Posts Written OnFebruary 2011

By Lenn Thompson, Executive Editor Lamoreaux Landing Wine Cellars has gotten strong returns — and plenty of well-earned attention — for its single-vineyard riesling program in recent years. I enjoy many of those bottlings myself. But don't overlook the 'regular' rieslings in their lineup, particularly this Lamoreaux Landing 2009 Dry Riesling ($13). There's a lot of classic Finger Lakes character in this $13 wine. Straightforward peach and lime blossom aromas dominate the nose. There's a little slate quality too, hiding in the background. Light bodied, the palate brings peach flavors with extremely lively, juicy acidity and subtle lime and grapefruit…

By Lenn Thompson, Executive Editor As of today, the New York Cork Club is no longer… and yet I'm happy and excited. Why? Because the New York Cork Report and Bacchus Wine and Spirits have added a third partner in the program, the Albany Times Union, to form Times Union New York Wine Club. It's more than just a name change, however. It's really a revamp of the club and expansion of it — for a good cause. The current club has one option, but the new club will feature two distinct levels — a "Basic" membership that includes two bottles…

This is what our editors and contributors have been drinking… Lenn Thompson: Blind Bat Brewery Hellsmoke Porter Super Bowl Sunday is always big in our house, but when the Steelers are playing, it's becomes nothing short of a sacred holiday. After waking up and pacing most of the morning, I decided to keep myself busy by staying in the kitchen preparing some Pittsburgh favorites both new and old — Roethlisburgers and from-scratch pierogies. Of course the game didn't work out the way the Thompson household would have preferred, but at least the food was good. During the game, I always…

By Julia Burke, Beer Editor A visually striking beer, this Three Heads Brewing Java Sutra porter impresses immediately with a gorgeous four-finger head, puff-of-train-smoke black color, and lacing so perfect and so beautifully stratified that I had to take its picture for my beer porn collection. (I have needs.) On the nose, light notes of dark-roast coffee, cinnamon and baker's chocolate are on offer without any cloying sweetness or alcohol. It smells like a porter, not a Frappuccino.  In agreement with the nose, the palate is light and lager-bodied; malt steps up to the plate, but again as roasty coffee-chocolateness,…

By Lenn Thompson, Executive Editor My feelings about barrel-influenced chardonnay are well documented — and I hear comments about them from winemakers and other local wine geeks all the time. It's simply not my favored style. It's rare that I'd reach for a bottle on any given night of the week. And while sometimes food does call for one, there are other options that tend to find their way onto my dinner table. But, that doesn't mean I can't recognize when oaked chardonnay is done well, like this Shinn Estate Vineyards 2009 Wild Fermented Chardonnay ($33). I don't get caught…

By Julia Burke, Beer Editor There