Posts Written OnJuly 2015

New York Cork Club: August 2015 Selections

The August 2015 wines for the New York Cork Club will ship once the weather cools a bit (the July wines will ship soon too I hope). In the meantime, I wanted to tell you a bit about them. (If you missed our announcement about the rebirth of New York Cork Club, check it out here.) For August, we’ll return to the “one red and one white” club shipment — with one classic grape from a well-known winery and one lesser-known grape from an under-appreciated winery included: Keuka Lake Vineyards 2014 Gently Dry Vignoles — Some look down on vignoles because it’s a hybrid grape…

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Weekly New York Wine News — July 27, 2015

Photo courtesy Macari Vineyards Some love for local agriculture and its workers, change afoot in Niagara, positive change at the classic, and annual festivities party on. NEWS The Citizen - 7/21/2015 New York Assembly Minority Leader Brian Kolb, writes an Op-Ed on why the Finger Lakes one of the premier viticulture regions in New York and the country. Help Wanted - 7/19/2015 Niagara Wine Trail Executive Director position posted on Craigslist Buffalo then pulled. Still posted on a job listing site. Albany Times Union - 7/25/2015 Women tilt the balance at the judges table for the first time at the New…

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Bouquet 2014 Sauvignon Blanc

Long Island sauvignon blanc has arrived and is just starting to get the attention outside of the region that it deserves. Quality is high nearly across the board while bright, steel-fermented versions will always rule the category, blending, skin contact, time in barrels of various ages add some diversity as well. But, it’s gotten hard to find good Long Island sauvignon blanc for less than $22. Bouquet 2014 Sauvignon Blanc ($18) is a rare find in that regard. The lightly saline nose is driven by lemon and grapefruit aromas and a subtle green melon note. Though a bit austere and light-bodied, the palate…

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Mattebella Vineyards 2013 Steel Chardonnay

Lower- and no-oak chardonnay is getting a lot of attention in California these days — especially among the “New California” set — but this style of chardonnay has been popular for many years in Long Island wine country — and this is Mattebella Vineyards‘ first foray into the barrel-less chardonnay game. Mattebella Vineyards 2013 Steel Chardonnay ($20) smells like fresh pears and yellow apples with just a hint of sweet corn. Sometimes steel chardonnay can be a bit lean and tinny, but this one is fleshier than that with a gently creamy mid-palate. Fruit-forward and fairly direct, the palate is…

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Weekly New York Wine News — July 20, 2015

NEWS Salon - 7/12/2015 Seneca Lake is a focal point regarding New York’s future identity and a tension between energy and environment. Dan’s Papers - 7/12/2015 A primer for summer in wine country on the east end of Long Island. Wines and Vines - 7/13/2015 Explaining why New York wine’s “overnight success” actually took 30 years of dedicated effort…and there is still more to do. lohud - 7/14/2015 Legislation to curb restrictions on retailers shipping NY wine out of state is on it’s way to Governor Cuomo’s desk. * More on this story with video from Time Warner Cable. Newsday - 7/16/2015 Wolffer…

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Raphael 2014 “First Label” Sauvignon Blanc

Since his arrival on Long Island in 2007, Anthony Nappa — who serves as winemaker for Raphael as well as his own label after working for Shinn Estate Vineyards for four years — has shown a deft hand with North Fork sauvignon blanc. Perhaps Nappa’s time spent studying winemaking in New Zealand helped a little. Regardless, he makes some of my favorite local sauvignon, more or less regardless of who he’s making it for or where the fruit comes from. Sometimes they are crispy and lighter-styled. Other times they are concentrated and textural. Raphael 2014 “First Label” Sauvignon Blanc ($28) continues that tradition and…

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Appreciating the FLX Wienery: A Conversation with Christopher Bates

Here’s the scene: You are biting into a burger called The Local, made with goat cheese and miso mayo and lettuce and tomato and herbs, and you’ve just pillaged a bottle of 1988 Dunn Cabernet from the secret wine fridge, and you’re wondering if this high-end comfort food oasis is only for serious food lovers. And then a well-placed dick joke cuts through any concern about pretension. This is the FLX Wienery, a little food-and-wine joint on Route 14 that has been open for a year. It’s already become a regional treasure, a must-visit for wine tourists on Seneca Lake.…

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Weekly New York Wine News — July 13, 2015

Photo courtesy of Shinn Estate Vineyards New York weekly wine news with mentions of local products from across the globe and our own backyards. NEWS Otago Daily Times - 7/7/2015 Half way around the world and in the southern hemisphere, upstate NY wine country is a recommended destination. Vietnam Briefing - 7/7/2015 We knew that Finger Lakes Riesling goes well with south-east Asian cuisine, but the pending Pacific Free Trade agreement would significantly reduce NY wine tariffs in Vietnam. Finger Lakes Times - 7/8/2015 Wine Symposium of the Finger Lakes’ third annual AVA Riesling Challenge winners announced. Examiner - 7/12/2015 The New York Grape…

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Leonard Oakes Estate Winery 2013 Reserve Series Sauvignon Blanc

Lightly saline on the nose, with notes of lemony citrus, fresh-cut hay and grapefruit, Leonard Oakes Estate Winery 2013 Reserve Series Sauvignon Blanc ($17) is a snappy, refreshing sauvignon. The palate lacks a bit of concentration, but is bright, citrusy and mouthwatering — with a savory minerality that peeks through on a medium-long finish. Producer: Leonard Oakes Estate Winery AVA: New York State ABV: 12.5% Price: $17 (sample) (3 out of 5, Very good/Recommended)

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