NYCC_oct09 By Lenn Thompson, Executive Editor

It's been chilly here on Long Island this week, with frosts a couple mornings. Luckily, all the grapes are in and 2010 wines are going to bring some serious intensity when they are released.

In the meantime, let's talk about Channing Daughters Winery 2009 Scuttlehole Chardonnay and Lamoreaux Landing 2007 76 West, October's New York Cork Club selections.

If you haven't herad of the New York Cork Club (NYCC), it's pretty simple. We've partnered with BacchusWineOnline.com to create a wine club that features only wines made in New York — making them more accessible to people around the country. We can't ship to every state, shipping laws being what they are today, but we can ship to a lot of them.

For more information and to sign up, visit the Bacchus website.

Now, a bit about the two wines for this month.

When I created this club a couple years ago, I never imagined that I'd be including a Bordeaux-style blend from the Finger Lakes, but Lamoreaux Landing 2007 76 West earned its place in this month's shipment with a  combination of bright red cherry and plum fruit flavors, subtle spicy oak and gentle earthiness. It's dominated by cabernet franc, but includes merlot and cabernet sauvignon, and isn't a big, burly red, but it's ripe and tremendous with food. And a good value to boot.

For our second wine, I went with a wine that exemplifies the style of chardonnay I think Long Island does best with, Channing Daughters Winery 2009 Scuttlehold Chardonnay. Made without a splinter of oak, it's fresh, juicy and refreshing with green apple and lemony citrus flavors. Stainless steel chardonnay can be a bit boring and neutral, but winemaker Chris Tracy always makes one of my favorites every year.

Interesting in signing up for the club? You can do so on the Bacchus website.