Posts Written OnMay 2010

Wolffer Estate Vineyards 2009 Rose

By Lenn Thompson, Editor-in-Chief To many summer Hamptons weekend residents, local wine means Wolffer Estate rose. They make a lot of it (6,600 cases) and it sells out often before demand has subsided. It's made in a consistently dry, crisp style — perfect for the beach or your nearest pool party — and is always a blend of red and white grapes (rather than all-red or saignee). In many ways, it is a Long Island classic. We drink quite a bit of it every summer too, even though we are anything but Hamptons types. The Wolffer Estate 2009 Rose ($17)…

Sheldrake Point Vineyards 2008 Riesling

By Lenn Thompson, Editor-in-Chief During a tasting of Finger Lakes riesling last weekend, I thought a non-Finger Lakes ringer had worked its way into the lineup. Even though I pull the wines from the cellar myself (and knew I grabbed only Finger Lakes juice) this wine seemed almost an outlier, tasting a bit more Washington (state) to me than Finger Lakes. Sheldrake Point Vineyard 2008 Riesling ($15) obviously is a Finger Lakes riesling, but it is decidedly different than the other wines I tasted during this session. The nose is ripe, almost overripe with gobs of juicy, sweet peach backed…

What Should You Expect From Finger Lakes Wine?

By Evan Dawson, Finger Lakes Editor I would guess I'm not the first to break this news, but, anyway, here it is:  The Finger Lakes ain't the Mosel.  This weekend, several dozen writers will make their first journey to the Finger Lakes. And this month, several tens of thousands of people will make their first journey of 2010 to the region. It is reasonable for everyone to ask what they should expect from Finger Lakes wine. May is a little thing called Riesling Month around here, but let's be honest: In the Finger Lakes, every month is Riesling Month. Sure,…

TasteCamp East 2010 Finger Lakes Kicks Off on Friday

By Lenn Thompson, Editor-in-Chief TasteCamp, the roving regional wine event that fully immerses wine writers and bloggers in a wine region is back for its second edition this weekend in the Finger Lakes region of New York. As you might remember, the innaugural TasteCamp was held here on Long Island last year (read all the posts) and it went so well that we decided to do it again in a different New York region. Most smaller and/or lesser-known wine regions in the world would love to get their wines in front new audiences, but it can be a challenge.  With…

Hermann J. Wiemer 2008 Dry Reserve Riesling

By Lenn Thompson, Editor-in-Chief We continue our month-long daily look at Finger Lakes rieslings with a bottle from a winery that is generally considered one of the Finger Lakes' best, Hermann J. Wiemer.  The Hermann J. Wiemer 2008 Riesling Reserve Dry ($23) was made via long, slow fermentations of various vineyard blocks that were then blended. How long and slow? Well, at a time when a handful of Finger Lakes rieslings are hitting the market, Wiemer winemaker Fred Merwarth is still tending to his 2009s — which are still fermenting. Aromas of Mandarin orange, green melon, kiwi, lemon balm, river…

Lieb Family Cellars 2008 Merlot Blanc

By Lenn Thompson, Editor-in-Chief This wine is a charitable double-whammy. Not only does a dollar from every bottle of Lieb Family Cellars 2008 Merlot Blanc ($15) purchased go to CancerCare as part of Run for the Roses, but even outside of May a portion of proceeds goes to support breast cancer research via the Carol M. Baldwin Breast Cancer Research Fund. That alone makes it a wine worth trying — not to mention you don't see too many truly blanc merlot blancs. (Though the 2008 exhibits a bit more color than the 2007). The nose is simple and understated, showing…

Heart & Hands Wine Company 2008 Riesling

By Lenn Thompson, Editor-in-Chief As you may have read, May is Riesling Month in the Finger Lakes and to take part we'll be publishing a riesling review every weekday throughout the month. We have a variety of styles and a bevy of producers lined up, but we'll start this little project today with the Heart & Hands Wine Company 2008 Riesling ($19). Heart & Hands is has quickly earned a reputation for its nearly singular focus on the pinot noir grape — a unique proposition in the Finger Lakes to be sure. But, winemaker and co-owner Tom Higgins makes riesling…

Celebrate Finger Lakes Riesling Month with Riesling Hour Tonight

By Lenn Thompson, Editor-in-Chief You're going to hear it a lot, so get used to it — May is Riesling Month in the Finger Lakes. Tonight at 8 p.m. as a part of  the month-long celebration, Finger Lakes Wine Country has organized "Riesling Hour" a virtual tasting happening via Twitter and Facebook. It's similar to TasteLive, but scaled down, and easier to take part in. To participate one only needs to open a bottle of a Finger Lakes riesling — from any producer or vintage — with friends or family at 8 p.m.  Then simply log on to your Twitter…