Posts Written OnMay 04, 2011

By Evan Dawson, Managing Editor Photo from left to right: Justin Boyette, Phil Davis, Rick Rainey, Louis Barruol Louis Barruol, vigneron of the critically acclaimed Chateau de Saint Cosme winery in France's Rhone Valley, has agreed to a partnership to make wine under a new Finger Lakes label. Chateau de Saint Cosme is located in Gigondas and is widely considered the top producer in that appellation, while also producing wine from various other Rhone appellations, including Chateauneuf-du-Pape. Barruol will be an equal partner alongside Rick Rainey in the new Forge Cellars project. Justin Boyette, winemaker for the Hector Wine Company,…

Photo by Gianna Volpe

By Lenn Thompson, Executive Editor Over the past few years, the portfolio at Peconic Bay Winery has undergone quite a transformation. From the addition of the second-label Nautique line to the creation of the winery's first flagship blend, Lowerre Family Reserve, to the East End's first grape brandy, to True Believer, a sparkling cider, the Peconic Bay team has been busy. One of winemaker Greg Gove's newest creations is Peconic Bay Winery 2009 Lot #2 ($20) a blend of merlot, cabernet franc and cabernet sauvignon that delivers good value. Complex for the price point, the nose offers sweet red cherry…

This is a (small) sampling of what our editors were drinking last week… Lenn Thompson: Bedell Cellars 2002 Merlot This mature local merlot — from a surprisingly under-hyped vintage — showed very well at my birthday dinner last Friday at Fifth Season in Port Jefferson (a restaurant that use to be in local wine country but moved to the tourist town a few years ago). There was still nice fruit intensity, but the mushroomy, dusty chocolate and faintly herbal secondary characters — and enough structure to maybe age another few years — were the real stars with my waygu burger…

Photo courtesy of Paumanok Vineyards