Browsing CategoryHudson Valley

The New York Cork Report Tasting Table — April 17, 2012

I keep trying to retire the “Tasting Table” series, but my recently chaotic day job along with the all-consuming reality of an infant and a 5-year old have once again reminded me that no matter how obsessed I am with local wines, beers etc. and this website — it’s still a hobby. Add to that the fact that we’ll be cutting over to our new site design and platform soon (maybe even next week) and Tasting Table remains a valuable tool. I’d like to start things off at the new site fresh. Tasting Table will not be a part of…

Continue Reading

Wine Blogging Wednesday #74: Happy Bitch Wines “Happy Bitch” NV Rose

By Lenn Thompson, Executive Editor This month’s edition of Wine Blogging Wednesday, the 74th such edition, is being hosted by Tim Elliott, long-time blogger and podcaster at Winecast.  The theme: Value Sparkling Wine, which Tim has defined as anything $25 and under. Perhaps not surprisingly, I usually try to wedge a New York wine in as my WBW entry when possible. Most of my favorite local sparklers, sadly, do not qualify. They tend to be $30 and up. But then I remembered that my friend Debbie Gioquindo sent me a bottle of Happy Bitch Wines “Happy Bitch” Rose a few…

Continue Reading

The 2011 New York Cork Report Wines of the Year

By Lenn Thompson, Executive Editor I think I can speak for my fellow editors and contributors when I say that our 2011 Wines of the Year tasting was a fun, challenging and inspiring day of 16 wine tasting flights. I always come away with myriad story ideas swirling in my head after this tasting. This year is no different. Look for pieces from the team over the next few weeks. But today, we announce the winners — including our first-ever New York Wine of the Year, Peconic Bay Winery 2007 Lowerre Family Estate. Our 2011 Regional Wines of the Year…

Continue Reading

Altamont Vineyard & Winery 2008 Leon Millot Reserve

Because of my interest in New York and other northeast wines, I’ve tasted a great many red hybrids over the years, but never Leon Millot. In fact, I had never even heard of Leon Millot learning that Keuka Lake Vineyards on Keuka Lake in the Finger Lakes has a bit of a cult following for its rendition. I have yet to taste that wine, but was able to get my hands on a bottle from Altamont Vineyards & Winery in Altamont, NY — which happens to just be 15 miles or so from my where my wife’s family lives. I…

Continue Reading

Tousey Winery 2010 Cabernet Franc

By Lenn Thompson, Executive Editor When Ben and Kimberly Peacock took over the wine portion of Tousey Winery's business in 2009 — Kimberly is founder Ray Tousey's daughter — the portfolio was focused on hybrid grapes. "To be frank, that didn't suit our tastes," Ben told me, adding "So, we switched our focus to vinifera." To help make that switch, they've been working with Fox Run Vineyards winemaker Peter Bell in the winery and long-time Long Island grape grower Steve Mudd in their vineyards. I've already written about the pinot noir, and after tasting the Tousey Winery 2010 Cabernet Franc…

Continue Reading

Robibero Family Vineyards 2010 Dry Riesling

By Lenn Thompson, Executive Editor Robibero Family Vineyards, which took over the old Rivendell Winery building in New Paltz, NY in 2007, is a Hudson Valley winery to keep an eye on. The Robibero family has planted an estate vineyard and is working hard to breathe new life into the winery and tasting room and has hired Kristop Brown, formerly of Benmarl Winery, to help make the wines. For now the wines are made with fruit and juice purchased in other areas of the state — a common scenario in the Hudson River Valley. This Robibero Family Vineyards 2010 Dry…

Continue Reading

Tousey Winery 2010 Pinot Noir

By Lenn Thompson, Executive Editor Why do I explore every corner of New York wine country? Wines like this one. Yes, I taste a lot of mediocre (or worse) wine, but discovering a hidden gem of a wine like this one is what energizes and inspires me. Tousey Winery, located in Clermont, NY in the Hudson River valley, is owned by Ben and Kimberly Peacock. Ben makes the wines but he's quick to point out that he is "merely a student."  "I find the term 'winemaker' hard to wear because that would put me in the same category l as…

Continue Reading

Harvest Update: At Hudson-Chatham Winery, Tough 2011 Slows Growth

By Lenn Thompson, Executive Editor 2011 was supposed to be a big harvest at Hudson-Chatham Winery where, according to owner Carlo DeVito, the plan was to harvest 20% more fruit than last year. Mother Nature — largely in the form of Hurricane Irene — had other plans. "We probably just held serve, so we may experience some small growth because we still have some older wines, but we'll see a hiccup no doubt about it," Carlo told me. The winery grows more four acres of vines itself, but depends on other growers — in the Hudson River Region and elsewhere…

Continue Reading

The New York Cork Report Tasting Table — August 5, 2011

By Lenn Thompson, Executive Editor These are tasting notes for some wines that have been tasted at the NYCR tasting table but won’t be reviewed in standalone posts. Bouke Wines 2010 Rose ($16): Made with cabernet sauvignon and merlot.Aromas of pomegranate, cranberry and strawberry. The strawberry is more pronounced on the round, medium-bodied palate. Mostly red fruit flavors but a hint of leafy earthiness and cinnamon candy too. Good acidity balances ripe fruitiness well. Channing Daughters Winery 2010 Mudd Vineyard West Sauvignon Blanc ($20): 5% chardonnay blended in. Expressive nose delivers lime, grapefruit, honeydew melon aromas and light hints of…

Continue Reading