A little over a year ago, Miguel Martin joined Palmer Vineyards as its new winemaker bringing nearly 20 years of experience at wineries like Gonzalez Byass, Robert Mondavi, Yalumba and Catera.
Obviously his coming to Long Island just in time for harvest means we won’t truly taste his impact until the 2007 vintage is released. Those will be the first wines that he nurtured in the fields as well as crafted in the cellar.
Still the 2006 was his first crush on Long Island and wines from that vintage are technically his first here as well.
This Palmer Vineyards 2006 Sauvignon Blanc ($17) is a nice start to Martin’s reign at Palmer, even if the price has gone up 30% since the 2004 release.
A pale yellow with a faint greenish tint, this wine offers citrusy, lightly herbal aromas with a distinct lemongrass note. The palate is ripe and citrus-driven with fresh acidity, a little more of that lemongrass, understated hints of herbs and a chaulky, minerally finish. Because of that lemongrass note, I think this wine would be great with Thai-style mussels.
Grape(s): Sauvignon Blanc
Producer: Palmer Vineyards
AVA: North Fork of Long Island
Price: $17
Rating: 
(3 out of 5 | Recommended)