Tastingtable
By Lenn Thompson, Editor-in-Chief

Some quick-hit reviews from the New York Cork Report Tasting Table over the last week or two.

Dr. Konstantin Frank 2007 Pinot Noir ($20): Toasty vanilla, cherry, plum and dried leaf earthiness a nice, aromatic nose. Medium body, black cherry and plum, oak, leather, vanilla and spice. Low acid and low tannin. Soft, earthy on medium finish. Rating: 25 (2.5 out of 5 | Average-to-Very Good)

Macari Vineyards 2005 Estate Merlot ($19): Leaf tobacco, red cherry and mulberry, with nice herbal component and a surprising amount of black pepper on the nose. Medium-light bodied and well balanced. A little juicy on the mid-palate, but a nice core of red cherry with tobacco, minty-thyme herbs and spicy oak. Medium intensity tannings that are well incorporated. 30 (3 out of 5 | Recommended)  

Pellegrini Vineyards 2004 Merlot ($20): Black raspberry, dried thyme and oregano, earthy tobacco and vanilla on the nose. Medium body with lighter tannins. Black raspberry and blueberry fruit on the palate with spice, herbs and vanilla-oak. Abrupt finish. Rating: 25 (2.5 out of 5 | Average-to-Very Good)

Roanoke Vineyards 2008 Chardonnay ($18): 82% stainless steel. Nose is vaguely sauv blanc-ish with lemony citrus, fresh herbs, delicate honey and a touch of vanilla oak. Medium bodied and citrusy up front with passionfruit, honey, vanilla and toasty oak. Firm acid. Lemony-vanilla short finish. Rating: 25 (2.5 out of 5 | Average-to-Very Good)

Stoney Lonesome 2007 Pinot Noir ($17): Simple cherry-strawberry preserves and vanilla on the nose. Light body. Juicy and straight forward red fruit. Sour cherry with vanilla and a little smokiness. Good-to-high acid and low tannins. Rating: Rating: 20 (2 out of 5 | Average)

White Springs Vineyards 2007 Pinot Noir ($18): Surprisingly light nose with only extremely faint cranberry-cinnamon compote aromas. A little leafy not in a good way. Very light style, high-toned cranberry, red apple and high, shrill acidity. A little stemmy, again in a bad way. Rating: 15 (1.5 out of 5 | Not Recommended-to-Average)