By Lenn Thompson, Editor and Publisher A quick review of a very affordable local sauvignon blanc this Monday morning. I really liked the 2006 edition of this wine for it's light, easy-drinking style and price. Well, Osprey's Dominion Vineyards' 2007 Sauvignon Blanc ($13) keeps the price down in the "daily drinking" zone and, despite the vastly different growing 2007 growing season, brings very similar aromas and flavors to the table. Even with the ripe growing season, this isn't a big aggressive sauvignon. Intead, light lemon and grapefruit aromas mingle with golden delicious apple and subtle herbs on a medium-intense nose.…
Posts Tagged“osprey’s dominion”
Osprey’s Dominion Vineyards 2007 Pinot Noir
By Lenn Thompson, Editor and Publisher Of the 40 or so producers on Long Island, only a handful make pinot noir, and of that handful and even smaller group does it well. Osprey's Dominion Vineyards made one of the best in the 2005 vintage, one of the better vintages in the relatively brief history of Long Island wine. Winemaker Adam Suprenant didn't bother making it 2006 and with good reason, it wasn't a great year for reds. But Osprey's varietal pinot noir made a return with the warm, dry 2007 growing season. That ripeness certainly isn't hidden at all. This…
WTN: Osprey’s Dominion Vineyards 2006 Sauvignon Blanc (North Fork)
Today’s review is going to be a quick one. Are you sick of over-the-top grassy sauvignon blancs from New Zealand? If so, let me suggest that you try Osprey’s Dominion Vineyards’ 2006 Sauvignon Blanc, a steal at $13. I’ve enjoyed many local sauvignons over the past couple years, but many are at or around $20, making them a little beyond the "summer sipper" price. Right out of the fridge, this one was a little tight and a bit neutral, but once it warmed just a bit, nice lemon, melon and grapefruit aromas appeared with just the most subtle hints of…
WTN: Osprey’s Dominion Vineyards 2002 Merlot (North Fork)
Sometimes I get completely and utterly sick of tasting merlot. It’s the most-planted grape on Long Island and every winery makes at least one varietal bottling-and often more than that. Hell, Wolffer Estate makes four ‘levels’ of merlot. And, despite growing conditions that are excellently suited to the grape, there is a lot of bad merlot being produced. It’s sad really, because when grown in the right way and treated the right way in the winery, merlot leads to this regions most consistently delicious wines…even if the best ones will cost you at least $30 and up to $125. Osprey’s…
WTN: Osprey’s Dominion Vineyards 2005
Adam Suprenant, winemaker at Osprey’s Dominion Vineyards is a busy man. While many Long Island wineries crank out only four, eight, maybe even 12 different wines each year, Suprenant makes no fewer than two dozen. These wines range in style from sweet, entry-level wines made with peaches and strawberries all the way up to a stellar Meritage-style red blends, which he calls "Flight." Such a diverse portfolio creates an interesting situation in the tasting room and a visit there can be a hit-or-miss proposition. On several occasions, I’ve found myself elbow to elbow with college-age kids treating the tasting room…
WTN: Osprey’s Dominion 2002 Blush de Noir (North Fork of Long Island)
Osprey’s Dominion Vineyards reminds me a little bit of a winery like Beringer. One one hand, they make some sweet, entry-level wines that I assume are meant for the trailer park set. But, they also make some of my favorite red wines on the other end of their portfolio. Perhaps it’s a matter of making wines for the masses to pay for the wines winemaker and U.C. Davis grad Adam Suprenant really wants to make? Anyway, I recently tasted through some of their new and upcoming releases for a column I’m writing, so you’ll get to see my notes here…
Tasting Vintage Variation — A Flight of “Flight”
You can buy bottle after bottle of mass-produced, ubiquitous wines like Yellowtail Shiraz or Cavit Pinot Grigio without even looking at the year on the label. That’s because year-to-year variation is barely perceptible in those wines. Huge vineyards, huge production and blending options that lead to a “house style” all result in fairly consistent flavors year in and year out. That’s boring and lame if you ask me. That sort of cookie-cutter consistency is not the case here on Long Island, where even the largest vineyards are miniscule by world standards. And, with generally cool weather that changes considerably from…
Long Island Wine Country: News & Notes (9/20/06)
* If you’ve driven by their tasting room on Main Road in Southold, you’ve probably noticed that Bedell Cellars is sporting a new logo. I always liked the old logo, but the new one is simple, clean and somewhat modern — and seems more in line with the design of their tasting room. * On October 1, Bedell will also release the latest member of its Artist’s Series family of wines — 2005 Gallery. The wine is a blend of chardonnay, sauvignon blanc and viognier. The label was designed by artist Ross Bleckner and only 200 cases were made. Many…