Posts Written OnJuly 2010

By Julia Burke, Beer Editor From a can — love it! Environmentally friendly and less expensive. Pork Slap pours a clear amber and a puffy three-finger head into a wheat glass, leaving solid lacing. The nose is clean crystal malt, bananas, toffee, and baked plaintain, with a little clove, cardamom, and ginger (apparently ginger is actually added to the beer — I only got a hint, which is all I would have wanted on this delicate nose). On the palate, sweetness and more tropical fruit backed by assertive carbonation and light hops make for a mouthfeel that is textured yet…

By Lenn Thompson, Executive Editor I'm on the record as someone who is less than enthusiastic about New York syrah. Only a handful of wineries are even doing varietal syrah — so it's not a big or important segment right now at this point — but I find most of them underwhelming. As such, I'm of the opinion that syrah will never be more than a niche product. Then again, syrah can make some nice rose. There are exceptions to every rule and Jamesport Vineyards 2007 "MTK" Syrah ($35) fills that role for New York syrah. MTK stands for Mattituck,…

By Executive Editor, Lenn Thompson There might be a war brewing — or perhaps fermenting — in Long Island wine country. It pits local wineries against local government — specifically Town of Riverhead and Town of Southold. The issue is a complex one, but the recent skirmish centers on the various events that local wineries are using to draw crowds — and their tourism money — to the East End. Are these events within local codes? It depends on who you ask, but a handful of wineries received cease and desist notices recently for things like serving oysters in their…

By Lenn Thompson, Executive Editor This month's New York Cork Club selections are Sheldrake Point Vineyards 2008 Gewurztraminer and Herman J. Wiemer 2008 Dry Riesling, who great summer sippers that will pair with the hot temperatures we've been "enjoying" of late and also with the great local produce that is available this time of year. Before I say a bit about the two wines, first let me point you at more information about the New York Cork Club (NYCC) itself. The quick and dirty of it is that we've partnered with BacchusWineOnline.com to build a wine club that features only…

By Evan Dawson, Finger Lakes and Managing Editor Photo: Owner Amy Hoffman, left, works the tasting room on a busy summer day There are not many 90-point Gewurztraminers that have come out of the Finger Lakes, and there has never been a 90-point lemberger.  Amy Hoffman, owner of Rooster Hill Vineyards on Keuka Lake, believes she has one of each. And she isn't afraid to say so. "I jumped right on Facebook and said that these would get 90 points," she told me on a busy mid-week day in the tasting room that overlooks the northeast branch of the lake.…

By Lenn Thompson, Executive Editor Yesterday, I received a press release about an upcoming "Farm to Table" dinner at City Winery, one of a handful of New York City-based urban wineries. It goes without saying that I'm an advocate of eating and drinking locally, so when I saw that they'd be creating "an outdoor dining experience highlighted by local food and wines" I thought it might be an event worth mentioning here on the site.I receive way too many event announcements to publish them all, so I'm selective. The menu for this event looks great though and features ingredients from…

We started our three-day Cayuga jaunt with a stop at Long Point Winery, home to a surprising number of California reds but some tasty local whites too. By Lenn Thompson, Executive Editor The Finger Lakes region is one the most beautiful spots on earth — at least my wife and I think so. That's why we seem to vacation in the ara almost any chance we get. Sometimes it's just for a one-night getaway. Other times it's for a week with the little guy. We had talked about going to Italy or Spain to celebrate our five-year wedding anniversary a…

By Lenn Thompson, Executive Editor Here are seven wines that have crossed the NYCR tasting table in recent weeks but will not be reviewed as part of a stand-alone post. As always, these are notes almost verbatim from my tasting notebook: Channing Daughters Winery 2008 Sauvignon ($24): Ripe pear, peach, apple and lemon fruit aromas blend with nutty oak character and subtle herbal quality. Medium-bodied but rich, the palate shows pear and grapefruit with subtle nutty-spicy oak. Finish is long with a peachy note. A bit more acid would really bring this one alive. Rating: 86 Damiani Wine Cellars 2008…

 By Evan Dawson, Finger Lakes Editor    Photo by Morgan Dawson Photography When's the last time you found yourself in a Finger Lakes vineyard? My wife and I spent a glorious summer's day searching for potential book cover art, and we moved from lake to lake, spending time in countless vineyards. It was a stirring reminder that the terrain is truly special for winemaking.  We'll be spending more time on NYCR as harvest approaches focusing on the impact of a wine's place. For now, I will report that the Sawmill Creek vineyard site goes from peaceful at the top section to precarious…