Posts Written OnApril 2013

Vineyard Visuals: Southold Farm + Cellar Begins to Plant its Vineyard — with “Weird Grapes”

The folks at Southold Farm + Cellar, they of the successful Kickstarter campaign, started planting their vineyard yesterday and co-owner Regan Meador sent me a few photos of the action. “We’re going to end up with about nine acres of teroldego, lagrein, syrah and goldmuskateller on different spacing. All planted in about three days,” he said in a quick email this morning. “This was the easy part. Next up is making it actually look like a vineyard and produce!” Regan also told me that they are planting some apples on the property.

The Red Hook Winery 2009 Pier Forty-One

I’ve had a difficult time finding much information online (or anywhere else) about this Red Hook Winery 2009 Pier Forty-One ($25), but from the front label I know that it is made by Robert Foley, one of two partners/consulting winemakers for the winery. And based on what I smell and taste, I think it probably a syrah-based blend. Black plum, cassis, black pepper and seared beef aromas are ‘lifted’ just a bit on the nose, leading into more big, black fruit on the palate with similar spicy, meaty accents. Though forward and showy, these flavors are framed by well-integrated, medium-intensity…

Gorton Joins NYCR Team as Long Island Correspondent

You may know my good friend Michael Gorton from his Long Island-focused wine blog Undertaking Wine the only wine blog I know of run by someone who earns a living as an undertaker and funeral director. Well, as of today, he’s also a member of the NYCR team, helping me cover Long Island wine country. He will continue to review wines on his own site, but he’ll be sharing his joyful obsession with Long Island wine with us here on NYCR. He’ll also be helping with our annual charity tasting and auction as well as other events we’ll host throughout the…

Atwater Estate Vineyards 2010 Moffett Block Blaufrankisch

Some think that pinot noir is the future red wine star of the Finger Lakes — and that may be true. But for right now, I’ve been most impressed by the latest crop of Blaufrankisch-based wines I’ve tasted from the region, this Atwater Estate Vineyards 2010 “Moffett Block Blaufrankisch ($38) included. The Moffett Block is ten rows (.7 acre) of blaufrankisch that was planted in 2006, and honors Bill Moffett who first planted wine grapes on the farm in the 1970s. The nose oozes with black and blue fruit — plums, blackberries, black cherries and blueberries — along with subtle…

New York Wine in the UK: Progress and Hurdles

If you didn’t read my introduction to the New York Cork Report it might be worth reading before continuing with this article. For those that don’t have the time — hello, my name is Will, and I sell New York wine in the UK. Right, let’s get started…. It’s been nearly ten months since our latest shipment of wine from Long Island and the Finger Lakes docked in Thamesport. On the back of the London International Wine Fair plus some great press in Harper’s, the Drinks Business and Meininger’s Wine Business International, New York wine definitely has not gone unnoticed. Key…

Arrowhead Spring Vineyards 2010 Cabernet Franc

I’ve enjoyed many of co-owner/winemaker Duncan Ross’ wines from Arrowhead Spring Vineyards in the past, but his cabernet franc remained elusive — mainly because it’s typically only available in the winery’s tasting room. So on my recent visit to Empire State Cellars, not long after Duncan had been there to pour several of his recently released reds, I was thrilled to find this bottle of Arrowhead Spring Vineyards 2010 Cabernet Franc ($25). The ripeness of the 2010 Niagara vintage is on full display from the moment the wine settles in the glass — and so are the 22 months this…

Crooked Ladder Brewing Company: It’s What’s Brewing on Main Street (Riverhead)

Four years ago, brothers Steven and David Wirth, along with friend and brewer, Duffy Griffiths, got the idea to open a brewery.  After years of toiling with town codes and renovating their space, 15 new fermenters are finally ready to be filled with the trios’ first batch of Crooked Ladder Brewing Company beer. Located on Main Street in downtown Riverhead, the brewery aims to start brewing by the end of May with an opening slated for mid-June. With summer just around the corner, there’s no better time for all the plans to finally fall into place the new brewery. Steven…

Heron Hill Winery 2010 Pinot Noir

Heron Hill Winery 2010 Pinot Noir ($15) offers a somewhat muted nose of wild strawberries,  flowers and brown sugar that leads into a light-bodied palate that is a bit juicy but generally soft. Flavors of red berries and cherry cola are nice, but concentration and structure are a bit lacking here. Producer: Heron Hill Winery AVA: Finger Lakes ABV: 12.5% Price: $15* (2.5 out of 5, Average-to-Very Good)

Harmony Vineyards Launches Free Summer-Long Classic Jazz Albums Live Concert Series

Hot summer night?  Why not cool off near the Long Island Sound with some local wine and a live jazz band? Harmony Vineyards is set to combine the harmonious flavors of its finely crafted wine with the harmonious sounds of some of the finest jazz Long Island has to offer with “The Ray Anderson Classic Jazz Albums Live Concert Series”. The concerts will be held outside on the waterfront grounds adjacent to the Harmony Vineyards tasting room. Anderson, a multiple-time award winner, has been called “the most exciting slide brass player of his generation.”  He has been part of the…

Empire State Cellars Wine Club: May 2013 Selections

The May shipment of the Empire State Cellars Wine Club will go out to members in a week or so — meaning that it’s time to announce my selections. If you’re not familiar with the club, you can learn more here. “Hello New York” Wines Bloomer Creek Vineyard 2011 Auten Vineyard First Harvest Riesling: With every new Bloomer Creek release, they solidify their position as a top-tier riesling producer on the East Coast. And, these wines are so well priced that you can drink them now (and buy more), or put them away for a few years if you like your riesling with a…