Posts Written OnNovember 2004

Macari in the New York Times

Macari’s 2004 Early Wine on our table at Azafran in Philadelphia Even though I don’t always agree with his thoughts on Long Island wine, I read Howard Goldberg’s New York Times column "Long Island Vines" every Sunday. This week, however, he talks about one of my favorite whites, Macari Vineyards’ Early Wine. I love this so much that I even wrote about it in my recent story on host/hostess gifts for the holiday season. It really is "charming" as Howard puts it…and we picked up a bottle to take north with us for Thanksgiving. I think some of my future…

Peconic Bay Winery 3rd Annual Thanksgiving Barrel Tasting

On Sunday, November 21, Peconic Bay Winery hosted its 3rd Annual Thanksgiving Barrel Tasting, just east of the tasting room on the Main Road in Cutchogue, to honor a founding father of American cuisine and to raise money to help the next generation of chefs. Larry Forgione of An American Place restaurant was the guest of honor and proceeds from the event went to a scholarship fund for NYIT’s Culinary Arts Program. With the usual tasting room closed for the day, Peconic Bay’s staff set up a huge tent on its grounds, large enough to house tables featuring food from…

See Me In Print…and in The Food Section

Today is an exicting day here at LENNDEVOURS. First, you’ll notice three new articles in the "Read Me In Print" list to your left. These articles are in Dan’s Papers: Over the Barrel…With Lenn Thompson: Five Turkey Day Wine Tips Gold Coast Grapes Holiday Host/Hostess Gifts: What Wine Should You Bring? Even more exciting, I was asked by Josh at The Food Section to offer my thoughts on Turkey Day wine pairs for his piece titled "Chasin’ The Bird 2004, Part 1: Wine Bloggers Talk Turkey." I love his site, read it every day, and  the fact that he asked…

Over The Barrel…With Lenn Thompson: 5 Turkey Day Wine Tips

(This column appeared in the 11/19 issue of Dan’s Papers) Five Turkey Day Wine TipsChoosing wines to serve with your Thanksgiving Day spread can seem a monumental task. Typical Thanksgiving dinners include a plethora of different flavors and textures—turkey (white and dark meat), stuffing that can contain almost anything, rich gravy, sweet potatoes, tart cranberry sauce and sweet pumpkin pie. Add other possibilities like ham, prime rib or even Italian food (like we have) and it can be overwhelming. It doesn’t have to be and it shouldn’t be. There’s only one rule for matching wines with Thanksgiving: there are no…

Holiday Host/Hostess Gifts: What Wine Should You Bring?

(This articled appeared in the 11/19 issue of Dan’s Papers) With Thanksgiving less than a week away, “the season” is almost here. No, I’m not talking about Thanksgiving Day itself or any other specific holiday. I’m talking about holiday party season. You know exactly what I’m talking about, too – because chances are you’ll be invited to at least a few parties between now and the beginning of 2005. It’s a great time of year and offers ample opportunities to enjoy good food and good wine with the best of friends. Personally, I never go to a party empty handed,…

Gold Coast Grapes–Old Brookville Vineyards Survive Despite Natural Disasters

(This article appeared in the 11/19 issue of Dan’s Papers) There are many environmental factors that can adversely affect or even destroy a vineyard’s grape crop. From extreme temperatures to phylloxera to animals eating the fruit, vineyard managers have a lot of things to worry about. And over the past several years, Old Brookville Vineyards, the only commercial vineyard in Nassau County, has succumbed to more of these factors than any other Long Island vineyard.

Thanksgiving Barrel Tasting at Peconic Bay Winery

This Sunday afternoon, Nena and I are heading out east to Peconic Bay Winery for their 3rd Annual Thanksgiving Barrel Tasting. I’m covering it for Dan’s Papers and have a column due the next day…so I guess I can’t have too much wine when we’re there! I’m looking forward to it. It’s outside in a heated tent and we’ll be tasting barrel samples of their 2003 Merlot, 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon and 2003 Cabernet Franc along side some great food made by some of the top local chefls. I’d also like to meet winemaker Greg Gove and their new Culinary Director,…

Stuffing is the STUFF!

Stuffing. It’s far and away my favorite part of any Thanksgiving dinner. Always filled with strong flavors, including sage, sausage…and even oysters in some parts of the country. The New York Times has a great article describing how personal stuffing recipes can be. And it got me thinking…have I ever made stuffing that wasn’t quick and easy out of a box? Isn’t it pathetic that the answer is no? Even sadder still is the fact that without a real oven in our current rental, I’m not sure it is forthcoming. I picture myself making one with bread and corn bread…adding…

Beaujolais Nouveau is Here!

2004’s first shipments of Beaujolais Nouveau have arrrived…and, despite how many wine snobs feel about this ultra-young, ultra-juicy wine, I plan to get a few bottles this weekend. This was a good year for Gamay grapes (which are what’s used for BN) if the experts are to be believed, so I look forward to tasting the freshest of wines. BN is an easy, fun wine that isn’t meant to be scrutinized or analyzed. And, while it seems to become more and more about the "hype" every year…I’ll never give up on it. It’s still an event and any excuse to…

The Philly Chronicles #2: The Shiraz/Syrah Showdown

In what has become a tradition when we see Paul and Sara, we put together a Syrah/Shiraz tasting for last Saturday. Our last one was rather impromptu…we had four Rieslings the last time. The premise this time around was simple, each couple would contribute one bottle of "bargain" wine ($10 or less) and one more expensive bottle ($20 or more). We wanted to see if there was a marked difference based upon price and which we’d prefer. Plus, four bottles and four tasters always makes for good times. Nena and I contributed a bottle of 2002 Columbia Crest Two Vines…