Posts Tagged“wine”

This Week On Appellation America (10/19/06)

This week on Appellation America, you can read my recommendations for two chardonnays made by Roman Roth at Wolffer Estate — a 2003 Reserve Chardonnay ($20) that shows nice balance and a stellar 2005 Late Harvest Chardonnay ($37) that should be good for another decade or five. Soon, they will also be publishing a Q&A I did with Raphael’s Richard Olsen-Harbich, who is also a LENNDEVOURS contributor. Rich has been working in the local wine industry for nearly three decades and actually authored the three local AVAs: Long Island, North Fork of Long Island, and Hamptons, Long Island. Appellation America…

Why I Hate Synthetic Corks (aka Bad Choices)

So I sat down last night to review a few different wines from Standing Stone Vineyards in the Finger Lakes region of New York. It’s a well-known producer and I’ve enjoyed both their dry vidal and vidal ice wine in the past. Then I opened my only bottle of their 2003 Pinot Noir ($26). As I slipped the capsule off, I was surprised to see a synthetic cork. In my experience, few wineries use them on a wine over $15 dollars — particularly not one that should have some cellar worthiness. So I extract the cork and pour… Something is…

Read Local: New Long Island Magazine — canvas

Long Island has more than its share of publications — too many in fact (and this coming from a guy who writes or has written for several of them). So many of them are the same — too many advertisements and too few interesting stories. Long Island’s newest magazine, canvas, is a little different. For one, the production value is through the roof compared to so many of the ad-supported papers in these parts. Two, the editor isn’t some just-out-of-college rookie or crazy person without any real talent. canvas’ editor, Ramin Ganeshram is an experienced journalist, editor and cookbook author…

This Week On Appellation America (9/29/06)

I don’t often write much about my Appellation America gig here on LENNDEVOURS. But, for those of you that don’t know, I’m the regional correspondant for both the Long Island and Hudson Valley regions. What this means is that in addition to helping build appellation consciousness for the two regions, I’m responsble for tasting and recommending their wines as well. It’s hard work, but somebody has to do it, right? The cool thing is that editorial really drives the Appellation America site — a rarity in the wine media world to be sure. Starting today, I’ll highlight my Appellation America…

WTN: Standing Stone Vineyards Smokehouse Dry Vidal (Finger Lakes)

Vidal (or vidal blanc) is a hybrid grape that doesn’t get the respect it deserves — at least when it’s done well. No, it’s not as rich and complex at a well-made, balance chardonnay and it doesn’t have the bright elegance of riesling. But, as far as white hybrids go, it’s among my favorites. Vidal is perhaps best known for it’s role in some delicious late harvest and ice style wines from Canadian and upstate New York producers. But, with high acidity and medium body, dry renditions can be tremendously refreshing and food friendly. Standing Stone Vineyards NV Smokehouse Dry…

WTN: Corey Creek Vineyards 2005 Reserve Chardonnay (North Fork of Long Island)

Corey Creek Vineyards, owned by New Line Cinema chairman Michael Lynne, produces mostly white wines (the reds are bottled under sister winery Bedell Cellars’ label), including one of Long Island’s best gewurztraminers, a flavorful late harvest riesling and two different styles of chardonnay. Too often, Long Island chardonnay is severely over oaked in an attempt to make the rich, buttery style that (unfortunately) remains so popular with consumers. These wines usually fail because, unlike warmer California regions, local fruit just doesn’t get as ripe and can’t stand up to heavy oak. Disappointingly few local producers balance fruit and oak well…

Lenz Merlot Classic, Roanoke 2004 Preview BBQ and Upcoming Events

Fall is one of the most exciting — and hectic — times on the East End of Long Island. The grapes have undergone veraison — the green grapes have changed color and started to ripen — and harvest season has begun (for sparkling wine) and will continue well into November. The ever-popular pumpkins and mums are also coming in, so the crowds will be flooding their favorite farm stands and nurseries. They bring a lot of energy to the region — but they make it harder for me to get to the wineries because of the traffic. As with any…

The First Batch of North Fork Red Wine Vinegar

My first batch of AVA-designated red wine vinegar has been siphoned off and bottled. I haven’t actually used it in any cooking yet, but I can tell you this — the flavor is so much more intense than anything you’ll buy at any supermarket or even specialty shop. For my next batch, which will be ready in time for holiday gift giving, I’m going to use only merlot from the North Fork of Long Island AVA. I know that I’ve been a bit lax posting lately, but that’s only because real work has gotten in the way. Stay tuned for…

Appellation America Q&A: Kareem Massoud, Paumanok Vineyards

It seems that almost every winery calls itself "family run" even if no one in the family ever touches a vine or steps foot in the winery itself. Paumanok Vineyards on the North Fork of Long Island, on the other hand, actually is run by the Massoud family. This month at Appellation America, my North Fork Q&A is with Kareem Massoud, Charles and Ursula Massoud’s eldest son. After attending business school and working for a private investment firm in Manhattan, the family vineyard called him back to the East End. Now, he’s making the wines alongside his father, Charles, making…

Rain. Rain. Go Away.

Last October, in the midst of Long Island grape harvest, we received over 17 inches of rain in an eight-day period. Most of the white grapes had already been picked (thankfully) but some wineries lost some of their red grape crops. In fact, a couple lost it all and didn’t make red wine in 2005. With rain, sometimes heavy rain, over the past several days, you can’t blame vineyard managers, winemakers and winery owners for being a little nervous. And, after a forecasted respite tomorrow, the remnants of Hurricane Ernesto arrive this weekend, bringing more rain. It’s only the end…