Posts Written OnMarch 2008

American Wine Blog Awards 2008: Vote for Your Favorites

While I was enjoying my trip to Pittsburgh last week, the finalists for the 2008 American Wine Blog Awards were named over at Fermentation. Some of my favorite blogs are among the potential winners, so congratulations to them. If you’re to scurry over to Tom’s blog to vote for LENNDEVOURS in the "single-subject blog" category, I’m sorry to say that I didn’t make the group of finalists in that category this year. It’s hard to know why, but it is what it is. It’s easy to argue with how any set of awards is run — no one is perfect,…

Job Posting: Retail Operations Manager at Peconic Bay Winery

The following job opening at Peconic Bay Winery was emailed to me this morning: Retail Operations ManagerEstablished in 1979, this winery was among the first handful of founding wine properties  in what is now a vibrant 3500 acre wine-growing region on Long Island’s bucolic North Fork – just 90 miles from mid-town Manhattan. The winery and tasting room grounds center on a turn-of-the-century family homestead in the heart of Cutchogue, NY. There are open lawns, and beautiful vistas across the surrounding vineyards. Located directly on “The Long Island Wine Trail (Route 25)”, the winery receives excellent seasonal traffic flows driving…

Wine Blogging Wednesday #44 Announced: French Cabernet Franc with Gary Vaynerchuk

Just in case you live under a rock and missed it, Gary Vaynerchuk, the man behind Wine Library TV will be hosting the next edition of Wine Blogging Wednesday. His theme, not surprisingly, is French Cabernet Franc. Gary loves these wines and so do I, so it’s a theme I’m looking forward to. Of course, those who love over-extracted fruit bombs instead of nuanced, earthy-veggie-herbal reds, may not enjoy it as much. But hopefully they’ll try something outside of their comfort zone. Join Gary Vaynerchuk on April 2 for WBW #44.

Diploma Dispatches: USA…But Where is New York?

By Sasha Smith, NYC Correspondent So my plan was to use this week’s class—North America, minus California—as a jumping off point to talk about my visit to the North Fork over the weekend. Because surely we were going to taste a NY wine in class, right? Right? There was an Oregon Pinot Noir that I liked quite a bit, intrigued by the potpourri-meets-wet-leaves nose. A spicy, cheap Petite Sirah from Baja was more than drinkable. A luscious Inniskillin ice wine was much, much more than that. Andrew Will’s 2004 Champoux, a well-structured Bordeaux blend, made me wish I had been…

Heading to Cleveland Today

Later this morning, Nena and I are heading to Cleveland for a day of culinary enjoyment (we hope!). Our first stop will be West Side Market, where a lunch of brats awaits us I think. Did I say lunch? Maybe a pre-lunch snack? When I asked Michael Ruhlman where to have lunch, the brats were his first response, and who am I to argue? We have to at least try one. Then, I’m hoping we can make it over to Great Lakes Brewing Company for a beer and maybe to pick up some of their more interesting stuff to take…

Pittsburgh Travels: Log Cabin Inn

Well, the trip to Pittsburgh, with Jackson, went far better than I expected it to. True, he only napped for 45 minutes of the 7 1/2 hour trip rather than the 3 hours or so he would have had we not been on the road, but we made good time and Jackson has been the talk of the town since we arrived. Okay, maybe just within my extended family, but he’s the star none the less. Yesterday, Nena, Jackson and I, along with my sister, parents and grandparents, went to Log Cabin Inn in Harmony, PA, just north of my…

LENNDEVOURS on the Road: Pittsburgh

Tomorrow morning, shortly after Jackson has breakfast, the Thompson clan will be heading west to Pittsburgh to visit family. We’ll be in western PA for most of the week, but fear not — blogging silence won’t be necessary. In fact, there will be plenty of New York wine coming with us and we also have some blog-worthy meals planned already. Nena and I are cooking for the family Monday night at home. Then Tuesday, we’re meeting up with one of my fraternity brothers and his wife for dinner at Willow. Wednesday we’re heading to the northern part of the state…

WTN: Shinn Estate Vineyards 2005 Cabernet Franc (North Fork of Long Island)

I like several of the others, but my favorite of Shinn Estate Vineyards’ current red releases is their 2005 Cabernet Franc ($39). Extremely aromatic, the nose is a mélange of raspberry, cherry, earth, herbs and Moroccan spice market aromas. Gentle tannins provide just the right structure for a wine that deftly balances fruit flavor with nice earthiness and spice. Raspberries, sage, grilled mushrooms and savory spice mingle on the palate showing both intensity and nuance. This is the sort of wine, despite the price, that proves cabernet franc just might be Long Island’s best red variety. Simply delicious, and with…

“Harvest Memory” by Christopher Watkins

The first group places stacks of plastic tubs at every row’s end for the next group that’s approaching; they’ll be grabbed up on the turn. Remaining in the rows are the full tubs loaded down with weighty clusters, for collection by the third group in the rear. Most everyone is Guatemalan, and gloved, clippers in their hands or in their pockets. Low to the ground and broad of back, the Guatemalan bodies suit their tasks. The air crackles with the sound of water droplets on a burner set to high; the clippers clipping briskly in the crispy morning air. There…

WTN: Shinn Estate Vineyards 2005 Estate Merlot (North Fork of Long Island)

Many of the 2005 merlots that I’ve tasted have been big, plush and — frankly — not very true to Long Island’s unique terroir. These reds lean more towards California in style, at least in their youth, and aren’t very good values. Lovers of true Long Island wines should thank Shinn Estate Vineyards for staying true to the region with their Shinn Estate Vineyards 2005 Estate Merlot ($27). It’s a ripe, but surprisingly understated and agile red with blackberry, raspberry and plum on an expressive nose that is filled out with herbs, mocha, earth and vanilla. Similar flavors come through…