Posts Written OnJanuary 24, 2011

Captain Lawrence “Smoke From the Oak” Rum Barrel Aged Porter

By Julia Burke, Beer Editor This unique series by Captain Lawrence Brewing Company, a riff on experimental barrel aging, has produced some fantastic brews including an NYCR Beer of the Year Finalist. This bottling, aged in rum barrels, pours a lovely cappuccino/camoflage-colored one-finger head with attractive and resilient lacing. The body is burnt-ember black and thick but not syrupy. Like all Smoke From the Oak beerslike all the Smoke From the Oak beers it's a beautiful package. The nose is lightly smoky and just a touch hot, with a roasted meat/garrigue aroma as well as notes of coffee, chicory and…

The New York Cork Report Tasting Table — January 24, 2011

By Lenn Thompson, Executive Editor These are a some wines that have crossed the NYCR tasting table recently but will not be reviewed as part of a standalone post. As always, these are transcribed almost directly from my notebook with little editing: Benmarl Winery 2009 Baco Noir ($28): Black cherries with spicy oak and leather. Medium body with low tannins and lower acid than many bacos. Red berries, brown spice — clove and nutmeg — leather and vanilla-toasty oak. A bit too much oak for me. Rating: 83 Channing Daughters Winery 2008 Mudd Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc ($20): Intense citrus on…

Video: Talking 2009 Reds and Regional Progress at White Springs Winery

By Evan Dawson, Finger Lakes Editor It won't be long before the 2009 reds from the Finger Lakes will hit the market. Despite what you might have heard, there will be some quality wines (and not all varieties suffered the same growing conditions).  One easy way to annoy a Finger Lakes winemaker is to make a blanket generalization, dismissing the vintage. In this video, White Springs Winery winemaker Derek Wilber explains how things have changed to allow the local industry to make good wines in tougher vintages.