Posts Written OnJune 2011

The Grapes of Roth 2009 Riesling

By Lenn Thompson, Executive Editor Another impressive 2009 riesling from New York? Yes. And this one is from Long Island. Because he mostly works with Bordeaux reds and chardonnay locally, people wondered what German-born winemaker Roman Roth (Wolffer Estate, Roanoke Vineyards) would do with local riesling. When Roth introduced his private label, The Grapes of Roth, several years ago, he started with a merlot, but introduced his first riesling not long after. And of the three rieslings he’s made under the GoR label, Grapes of Roth 2009 Riesling ($22) might be his best yet. Roth purchases the fruit for this…

What We Drank (June 13, 2011)

Here's a sampling of what our editors and contributors are drinking:   David Flaherty: Paulinshof Brauneberger Juffer Riesling Kabinett Trocken 2010 I am finally seeing the Mosel Valley firsthand. Like a kid who has looked at magazines of Disneyland for years and finally enters the gate, I have crossed the threshold from fantasy to reality.  And reality does not disappoint. I am an acid hound, and can never have too many rieslings skate across my palate. The steep vineyards abutting the Mosel River are made of slate, and tons of it. The resulting wines are high-acid, mineral-driven, time bombs of…

Grimaldi Joins NYCR Team as Marketing and Events Director

By Lenn Thompson, Executive Editor We've added several writers to the NYCR team over the years, but today we welcome Mark Grimaldi to the website as our director of marketing and events — with his focus set squarely on events. With our New York Beverage Artisan Dinners off to a great start — with the next one set to be announced soon — Mark will no doubt be busy coordinating with winemakers, brewers and distillers from across the the state. Mark is also a driving force in our "DRINK LONG ISLAND WINE" sticker program (more on that soon). Many in…

Chatham Brewing 8-Barrel Super IPA

By Julia Burke, Beer Editor I made my first visit to Chatham Brewing recently and based on what I tasted I know it won’t be my last. This small, neighborhood-friendly brewery has a dynamite lineup with balance and great flavor across the board. Craving hops, I brought home a growler of this baby. This double IPA pours a rusty amber-copper haze into a pint glass with a fluffy one-to-two-finger head and good lacing. The nose surprised me at first with intense citrus, as in someone-just-peeled-an-orange fresh citrus fruit. As the beer warmed up slightly it reveals an elegant malt profile;…

A Familiar Face Stops By in Ithaca

By Evan Dawson, Finger Lakes Editor That photo is me with Hermann Wiemer, who stopped by a wine tasting/Summer in a Glass book event at Red Feet Wines Market in Ithaca last night. It was the first time I've seen Hermann in quite a while, and the first time we've spoken since the book came out. Naturally, I've wondered what he thought about it, and about the chapter focusing on his legacy in particular. All I can tell you is that before the end of the night, Hermann was signing books for Red Feet customers. We chatted about a number…

Sheldrake Point Vineyards 2009 Dry Riesling

By Lenn Thompson, Executive Editor Finger Lakes riesling. 2009 vintage. I won't pretend to have tasted every riesling made in the Finger Lakes in 2009, but I have yet to find one that I'd turn down, with many more in my tasting queue for coming weeks. I enjoyed this Sheldrake Point 2009 Dry Riesling ($15) so much — especialy for the money — that I put it in the Times Union New York Wine Club shipment for May. Brisk and lightly floral, the nose shows lime and citrus blossom aromas with intense green apple character and hints of fennel frond…

Shinn Estate Vineyard 2010 Rose

  By Lenn Thompson, Executive Editor Long Island rose is a beautiful thing.. beautiful in its insane diversity. From sweet to dry and every residual sugar level in between the East End of Long Island has you covered. But the diversity doesn't stop there. Just about any red wine variety grown here ends up as rose, including the usual suspects like merlot, cabernet sauvignon and pinot noir as well as grapes like refosco and cabernet franc. Blending is common and not reserved for red grapes. Some of the region's best-loved roses are blends of red varieties with large percentages of…

What We Drank (June 8, 2011)

This week's sampling of what our editors and contributors have been drinking… Lenn Thompson: Sixpoint Craft Ales Bengali Tiger IPA Because my wife isn't drinking at the moment (we are expecting our second child in December) I seem to be drinking more beer than wine — especially at restaurants.  Lucky for me, most of the restaurants we frequent have at least one craft beer that I'm interested in drinking. Some have several. And now that Sixpoint Craft Ales is finally putting four of their most popular beers in "nanokegs" — really 16 oz. cans — restaurants without (or with limited)…

Shinn Estate Vineyard 2010 First Fruit Sauvignon Blanc

By Lenn Thompson, Executive Editor  With its wind turbine and in-progress biodynamic and organic certification, Shinn Estate Vineyards gets plenty of well-deserved attention for its sustainable and community-friendly practices. What sometimes gets lost in all that green is just how good the wines can be. There is no doubt that sauvignon blanc thrives on the North Fork, with an emerging regional signature developing over time. When anyone asks me to list the most consistent local sauvignon blanc producers, inevitably Shinn Estate is on the short list. Shinn Estate Vineyards 2010 First Fruit Sauvignon Blanc ($23) is brightly aromatic, delivering bright…

Mark Grimaldi | Director, Marketing and Events

Mark Grimaldi was born and raised in White Plains, NY where an Italian father meant there was always wine on the table. He has worked in the wine business since 2003, currently working for Michael Skurnik Wines for the past 6 years with roles that ranged from wine marketing and label design to now sales and consulting. After moving to the North Fork of Long Island in 2008 from New York City, Mark immersed himself in the local wine and food scene. He then met his now wife, Olivia, who was born and raised in the Finger Lakes, which led…