It seems that just about everyone interested in Long Island wine knows Castello di Borghese, located on Route 48 in Cutchogue. You see, before the property was bought by Marco Borghese (an Italian prince) it was Hargrave Vineyard, where Alex and Louisa Hargrave founded the Long Island wine world back in 1973. If you're visiting Long Island wine country, you really should stop by Borghese to get a taste of that history. Focus on the pinot noir and cabernet franc when you're there. This Castello di Borghese 2007 Sauvignon Blanc Estate ($20) is a pale straw-yellow in the glass and…
Posts Tagged“sauvignon blanc”
WTN: Osprey’s Dominion Vineyards 2006 Sauvignon Blanc (North Fork)
Today’s review is going to be a quick one. Are you sick of over-the-top grassy sauvignon blancs from New Zealand? If so, let me suggest that you try Osprey’s Dominion Vineyards’ 2006 Sauvignon Blanc, a steal at $13. I’ve enjoyed many local sauvignons over the past couple years, but many are at or around $20, making them a little beyond the "summer sipper" price. Right out of the fridge, this one was a little tight and a bit neutral, but once it warmed just a bit, nice lemon, melon and grapefruit aromas appeared with just the most subtle hints of…
The 12 LI Wines of Christmas: #10 Shinn Estate 2006 First Fruit
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. As we enter the home stretch of my 12 Long Island Wines for Christmas, it’s time for another one of my favorite whites. In fact, it’s the last white in the mixed case. Shinn Estate Vineyards 2006 First Fruit ($23) was so tasty this year that it sold out before I could stock my cellar for the summer. But, the 2007 will be released this spring and I won’t make the same mistake…
The 12 LI Wines of Christmas: #2 Jamesport Vineyards 2006 Sauvignon Blanc
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. The second Long Island Wine for Christmas is a wine that didn’t last long in our cellar this spring. I had several bottles of Jamesport Vineyards’ 2006 Sauvignon Blanc ($22). I loved so many local sauvignon blancs this year that it’s hard to pick a favorite, but based solely on how quickly this one vanished from the cellars, this is the one. Most local sauvignon is reared entirely in stainless steel tanks, which…
WTN: Palmer Vineyards 2006 Sauvignon Blanc (North Fork of Long Island)
A little over a year ago, Miguel Martin joined Palmer Vineyards as its new winemaker bringing nearly 20 years of experience at wineries like Gonzalez Byass, Robert Mondavi, Yalumba and Catera. Obviously his coming to Long Island just in time for harvest means we won’t truly taste his impact until the 2007 vintage is released. Those will be the first wines that he nurtured in the fields as well as crafted in the cellar. Still the 2006 was his first crush on Long Island and wines from that vintage are technically his first here as well. This Palmer Vineyards 2006…
WTN: Raphael 2006 Sauvignon Blanc (North Fork of Long Island)
As you know, lots of Long Island winemakers still focus on the parallels between their own region and Bordeaux. Merlot and the cabernets–sauvignon and franc–are clearly the dominant red grapes here and they do well (except maybe sauvignon, which only thrives in the best years in the best locations). But, market conditions being what they are, most white wine made in these parts is made with chardonnay, the white grape of Burgundy. Those wines can be simple and gulpable or rich, complex and truly Burgundian, but they are nothing like white Bordeaux, which are made with sauvignon blanc and semillon.…
WTN: Shinn Estate Vineyards 2006 First Fruit (North Fork)
Chardonnay, shmarddonay. Yes, chardonnay is the white wine that dominates the Long Island wine scene. It’s the most planted and, obviously, most made. That’s because despite trends away from it, it’s still the most sold white wine in the market. Yes, I like–and sometimes love–local chardonnay. The acid balance can be stellar in these parts. But, so far this spring, the wines I’ve been digging most have been local sauvignon blancs. There have already been several 2006 sauvignons that I’ve enjoyed and Shinn Estate Vineyards’ 2006 First Fruit ($23) which is primarily sauvignon blanc, with just a squirt (4%) Semillon,…
Long Island Sauvignon Blanc in the New York Times
In yesterday’s New York Times, Howard Goldberg offers a nice roundup of Long Island sauvignon blanc. This is, I think, one of Goldberg’s best pieces in a while. He tasted, I assume blindly, a wide array of local sauvignon and ranks them. I don’t think that I’ve had all of the wine mentioned, but for the ones that I have had my rankings would be very similar. I’d probably move the Macari up a notch but otherwise, I think I agree almost completely. Sauvignon blanc plays second fiddle to chardonnay way too often around here. I really think we’re going…
May’s Local with Local Pairing
The goal of my new "Local with Local" series is to not only show how well Long Island food goes with Long Island wine, but also to make it easier for people to try putting the two together at home. For our inaugural pairing, I’ve worked with Doug Gulija of Plaza Cafe to put together a delectable spring offering. I told him that I wanted to focus on sauvignon blanc–specifically the latest vintage from Channing Daughters Winery and this is what he came up with. He’s known for his masterful work with seafood, and this looks delicious (even to someone…
May Selections: The New York Cork Club
It’s May…spring has finally come to Long Island and that means warmer weather, the beginnings of local produce and–for me anyway–a turn to crisp, fresh white wines. This month’s selections for the New York Cork Club fit the bill nicely. I’ve written about Dr. Konstantin Frank’s 2006 Rkatsiteli already, but I chose it for this month for a variety of reasons. One, it’s very unique–you just don’t see many rkats out there. Two, it’s versatile–think of it as a blend of riesling, gewurztraminer and sauvignon blanc–and will pair with a wide range of food, including Thai and Indian cuisine. And…