goals. Check it out.

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Resolutions for 2007

Nena likes to tell me that I’m a man of a million great ideas…follow through is the problem. In my mind I’ve written numerous books, started several companies and completed numerous projects. In the vein, I’m also big on making New Year’s resolutions, but I don’t always make them happen. I guess my resolve isn’t what it could be. But, I’m not one to give up…so I keep making them and keep trying to be better about following through. So, here are my food- and wine-related resolutions for 2007: Eat Less Crappy Takeout. With all that is going on in…

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