Posts Tagged“lenz”

Lenz Winery 2007 Old Vines Chardonnay

By Lenn Thompson, Editor-in-Chief Barrel-fermented chardonnay isn't my favorite style. That's well documented. But, that doesn't mean I can't appreciate one that is well-made. This Lenz Winery 2007 Old Vines Chardonnay ($25) is one that I appreciate. In fact, I went back to this a few times after my tasting was complete and enjoyed it quite a bit. Of course, it's not completely barrel fermented either. Winemaker Eric Fry employs "limited barrel fermentation" and while this wine is aged in oak, Fry tends to "use older barrels that allow the wine to achieve greater complexity and flavor concentration but leave…

Celebrating the Opening of Mirabelle Tavern With Eric Fry from Lenz Winery

When one of our favorite restaurants, Mirabelle, close a few months ago, Nena and I were really bummed. But, almost immediately, we heard that it was re-opening at the Three Village Inn in April. Well, Mirabell itself will be opening soon, but next week they are celebrating the opening of Mirabell Tavern. Chef Guy Reuge is teaming with Eric Fry, winemaker at Lenz Winery on the celebration, which promises to be a fun one. Both are at the top of their crafts on Long Island. And, assuming we can get our babysitter situation worked out, Nena and I will be…

Lenz Winery 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon

Most winemakers talk about how their wines are "made in the vineyard" and about how they let the grapes make the decisions for them in the winery. Not all of them actually practice what they preach though. Some local winemakers seem to impose their will on their wines, regardless of vintage. Having a consistent "house style" is one thing, but sometimes you need to take a step back and not overwhelm the fruit. Eric Fry, winemaker at Lenz Winery, is one winemaker who follows the fruit's lead. In the best vintages, he goes for it, making some of Long Island's…

The 12 LI Wines of Christmas: #5 Lenz 2001 Cuvee

This post is a part of my 12 Long Island Wines for Christmas series that will run from now until Christmas 2007. See the entire series here. I can’t have a mixed case of Long Island wine for Christmas without including some bubbly can I? I knew that I had to include some sparkle to the 12 Long Island Wines of Christmas, but I wasn’t sure which to include. You rarely hear about Long Island’s sparklers, but there are several terrific ones, many of them made by Eric Fry. At first I was going to choose his Lenz 1994 RD…

WTN: Lenz 2005 “Old Vines” Chardonnay (North Fork of Long Island)

Yesterday I wrote about a $20 chardonnay that I just wasn’t into from Lenz Winery. Today, I’m going to tell you about another chardonnay that they just released that shows much more balance, elegance and overall quality. And, it’s only $5 more. Yes, I think you’ll do well to upgrade to the Lenz 2005 “Old Vines” Chardonnay ($25), one of Long Island’s better values in barrel-fermented chardonnay. It’s debatable whether or not any vines on Long Island qualify as old — I think these vines are still less than 30 years old — but that’s a discussion for a different…

WTN: Lenz 2005 Gold Label Chardonnay (North Fork of Long Island)

I’ll tell you about my favorite of the Lenz Winery chardonnays tomorrow, but today let’s focus on one that I didn’t like as much. Actually, I’ve never cared for winemaker Eric Fry’s Gold Label Chardonnay much, and his 2005 release ($20) is no different. It’s definitely made in the California style that is – thankfully – losing popularity among most wine drinkers. It’s medium-dark gold in the glass with a lot of oak on the nose, coming across with toasted marshmallow, sweet oak, and faint caramel aromas. There’s also some roasted apple there, but it’s subservient to the domineering oak.…

WTN: Lenz 2001 Cuvee (North Fork of Long Island)

I mentioned last week that I was thankful for Eric Fry and his local bubblies. As coincidence would have it, I tasted one of those very sparklers over the holiday weekend. Lenz Winery has garnered quite a bit of praise in the press by taking on high-end Bordeaux wines in blind tastings. Just this past weekend, Lenz hosted one such event where they poured 2001 Chateau Petrus, 2001 Peby-Faugeres, 2001 L’Evangile, 2001 L’Eglise Clinet, and 2001 Lenz Old Vines Merlot. I’m not sure that Long Island wine will get where it can go by constantly comparing itself to Bordeaux, but…

Long Island Wines in the Blogosphere

You have probably noticed already, but Long Island wines have made their way onto a few other blogs of late. Just before Xmas, Eric Asimov from the New York Times wrote about The Grapes of Roth 2001 Merlot on his blog, The Pour. Eric is clearly a fan of Long Island wines, making him one of the first prominent wine writers to wake up. The Wine Cask Blog, long one of my favorites, has also been reviewing the Lenz Winery portfolio of late, including: Lenz Winery 2000 Cuvee Sparkling Lenz Winery 2001 Old Vines Merlot Lenz Winery 2004 Old Vines…

The Best Long Island Wines of 2006

As 2006 comes to an unseasonably warm close here on Long Island, I thought it a good time to list and highlight some of my favorite Long Island wines of 2006. I’m a lucky guy. I’m tasting and writing about Long Island wines as much as — and probably more than — anyone else. I consider myself even luckier because I’m doing so as the region really starts to reach maturity. Remember, this industry only started in 1973. Its still a baby by wine region standards Over the past few years, local winemakers have really started hitting their stride, crafting…

Holiday Wine Survival Tips

Ah yes, the holiday season. It overflows with extra food, extra family time and – if we’re lucky – lots of extra drink to get us through that extra family time. Of course it also brings the ubiquitous holiday party as well – thrown by your neighbor, your friends, your boss or, again, your family. This time of year, it seems like everyone I know asks me for suggestions on what wines they should take to all of those parties. Maybe your friends try to serve you koolaid-like white zinfandel or cheap, way-too-simple-for-the-holidays Aussie shiraz with a furry creature on…