Posts Tagged“wolffer”

Weekly New York Wine News — May 25, 2015

Photo via Shinn Estate Vineyards  New York wines still sweeping up awards, a new winery restaurant, new winery owners, and a new association on the East End of Long Island — plus new things on the horizon in the Finger Lakes. NEWS Albany Times Union – 5/18/2015 New York Wines take home close to 150 awards at the recent Tasters Guild International Wine Competition, including six Double Golds by unanimous vote of the judging panels. New York Times – 5/20/2015 Found among a list of new resto action in the metro and Long Island look for WÖLFFER KITCHEN on Main Street in Sag…

Roanoke Vineyards 2008 Barrel Tasting: Hard-Fought Mature Fruit Lead to Pretty, Elegant Wines

Members of the Roanoke Vineyards wine club tasting 2008 reds in the Wolffer Estate cellar. By Lenn Thompson, Editor-in-Chief Friday night, on a cold, windy East End night, I joined 20 or so members of Roanoke Vineyards' wine club at Wolffer Estate Vineyards (where Roanoke's wines are made) to taste Roanoke Vineyards' 2008 reds from barrel. It was part wine club event, part futures tasting — the winery's first — and offered an excellent opportunity to taste these wines for the first time. Plus, it's always a pleasure to taste and talk with winemaker Roman Roth and Roanoke Vineyards co-owner,…

Wolffer Estate 2005 Christian’s Cuvee Merlot

By Lenn Thompson, Editor-in-Chief $100 for a merlot…from Long Island? Yes. Wolffer Estate Vineyards' Premier Cru (the former name for this wine) is perhaps known as much, or more, for it's price tag than it's quality. But, the wine sells — in part because of the wineries Hamptons locale, but also because it happens to be very good. And unlike some of Long Island's other high-priced "reserve" wines it is only made when winemaker Roman Roth thinks the fruit coming into the winery warrants it. I can respect that. 2005 was one of those years, even though what was a…

Notes on Ravines and Wolffer at I Drink NY Astor Place Event

By Sasha Smith, New York City Correspondent Photo by Sasha Smith A few weeks ago I attended the first annual Winebow "I Drink New York" event at Astor Wines featuring Ravines Wine Cellars, Wolffer Estate Vineyards and Millbrook Vineyards. I focused on Ravines, which I knew little about (aside from the fact that Lenn's a fan) and Wolffer. A brief dispatch: A good wine is like a good thriller: it should hold your attention throughout and finish with a surprise. The Ravines Wine Cellars 2007 Dry Riesling fulfilled both criteria. The wine has a mineral and citrus fruit purity that’s…

Wolffer Estate 2005 Estate Selection Chardonnay

Roman Roth, winemaker at Wolffer Estate (along with Roanoke Vineyards and his own label, Grapes of Roth) makes some of my favorite Long Island chardonnay. His Wolffer Estate 2003 Estate Selection is one of my all-time favorites. Though a bit less refined than the stellar 2003 bottling, the current release — Wolffer Estate’s 2005 Estate Selection Chardonnay ($29) is still a fine example of barrel fermented chardonnay. Extremely toasty on the nose, oak and vanilla scents dominate with juicy-ripe pear aromas peeking through. Medium-to-full bodied with extremely lively acidity, the palate shows rich peach and pear fruit character with butterscotch,…

Wolffer Estate 2006 Reserve Merlot

When I sit down to one of the Sunday morning wine tastings I conduct here on our dining room table, I never quite know what I’m going to get. I taste wine from every corner of New York State and, frankly, sometimes it can be an extreme sport. There is a lot of bad wine being made in New York, people. There. I said it. That’s one reason I appreciate Wolffer Estate so much. 99% of the time, I know what I’m going to get — elegance, balance and quality. This Wolfer Estate 2006 Reserve Merlot ($20) is a fine…

Wolffer Estate 2006 Pinot Noir

Roman Roth, winemaker at Wolffer Estate is perhaps best known for the wines he crafts from merlot, including the $125 Wolffer Estate Premier Cru and the wines he makes under his own label, Grapes of Roth. I've also lauded Roman fort he great things he does with the chardonnay grape. But, as much as I enjoy those wines, I think some of the other wines he makes are under-appreciated, including this Wolffer Estate 2006 Pinot Noir ($35). As we all know, pinot noir can be difficult both in the vineyard and in the cellar. They don't call it the ‘heartbreak…

News Clips about Christian Wolffer and His Passing

The Wolffer family is expected to give a brief statement today during which we'll hopefully learn about any memorial services here on Long Island. In the mean time, Christian Wolffer's death has been covered extensively in media outlets throughout the U.S. and beyond and I thought you might appreciate a few links to the stories: Vineyard owner Christian Wolffer killed by boat (Newsday) Hamptons Wine Mogul Killed (NY Post) Models Swim to Try to Save Hamptons Mogul (NY Post) German-born US winery owner dies in Brazil in apparent boating accident (LA Times) Brazilian model tries to save wine mogul (Daily…

Wolffer Estate 2005 Caya Cabernet Franc

Wolffer Estate's winemaker, Roman Roth, made some delicious and unique wines to commemorate the winery's 20th anniversary, and this wine the Wolffer Estate 2005 "Caya" Cabernet Franc ($40) is one of them (even if I liked the 04 a bit better). The commemorative wines are all named for horses in the Wolffer Stables and this one bears the name of Caya, a 16- year old Hanoverian Warmblood and a Grand Prix winner. This blend of 86% cabernet franc and 14% merlot shows ripe, intense blackberry and cassis fruit aromas on the nose, which are accented by vanilla, toasty oak and…

In Memorium: Christian Wolffer, Owner, Wolffer Estate

Some sad news has hit the Long Island wine community today in the form of a report that Christian Wolffer, entrepreneur and founder/owner of Wolffer Estate has died in a boating accident in Brazil. I haven't heard any details beyond that yet, but this is obviously a terribly sad day for the Long Island wine community. As Charles Massoud, co-owner of Paumanok Vineyards (who emailed me about Wolffer's passing) said "Christian was one of our early wave wine producers who has committed himself to quality and excellence. And I think he has accomplished what he set out to do, with…