Posts Tagged“north fork”

New North Fork Winery: Medolla Vineyards

I got an email this morning from John Medolla, who along with his wife  Denise, just released their first merlot under the new Medolla Vineyards label–adding yet another producer to the North Fork wine scene. I hope Lisa Granik is paying attention. Medolla’s first release, a 2002 Merlot ($23) was produced at the Lenz Winery with Eric Fry (of Lenz) serving as consulting winemaker. Medolla Vineyards is one of the smallest in the region with an initial annual production of 500 cases. They hand harvest grapes from local vineyards. Both John and Denise work in the aviation industry, but their…

WTN: Peconic Bay Winery 2005 Steel Fermented Chardonnay (North Fork of Long Island)

I can still remember my first sip of Peconic Bay Winery’s steel fermented Chardonnay like it was yesterday. I had just moved to Long Island and was then only flirting with the region and its wines. This flirtation has since become an all-out love affair and I count this wine as one that stoked the fire of my neophyte palate. At the time, my vision of Chardonnay was of the flabby butter bombs with big everything – oak, vanilla, fruit – that I had tasted from both Australia and California. Based on my early experiences with those wines, I used…

Sang Lee Farms in canvas magazine

In this month’s issue of canvas, Cindy Krezel turns her Tasting Notes column to one of my favorite North Fork farms, Sang Lee Farms. The story focuses mainly on greens, but take it from someone who has driven out there (at least 45 minutes each way) just for their heirloom tomatoes–this is a place you have to check out. They also grow delicious, multi-colored carrots that I’ve enjoyed in the past and make some excellent pre-made Asian pestos and sauces as well.

Heard Through the Grape Vine: D’Latte Vineyards?

I’ve heard an unconfirmed rumor from a couple different unnamed sources that the owner of D’Latte Uncorked, an upscale deli/wine bar in Greenport, is planning to plant a vineyard on the North Fork with tight row spacing, build a winery on the premises and use a local winemaker as a consultant. Does anyone know anything about this? I’m going to call the deli when I get home tonight, but I’m wondering if any of my "insider" readers have heard anything about this endeavor. Either way, check back soon for more information–I hope.

Paumanok Wine Dinner @ North Fork Table & Inn (March 11)

On Sunday March 11, two of the North Fork’s best–Paumanok Vineyards and the North Fork Table & Inn–will present a special wine dinner featuring three vintages of Paumanok’s cabernet sauvignon. $85 plus tax and gratuity per person gets you the delicious menu below.  For more information and to make a reservation, please call the North Fork Table at (631) 765-0177 Local Fluke Sashimi with Ruby Red Grapefruit and Ginger CracklingsPaumanok 2005 Sauvignon Blanc Porcini-Crusted Salmon with Savoy Cabbage and Red Wine ReductionPaumanok 2004 Cabernet Franc Grand Vintage Roasted Sirloin of Beef with Beef Cheek-Bone Marrow Ragout, Organic White Turnip Puree…

WTN: Comtesse Therese 2005 Blanc de Noir (North Fork)

People sometimes tell me that I’m crazy when I smell "non-grape" things in a wine. This wine is for them…if only because it is a perfect example of non-grape aroma. In fact, I could have titled this post "Wanna Experience Peach in a Wine?" or something of that ilk. Personally, I didn’t care for this wine much, but it’s an excellent example of the wonder of wine grapes. Theresa Dilworth, co-owner and head winemaker of Comtesse Therese, made 127 cases of her Comtesse Therese 2005 Blanc de Noir ($18). First, don’t be fooled by the name, it’s not a sparkler.…

Bedell Cellars Named #7 Hottest Small Brand

I got an email yesterday that Long Island’s own Bedell Cellars was named the #7 hottest small brand by Wine Business News. While the story itself isn’t all that interesting (I’ve been talking about Bedell’s quality and shift towards more blends for a while now), it is obviously nice to see a North Fork producer on this list. It also shows just how boutique a region this is. In the overall world of wine, Bedell Cellars is a small producer, but it is definitely not one of Long Island’s small producers–in terms of wine production, quality or notoriety. Certainly, they…

WBW #29: Shinn Estate Vineyards 2004 Cabernet Franc (North Fork)

I don’t mean any offense to Jack or anyone else who believes strongly in biodynamic farm practices. Really I don’t and I think that there are some great wines being made with biodynamic-grown grapes. Anyone who has tasted any can see that. But I don’t buy into the benefit some of the more ‘hocus pocus’ techniques. Maybe it’s the former scientist in me. I was a biology major after all. I’m all for organic and sustainable farming. The benefits to the land, environment and those living there are obvious and much more provable. In my mind, biodynamic gets a little…

WTN: Pellegrini Vineyards 2001 Merlot (North Fork)

With the recent 2006 vintage, Pellegrini Vineyards in Cutchogue celebrated its 15th year. Australian-born winemaker Russell Hearn is known for making flavorful wines that tend to be good values in a local industry that is too often plagued by over-priced, under-delivering wines. True to his Australian pedigree, Hearn applies some of Long Island’s most cutting-edge techniques, but he doesn’t try to make Aussie-style wines — thankfully. North Fork grapes just don’t get ripe enough for those big, jammy, fruit bomb styles. Pellegrini Vineyards also makes enough wine every year that they don’t need to rush their wines to the store…

WTN: Bedell Cellars 2003 Merlot (North Fork)

Red wines from the 2003 vintage — even those made with the region’s signature variety, merlot — have proved inconsistent in my tastings. Some wines, from some vineyards are delicious — elegant and classic Long Island. Others tend to be light on flavor and even a little ‘green’ in their under-ripeness. Some wineries didn’t even bother making first label or reserve wines in 2003, declassifying the vintage. So what caused this inconsistent vintage? Poorly timed rain and October frosts — two of them actually. Rain, obviously, can dilute flavors and frost kills the canopy. Without the engine to drive the…