Posts Written OnMay 2006

Interested in a LENNDEVOURS 2006 Harvest Party?

For at least six months (okay, more like a year) I’ve been knocking around the idea of putting together a party for my readers and friends both inside and interested in the Long Island wine industry. Every time I focus on it, however, I find myself wondering "Would anyone actually come? Does anyone really care?" So, rather than knock myself out…I figured I’d just ask. I’m thinking this party would happen on a weekend sometime just before, during or just after grape harvest (think October-ish time frame), out on the East End (either at a winery or at a B&B),…

Buffalo-Area Baco Noir — Another Reason to Drink Local

Jay of the Wine Chicks and also a fellow Wine Sediments contributor recently relocated from the NYC metro area to western NY — Buffalo in fact. The Buffalo area is apparently much more than chicken wings and beer. Baco Noir a variety I don’t know all that much about, is leading to some good wine from that area, particularly one from Peller Estates. Jay, a Long Island native, believes in drinking local I think…and you all know how I feel about that.

Corks of the Forks: Three Vintages. Three Styles. One Grape.

My first column for Hamptons.com’s food and wine section was published today: Three Vintages. Three Styles. One Grape. It highlights what one North Fork winery, Paumanok Vineyards, is doing with their chardonnay program. You are all well aware of my love affair with low-to-no oak chardonnay, but I was reminded of an important lesson with these wines. Oak isn’t always a bad thing. Check it out and visit Hamptons.com every Wednesday to read my column, Corks of the Forks.

WTN: Macari Vineyards 2004 Estate Chardonnay

Macari Vineyards 2004 Estate Chardonnay ($15) is a lean, crisp white made 100% in stainless steel tanks. Still a bit tight, it takes vigorous swirling to coaxe faint citrus and just-ripe pear aromas from the glass. Fresh and clean in the mouth, the flavors are a little on the simple side, but are nicely balanced by acidity and minerality. A tart, kiwi-flavored finish is a highlight. If this wine were $10 or even $12 it would be a nice summer sipper because it’s so refreshing and easy drinking, but at $15 I expect more.

Stormhoek Geek Dinner Post Coming Soon

I’m on deadline for a few print writing gigs, but I wanted to do a quick post about our Stormhoek Geek Dinner over the weekend. Ten wine lovers, with impressive wines and a great menu of food…how could it be anything but a great time? Details to come, but my favorite wine of the night was probably either their 2004 Shiraz or 2005 Sauvignon Blanc. Others really love the Pinotage.

WBW #21 & IMBB #26 Fabulous Favorites Festival — Wolffer Estate 2003 Late Harvest Chardonnay and Grilled Poundcake with Grilled Peaches

When Alberto and I decided to team up for WBW #21 and IMBB #26, I had aspirations of doing a five- or six-course tasting menu with our favorite foods with our favorites wines. As happens way too often for my liking, a hectic real life forced me to scale back severely. Instead of multiple wines and courses, I’m offering one wine with one dish. But, this combination more than makes up for the lack of quantity with quality. Almost immediately upon announcing the event, I wanted Nena to pick the wine or wines we would pair with food. I should…

Net Neutrality. It’s Worth Battling For.

I didn’t realize it before now, but food bloggers the Internet over are staging a protest today against the Communications Opportunity, Promotion and Enhancement (COPE) Act. Basically, telecommunications and cable companies want to be able to guarantee high data throughput to customers who are willing to pay additional money for improved performance. It would seem that large, well-funded companies would be able to pay some money and have their sites load a lot faster than sites like this very blog. Opponents of these greedy jerks have have coined the name Net Neutrality for the existing system, which offers open and…

LENNDEVOURS Cab Franc Update — What I Would Be Doing

As I announced a few weeks ago, I’m going to be making my own wine at Raphael this fall — from a 25-vine row of cabernet franc grapes. With all the dreary weather we’ve been having lately, I rescheduled my appointment last weekend to visit "my" vines. Hopefully I’ll be able to check them out over Memorial Day weekend. But, a local vineyard manager (who used to manage Raphael’s vineyards), Ben Sisson sent me an email yesterday that served as a reminder as to just how busy I’d be if I were truly managing those vines: "So Lenn, How’s life…