Posts Tagged“anthony nappa wines”

New York #Tastemaker: Anthony Nappa | Raphael & Anthony Nappa Wines

“Tastemaker” is a term typically used to describe a person — either a sommelier or writer in the wine world — who decides what is good, cool or otherwise interesting. With our new #NYTastemaker profiles, I’ve decided to usurp the term to mean someone who actually makes the wines, ciders, spirits, etc. that we love. A “tastemaker” should make something, after all. As a wine lover and a wine writer, I know that I can trust Anthony Nappa, winemaker at Raphael, owner of Anthony Nappa Wines and co-owner of The Winemaker Studio with his chef-wife Sarah. It’s not just that his wines almost always…

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New York Cork Club February 2016 Selections

Without writing a long essay about what it actually costs to grow grapes and eventually make a bottle of wine that can be sold – many of the things that go into wine are very expensive, and in New York, they are even more expensive on Long Island. Land and labor are the big ones. Why do I bring this up? Well, this month’s selections are both from Long Island, a rarity given the constraints (<$50 plus shipping for two bottles) of this club. It may never happen again, but considering that I live just a short drive from Long…

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Corks of the Forks: The Last Thanksgiving Wine Story You’ll Ever Need to Read

When considering your Thanksgiving wine choices, here’s the only advice you need: Drink good wine. Don’t complicate it any more than that. OK. You probably want to know why it’s that simple, and I’m happy to explain it. I’ve written Thanksgiving-related stories for at least a decade, just like every other wine writer — from local guys like me to national columnists in the big, glossy magazines. Some feel compelled to do so, but often we’re told to write these stories because they’re apparently popular, though I don’t actually understand why. None of my friends or family members stress about…

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Anthony Nappa Wines 2014 Anomaly White Pinot Noir

I consider this wine a rose, though winemaker Anthony Nappa often refuses to call it one when we talk, preferring to call it a white pinot noir. Some years it’s whiter than others, but I consider it a rose regardless of color because of how it drinks — like a rose. Anthony Nappa Wines 2014 Anomaly ($20) is made with pinot noir grown both in the Finger Lakes and on Long Island because Nappa thinks that “a combination of New York’s two most prominent winegrowing regions complements each other and brings nice balance to this wine.” Unlike so many marketing messages in the wine world, I…

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North Fork Wines Take A Field Trip To Racines NY BYO Mondays

If you’ve suffered through my cooking, you know there’s certainly no meal coming from my kitchen that’s worthy of a special bottle of wine. In fact, drinking something quickly is your best method of defense. I tend to hoard long-held vintages or the Brunello procured on a magical vacation for an event where corkage is appropriate or find that rare BYOB restaurant of a certain caliber. Occasionally, I miss a drinkability window and I curse my principals and wish I’d just opened that bottle with a takeout turkey burger. Having the luxury of endless access to Long Island wine, they…

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Anthony Nappa Wines 2013 Sciardonne

Anthony Nappa Wines 2013 “Sciardonne” Chardonnay ($20) straddles the line between typical no-oak chardonnay and barrel fermented styles. Though it doesn’t see a splinter of oak, it’s still full-bodied and concentrated with fruity aromas of mandarin orange and peach backed by notes of pineapple, dried flowers and a bit of butter. Full-bodied and mouth-filling, the palate shows excellent balance with enough acid to keep it from tasting heavy or tiring and a nice little saline note on the end of a medium-long finish. Producer: Anthony Nappa Wines AVA: North Fork of Long Island Harvest Date(s): October 5, 2013 Vineyard Source: McCullough Vineyards…

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Anthony Nappa Wines 2013 “Reminisce” Sauvignon Blanc

With aromas of pink grapefruit, gooseberry and sweet melon — with just the faintest bell pepper note — Anthony Nappa Wines 2013 “Reminisce” Sauvignon Blanc ($22) is a fine representation of Long Island sauvignon blanc that shows both typicity and style. Medium bodied, the palate is snappy with grapefruit and melon flavors up front with savory herbal accents that linger through a long, mouth-watering finish. The mid-palate shows wonderful, juicy texture, which helps make this a standout. Producer: Anthony Nappa Wines AVA: North Fork of Long Island Brix: 22 (average) Harvest Date(s): September 23, 2013 Vineyard Source: Raphael (Peconic, NY) …

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Anthony Nappa Wines 2013 “Bordo” Cabernet Franc

With aromas of red raspberry and cherry, roasted poblano, savory herbs and oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes, Anthony Nappa Wines 2013 “Bordo” Cabernet Franc ($20) shows the interplay between fruity and savory that this unoaked, spontaneously fermented cabernet franc always shows. Soft and similarly savory, the medium-bodied palate shows the same berries-meet-herbs character — un-adored cabernet franc in all it’s glory. The medium-length finish brings some graphite and turns almost tinny before returning to the herbal and slightly vegetal notes. Many winemakers would manipulate that green edge out of this wine — whether through oak aging or some other bit of winemaking…

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Anthony Nappa Wines 2012 “Bordo” Cabernet Franc

It is a point of some debate, but I’m of the belief that you cannot — and should not — remove all of the ‘green’ flavor from cabernet franc. Many try, either through extensive leaf-pulling programs, extended hang time and/or aggressive use of new oak barrels. But at the end of the day, ‘green’ is just part of the cabernet franc’s varietal character and I want to taste it. Now, I’m not suggesting that I want bell pepper or asparagus or green bean to be the dominant aroma or flavor in any wine. There is a difference between under-ripe character…

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Anthony Nappa Wines 2012 Sciardonne (Chardonnay)

Well-priced and unoaked, Anthony Nappa Wines 2012 Sciardonne ($18) offers concentrated tropical fruit aromas with a hint of ginger and a distinct note of apples cooked down in butter. Rich and almost viscous, the palate is cut through by a lightning bolt of acidity that enlivens flavors pineapple and papaya, wild strawberry and butter. The finish shows a rustic, lightly bitter element, but shows nice length. Producer: Anthony Nappa Wines AVA: North Fork of Long Island ABV: 13.4% Price: $18* | Buy Now From Empire State Cellars (3 out of 5, Very good/Recommended)

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