Posts Written OnNovember 2008

A Week of 3s Here on LENNDEVOURS

Do bad things come in threes? We're going to find out this week on LENNDEVOURS as we embark on a fun little week-long project where I'm going to blind taste three wines with some sort of connection every day and write about them. Included in these trios is a mini-vertical and a few different horizontals. Specifically, the trios will be: Three baco noir wines from the Hudson Valley made by Hudson-Chatham Winery, Warwick Valley Winery and Benmarl Winery Three rieslings from Peconic Bay Winery from the 2003, 2004 and 2005 vintages. Three 2007 roses from Croteaux Vineyards that are made…

Drink Charitably: Twitter Taste Live w/ Humanitas Wines (November 21)

Twitter Taste Live is surely one of the most exciting things going on in the online wine world today… and I'm thrilled to be hosting for the first time on November 21 at 8 p.m. What was once a monthly event has grown to the point that I can barely keep up with all of the TTL goings on, but I'm really excited to tell you about the one I'm hosting later this month. I know what you're all thinking: "Which New York winery has Lenn worked with on this?" Well, this time around anyway, the answer is "None of…

C. Donatiello Winery: The Aroma Garden

Not every wine-related happening from my recent trip to California was directly related to the Wine Bloggers Conference. One non-WBC event was a trip to C. Donatiello Winery in Healdsburg. I'll be writing more about the visit and the wines (which were among the best I tasted on the trip) but for now, I wanted to share this video I took of owner Chris Donatiello showing us the aroma garden. All of the plants offer flavors and aromas often found in the two varieties they focus on — chardonnay and pinot noir. Thanks to both Chris and also to Joel…

More Finger Lakes Riesling Invades California

The following is a guest post from Bob Madill, owner of Sheldrake Point Vineyards and Chair of the Finger Lakes Wine Alliance, who recently attended Copia's RieslingFest 2008. Nothing like picking a few Finger Lakes rieslings to showcase in Napa, California at Copia.  What a novel idea.  A Riesling festival in the heart of Cab land. So on behalf of the Finger Lakes Wine Alliance (FLWA) country mouse traveled to Napa lugging cases of wine to pour at RieslingFest on October 19, 2008. Ten dry Rieslings from 2007 and all awarded a Wine Spectator score of 84+. Copia, the "non-profit…

Hudson Valley Wine Bar to Open at Albany International Airport

I just read this morning that a new Hudson Valley Wine Bar will be opening at Albany International Airport. I haven't been able to dig up any further information about it like who is running it, what wines will be available, etc. but this is a great thing. I think that every regional airport should have a wine bar that offers the wines (and beers) made in the neighborhood. If anyone flies into or out of Albany, stop by and let me know how it is.

Macari Vineyards 2008 “Early Wine” Chardonnay (North Fork of Long Island)

Outside of Beaujolais Nouveau (and we all know how over-hyped and mediocre those wines are) there aren't many opportunities to taste wines only weeks after the grapes were harvested. But every year Macari Vineyards' Early Wine is one such wine that I look forward to. As the name implies, this 100% chardonnay wine is an extremely early release.  In fact, just about everything about this wine is early. It was harvested on September 9, bottled October 16 and then released October 23. Just over 1,700 cases were produced. The 2008 edition pours extremely pale greenish yellow in the glass —…

New York Cork Club: October’s Selections

Wines like those in our October shipment are why I enjoy picking the wines for the New York Cork Club. The only independent wine club for New York wines. A lot of people complain about the prices of New York wines (particularly those from Long Island) but both of these wines represent terrific values. If you like balanced, nuanced wines that is. First up is a wine from a tiny producer that doesn't event have a tasting room yet (though they are working on it): Scarola Vineyards 2005 Masseria Merlot ($16), a great value in Long Island merlot from a…