From Bryan Calandrelli: Porcupine Ridge Syrah 2008 I'm usually picky when it comes to syrah. In the past I've pretty much stuck to Northern Rhone, Washington State or Chilean efforts. For better or for worse I've avoided anything called shiraz just because I'm as close to a cool climate snob as anyone I know. This bottle of Porcupine Ridge 2008 Syrah from South Africa isn't something I would normally pick up, but our fellow correspondent's (Julia's) plan to intern a South African grape harvest made the region much more interesting. Although this one listed at 14.5% ABV, I gave it…
Posts Written OnDecember 2009
VOTE: The New York Cork Report 2009 Readers’ Choice Awards
We’re a couple days late getting these polls created and posted, but now is your chance to vote for the New York Cork Report 2009 Readers’ Choice Awards. Voting begins today and will continue until 11:59 p.m. on December 31. To help ensure that people vote only once, we are using every tool that Poll Daddy offers — including limiting each IP address to one vote and using cookies. We are also relying on the honesty and integrity of our readers. We will announce the winners early in 2010. Which was your favorite Finger Lakes wine of 2009?(online surveys) Which…
Middle Ages Brewing Company Wizard’s Winter Ale
By Kevin Burns, Beer Columnist One of the more underrated breweries in New York resides in Syracuse. Middle Ages Brewing Company opened in 1995 and makes only British style ales, all with Ringwood yeast. Middle Ages Brewing Company's Wizard's Winter Ale poured a clear, maroon color with a thumb width of off-white head. The aroma is deep, with biscuity malt and spices. The body is smooth with a little bready malt and some light spices. The finish is crisp and leaves a yeasty dryness on the palate. Wizard left a small amount of lace on the glass. Overall, not a…
Victorianbourg’s Bet On Pinot by the Lake Shore
By Bryan Calandrelli, Niagara Region Editor Last week’s opening of Victorianbourg Estate Winery in Wilson, NY is both exciting and important for the Niagara Wine Trail for several reasons. Obviously since our wine region is still so small, with only twelve wineries open, the term “the more the merrier” still rings true. Nearly any addition would be welcomed, but this one is made more exciting by the fact they are primarily using estate fruit for the purpose of making dry wines. When I met Victorianbourg owner Dan Hogue and I was impressed with what he is growing on his 50-acre…
An Introduction to Long Island Merlot
By Jason Feulner, Finger Lakes Correspondent Despite my relationship to Lenn and this blog, my encounters with Long Island wine have been ad hoc: a wine here, and a wine there, but never a firm introduction to what the region has to offer. With this in mind, I jumped at the chance the other day to attend a Long Island Merlot dinner at the New York Wine and Culinary Center in Canandaigua. The event was held in cooperation with the Long Island Merlot Alliance, an organization dedicated to the research and promotion of quality merlot production within the Long Island…
The New York Cork Report Readers’ Choice Awards Finalists
By Lenn Thompson, Editor-in-Chief Nominations closed last night at midnight for the New York Cork Club 2009 Readers' Choice Awards. All told, over 150 New York wines were nominated by you, our readers and after tallying them up, we have our 5 finalists from the Finger Lakes and 5 from Long Island. Unfortunately, no other region received enough nominations to choose finalists. The finalist are: Finger Lakes Anthony Road Wine Company 2008 Semi-Dry Riesling Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards Red Cat Heart & Hands Wine Company 2007 Barrel Select Pinot Noir Hermann J. Wiemer 2007 Dry Riesling Swedish Hill Winery Svenska Red…
The New York Cork Club Partners with BacchusWineOnline.com
By Lenn Thompson, Editor-in-Chief I'm excited to announce today that, starting with our January selections, I'll be partnering with BacchusWineOnline.com for The New York Cork Club, the one-of-a-kind wine club featuring wines that I hand-pick every month. Before telling you a bit about the new partnership, I'd like to thank Greene Grape, a great little wine shop in Brooklyn for all of their help and support to this point with the NYCC. But, as a smaller wine shop not necessarily focused on New York wines, Greene Grape was no longer the perfect fit for the club. Bacchus however, is…
Lenz Winery 2007 Old Vines Chardonnay
By Lenn Thompson, Editor-in-Chief Barrel-fermented chardonnay isn't my favorite style. That's well documented. But, that doesn't mean I can't appreciate one that is well-made. This Lenz Winery 2007 Old Vines Chardonnay ($25) is one that I appreciate. In fact, I went back to this a few times after my tasting was complete and enjoyed it quite a bit. Of course, it's not completely barrel fermented either. Winemaker Eric Fry employs "limited barrel fermentation" and while this wine is aged in oak, Fry tends to "use older barrels that allow the wine to achieve greater complexity and flavor concentration but leave…
What We Drank (December 14, 2009)
By Lenn Thompson, Editor-in-Chief We only have two contributions to What We Drank this week, but they teach us two important lessons: don't ignore wines from poor vintages and don't give up on a wine too quickly if its corked. From Lenn Thompson: Roanoke Vineyards 2003 Blend 2 I have a confession to make — as much wine as I drink, I tend to be a hoarder of special bottles. My cellar is filled with "last bottles" of many wines that I've enjoyed and purchased over the years. It's terrible, especially considering many of them aren't going to get much…
A Golden Ticket for “the Greatest Homebrewer in Buffalo”
By Julia Burke, Niagara Escarpment Correspondent Photos courtesy of Tom Ocque “My name is Jake Ocque, and I think I have a brewing problem.” Of course, some problems shouldn’t be solved. Jake Ocque was introduced to me as “the greatest homebrewer in Buffalo” when I met him a year ago while bartending at Pizza Plant Italian Pub, but now his brewing skill has won him and his brother Tom an honor beyond the average beer geek’s wildest dreams: the opportunity to brew at the legendary Sierra Nevada Brewing Company in Chico, California. On Friday, the beer he brewed there –a…