Late last week, Paumanok Vineyards harvested 3.9 tons of chardonnay for their sparkling wine program. It came in at 17.6 brix with pH of 3.01 and TA of 11.4 g/l. According to winemaker Kareem Massoud, we may not be able to enjoy the resulting wine “until 2018, possibly 2016 or 2017.”
During our summer recess/hiatus last week, Ben O’Donnell wrote a blog post titled “The Big Grapple: Can Long Island Wines Get Some Respect?” If you’re at all intersted in Long Island wine — or most any emerging region, really — I’d encourage you to read it. Because it’s part of the Wine Spectator’s blog, you needn’t be a subscriber to access it. I read it while I was away — and honestly didn’t think much of it. I’m not familiar with Mr. O’Donnell or his previous work, and the topics he covers are generally known (most for many years). In…
Charles and Ursula, owners of Paumanok Vineyards are excited to partner with Philippe Massoud, Executive Chef and Proprietor of ilili (and Charles’ nephew), to host the Second Annual Lamb Roast event at Paumanok on July 3 at 7 .m. Philippe and Chef de Cuisine Erik Osol and their team will prepare a family-style (shared platters), sit-down dinner. The tentative menu is listed below. Of course, it will all be accompanied by Paumanok wines. Assorted Lebanese Mezza Home Made Yogurt Cheese Salad with Heirloom Tomatoes and Seasonal Onions Foster Farm, Purslane and Lebanese Thyme Salad, Lebanese Green Olives Grilled Okra Salad Roasted Whole Lamb Lamb Stuffed…
The July shipment of the Empire State Cellars Wine Club, won’t ship for another 3 or 4 weeks, but I want to tell you about them today so, if you’re not already a member but want the wines, you’ll have time to join. If you’re not familiar with the club, you can learn more here. “Hello New York” Wines Ravines Wine Cellars 2011 Dry Riesling: Winemaker Morten Hallgren favors dry wines as the best way to express Finger Lakes terroir. This riesling is precise and pure, with crunchy acidity and pretty floral, pear and lime peel flavors and a minerally vein throughout. Suhru…
Over the last 12-18 months the United Kingdom has emerged a potentially important market for New York — and other East Coast — wines. In fact, delegations from the Finger Lakes and Long Island are there right now for the 2012 London International Wine Fair. Now, more New York wineries than ever are looking even further east for new markets — all the way to China. A handful of wineries, including Channing Daughters Winery, Lieb Family Cellars and Pindar Vineyards, already sell or have sold wine in China. But, later today, Empire State Cellars, the New York-only tasting room and shop in Riverhead,…
Photo courtesy of Paumanok Vineyards Kareem Massoud, winemaker at Paumanok Vineyards, has a thing for screwcaps. I wouldn’t say that loves them — that’d be kinda weird — but believes in them and loves talking about them. Just trying talking to Kareem for any length of time without alternative closures coming up. It’s damn near impossible. Kareem, like his father Charles before him, takes a very thoughtful, logical approach to the family’s wines. “My parents bought this farm in 1983 and planted grapevines on bare land,” he says “Many years were spent establishing the vineyard until the vines bore fruit for the…
By Lenn Thompson, Executive Editor I think I can speak for my fellow editors and contributors when I say that our 2011 Wines of the Year tasting was a fun, challenging and inspiring day of 16 wine tasting flights. I always come away with myriad story ideas swirling in my head after this tasting. This year is no different. Look for pieces from the team over the next few weeks. But today, we announce the winners — including our first-ever New York Wine of the Year, Peconic Bay Winery 2007 Lowerre Family Estate. Our 2011 Regional Wines of the Year…
By Lenn Thompson, Executive Editor Paumanok Vineyards' "regular" merlot bottling, informally known as the "white label merlot" is one of Long Island's most values — particularly from warmer, dryer years (think 2005 and 2007 recently). No, at $24, it won't satisfy those who lament the region's lack of $15 standouts, but know this: it over-delivers for that $24. The nose is ripe and complex, showing fruit aromas of black cherry, plum and cassis as well as notes of dried autumn leaves and dried thyme. Medium-bodied and at once ripe and lithe, the palate delivers fruit flavors that closely match the…
A little birdy has informed me that a well-known and well-regarded Long Island winery is preparing to make the leap into screwcap closures for some of it’s 2007 white wines. Care to guess which winery? Okay, I’ll just come out and tell you. It’s Paumanok Vineyards and I think it’s great that they are pioneering the use of screwcap closures here on Long Island. Kareem Massoud, who makes the wines with his father Charles, told me in an email today that: "…we are currently planning to start bottling wine under screw cap with our 2007 whites, that does not necessarily…
Sorry for the short notice, but Rachel Ray, the world’s perkiest cookbook author, TV show host, food linguist, and foodie phenomenon will be featuring a recent visit to Long Island wine country on her show this morning (10 a.m. on ABC). I’ll admit that I don’t watch the show (I have a job and I’m not the target demographic anyway) but I know that Ray is a supporter of local wine country. So, I’m going to set my DVR and watch it later. Apparently she visits Lenz Winery, Macari Vineyards and Paumanok Vineyards.