Posts Written OnJune 26, 2015

Damiani Wine Cellars 2012 Barrel Select Cabernet Sauvignon

You won’t find a lot of varietal cabernet sauvignon wines in the Finger Lakes — with good reason. Generally speaking, later-ripening reds aren’t as well-suited to the region as other types of grapes. That said, Damiani Wine Cellars typically bucks that trend and makes some of the better cab in the region. Damiani Wine Cellars 2012 Barrel Select Cabernet Sauvignon ($45) isn’t as good as the outstanding 2010, but it still balances ripe fruit with oak and savory notes well. The nose shows a melange of aromas — sweet blueberry compote, blackberry, savory dried herbs, soy sauce, and dusty, earthy cocoa powder. Mouth-filling and slightly chewy,…

On northforker: “Uncork the Forks: 5 Under-Appreciated Long Island Grape Varieties”

My latest column for northfoker was published yesterday — “Uncork the Forks: 5 Under-Appreciated Long Island Grape Varieties.” It’s a quick piece about five grapes that deserve more attention (for one reason or another) in the local wine community. Some are obvious. Others might seem out of place in such a list. But read it and tell me what you think.