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For this week's WWD, our contributors and editors all picked a wine from TasteCamp 2011 — and not surprisingly we each focused on something different: Lenn Thompson: Ravine Vineyard 2007 Reserve Merlot The first day of TasteCamp 2011 was spent in and tasting wines from Niagara-on-the-Lake, an area with a distinct focus on Bordeaux varieties. Coming from another Bordeaux-heavy region, it was interesting to note the differences and the similarities. I found quite a bit of oak in the NOTL merlots, cab francs and cab sauvs, but also a lot of intense, ripe fruit and some heat on the finish…

By Lenn Thompson, Executive Editor This is a selection of New York wines that have crossed the NYCR tasting table recently but will not be reviewed as part of a standalone post. As always, these are transcribed almost directly from my notebook with little editing. Note that these were not tasted all in one sitting/flight but instead over the course of several weeks. And for this edition, some of these are from an old notebook that I misplaced and recently found Bedell Cellars 2007 Musee ($75): Dark-roast coffee, plum and black cherry on the nose with a little blueberry compote…

By Lenn Thompson, Executive Editor While some argue that it's vitally important for emerging regions to identify and focus on a 'signature variety' I think it's more important for any region to take its time, experiment and let the evolution toward specialization happen organically — if at all. Without the type of experimentation and open-mindedness we might not get to enjoy wines like the newly released Palmer Vineyards 2010 Albarino ($25 for 500ml). This is Long Island's first Albarino, from the first fruit harvested off of a single acre of vines, and it's no real surprise that it's made by…

By Lenn Thompson, Executive Editor I just read on the Suffolk Times website that Ralph Pugliese, founder of Puglisese Vineyards, has died. He was 73. Here's the full story: "Ralph Pugliese, who co-founded Pugliese Vineyards with his wife, Patricia, died Monday morning, May 16, at his home in Cutchogue. He was 73. Mr. Pugliese was one of the pioneers of the East End wine industry, buying land in Cutchogue in 1980 where he planted his first two acres of grapes, according to his son Peter, who continues as winemaker. Winemaking was always in his father

By Lenn Thompson, Executive Editor With TasteCamp North 2011 attendees, including most of the NYCR team,  back home and pondering the stories that we'd all like to write — and they are numerous — I wanted to share some of the pictures I took over the course of the weekend. We tasted some outstanding local wines, enjoyed meals prepared by farm-to-table chefs and met some incredibly passionate and talented people in the wine industries on both sides of the border. Over the next few weeks, you can expect some great stories from the event right here on the site. In…

By Lenn Thompson, Executive Editor I know we haven't had a lot of new content here this week — but we have a reason. TasteCamp North kicks off today and there have been last-minute preparations, travel and other assorted things to deal with. But, we'll get back to regular programming on Monday after we spend the next three days touring Niagara and Ontario wine country on both sides of the border. You're probably wondering what this is a picture of… those are 2010 tank samples brought to Evan's house last night by Fox Run Vineyards' assistant winemaker Tricia Renshaw. Here's…

By Lenn Thompson, Executive Editor I received a press release from the Long Island Wine Council today about this year's Run for the Roses Festival and wanted to pass it along the list of participating wineries and the specials they are running for the month. I was disappointed, however to learn that there is no longer a charity component to this program, which raised money for CancerCare last year. According to Steve Bate, executive director of the Council, "Participating wineries are being asked to contribute to the Wine Council

By Lenn Thompson, Executive Editor For several years now, I've allowed an idea for a series of local beer, wine and spirit dinner macerate in my mind. I wanted them to be somehow different from the dinners already happening — because where's the value or fun in doing something that is already being done? First and foremost, I wanted these dinners to celebrate a person rather than a winery, brewery or distillery. The artisan behind the local beverages needed to be the star. Front and center. Next, I wanted the dinners to be as affordable possible — to make them…

By Lenn Thompson, Executive Editor When you're the winemaker at Lucas Vineyards, making nearly 30,000 cases of wine every year — with nearly 30 different bottlings — it's not easy to give each lot the attention it deserves, as Jeff Houck told my colleague Evan Dawson back in late 2009. Many of the Lucas Vineyards wines are geared towards casual drinkers and those new to wine, but there are some real gems in the portfolio — including Houck's cabernet franc, sparkling Cayuga and always-tasty riesling lineup. Lucas Vineyards 2009 Semi-Dry Riesling ($14) will appeal to a wide range of palates…