Posts Written OnAugust 12, 2013

Wolffer Estate Vineyard 2010 “Caya” Cabernet Franc

The nose on the Wolffer Estate Vineyard 2010 “Caya” Cabernet Franc ($40) shows a significant dose of oak, which expresses itself as candied, roasted nuts as well sweet cedar, layered over top of chocolate covered cherries and ripe blueberries. Luckily, that oak character is more understated on the rich, concentrated palate, where dark berries and plums mingle deftly with woodsy spice, cocoa bean and vanilla. I miss the savory, herbal edge that cabernet franc should have, but with round, well-integrated tannins, it’s approachable now but should cellar well for at least the shorter term. Producer: Wolffer Estate Vineyard AVA: The Hamptons, Long Island ABV: 13.3%…

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A Visit to the Newly Opened Crooked Ladder Brewing Company

Last month, Crooked Ladder Brewing Company opened its doors at 70 West Main Street in downtown Riverhead. The building’s brick facade sports the brewery’s name above open bay doors, inviting the passerby inside for a tasting. The tasting bar and production facility occupy the same space, so visitors can see people actually brewing what they are about to taste. It’s amazing to see the once-shady dive bar transformed into a local microbrewery and downtown hot pot. The ambiance in the tasting room perfectly matched what was intended by the team behind Crooked Ladder when I visited back in April prior…

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