Posts Tagged“Wolffer Estate Vineyard”

Wolffer Estate Vineyard 2013 Chardonnay

Roman Roth has a way with chardonnay. Always has and probably always will. I don’t drink a lot of chardonnay, mind you, but I can recognize and appreciate well-made chardonnay of any style. For Wolffer Estate Vineyard 2013 Chardonnay ($19) Roth started with seven separate lots — all hand-harvested and fermented separately in 70% stainless steel and 30% French oak (his portion also completed malolactic fermentation). After six months of sur lie aging, those seven lots became one 1,117-case production. As I look back over my notes, I see that I wrote “fruity” three times, but it’s not just fruity.…

Corks of the Forks: A holiday gift guide for the wine lover

The following are some of the wine-related gifts I’d love to receive this year, but this list isn’t going to do me much good. My wife is done with her shopping. She has been for weeks, maybe months. She’s done buying for my family, her family, our kids and me. I, on the other hand, have barely started shopping for her, but that’s not relevant for a wine column. Besides, that’s what Amazon Prime is for. Wine. Every year I’m surprised at just how few people buy me wine. I’m a wine lover! Wine lovers, by definition, love wine. And…

Wolffer Estate 2014 “Summer in a Bottle” Rose

Much like the season that inspired its name, Wolffer Estate Vineyard‘s “Summer in a Bottle” Rose has been hot since its debut last spring. The initial 1,500 or so cases were gone seemingly before summer had hit its stride. Winemaker Roman Roth made nearly four times as much in 2014 (5,700 cases) so it should be around at least a bit longer into the season, which is a very good thing. Wolffer Estate Vineyards 2014 “Summer in a Bottle” Rose ($24) shows aromas of strawberries and mixed melons — orange and green. It’s not as brightly aromatic as its sister rose, but it’s not muted either.…

Wolffer Estate 2014 Rose

There are so many styles of rose these days — both here on Long Island and in the wine world at large. New and different renditions pop up every year but when many people think about Long Island rose, they think about Wolffer Estate Vineyard, where winemaker Roman Roth crafts what is know to many as “the wine of the Hamptons season.” Tasting Wolffer Estate Vineyard 2014 Rose ($18) recently, I was reminded why it’s such a classic wine and nearly ubiquitous on the South Fork every summer. Made with 56% merlot, 18% chardonnay, 16% cabernet franc, 5% pinot noir, 4% riesling…

Weekly New York Wine News — April 20, 2015

The scene at a recent barrel tasting at Macari Vineyards Drink Local-focused wine shop gets the props, fair weather event schedule is warming up, and some nice mentions for New York wineries in various pubs. NEWS Grape Collective – 4/14/2015 Praise for the vision, innovation and collaboration that helped lift Finger Lakes wines to world class stature. New York Times – 4/15/2015 Wölffer Estate Vineyard on Long Island is among hotel and winery destinations that offer packages in which visitors get to blend their own wine when they tour the winery. Napa Valley Register – 4/16/2015 Dan Berger gives Knapp a thumbs-up for their…

Empire State Cellars Wine Club: July 2014 Selections

Over the years that I’ve been curating this this wine club, it has been my distinct pleasure to share a great many classic wines from classic New York wineries. We have a bit of that this month, but as I was finalizing the selections, it quickly became apparent that we had a lot of new and not-yet-classic wines and wineries represented. We have New York’s only Trebbiano. We have sparkling wines — one red, one white — that are the first releases of two new labels. And we have two Finger Lakes wineries — Kemmeter Wines and Forge Cellars —…

Wolffer Estate Vineyard 2013 Rose

There is little doubt that Wolffer Estate Vineyard‘s rose is the unofficial wine of the Hamptons — or at least the Memorial Day-to-Labor Day Hamptons season. You’ll find it all over — on restaurant lists, at events, by the pool, at the beach and out on boats. It’s seemingly everywhere. And winemaker Roman Roth makes a lot of it — more than 17,000 cases this year, which dwarfs the total production of most Long Island wineries. Wolffer Estate Vineyard 2013 Rose ($17*) is made with 58% merlot, 24% chardonnay, 11% cabernet franc 6% pinot noir and 1% cabernet sauvignon and shows…

Wolffer Estate Vineyard 2010 “Cassango” Cabernet Sauvignon

Made with 89% cabernet sauvignon from Martha Clara Vineyards on the North Fork and 11% “Christian’s Cuvee” merlot from the winery’s oldest estate merlot block, planted in 1990, Wolffer Estate Vineyard 2010 “Cassango” Cabernet Sauvignon ($40) offers aromas of mixed cherries and currants accented by spicy, toasty oak with dried leaf earthy notes. Supple bordering on soft, the medium-bodied palate features red cherry and cola flavores layered with toasty oak, loamy/dried leaf earthiness and savory dried herbs on the long, fresh finish. AVA: Long Island ABV: 13.3% Brix: 21.2/22.8 TA: 3.9 g/l pH: 3.75 Oak Program: 20 months is French and American oak Production: 146 cases…

Empire State Cellars Wine Club: September 2013 Selections

The September shipment of the Empire State Cellars Wine Club will go out to members in a few weeks — but here’s a sneak peak of what is coming.. If you aren’t familiar with the club, you can learn more here. “Hello New York” Wines Charles Fournier 2012 “Gold Seal Vineyards” Riesling: Named for a Finger Lakes pioneer and his seminal vineyard, this negociant-made riesling is focused and fresh, showing pear and apricot flavors, nervy acidity and along, slate-y finish. A terrific value.  Wolffer Estate Vineyard 2010 “Red Letter”: The great 2010 growing season resulted some of Long Island’s best-ever <$20 reds, this…

Wolffer Estate Vineyard 2010 “Caya” Cabernet Franc

The nose on the Wolffer Estate Vineyard 2010 “Caya” Cabernet Franc ($40) shows a significant dose of oak, which expresses itself as candied, roasted nuts as well sweet cedar, layered over top of chocolate covered cherries and ripe blueberries. Luckily, that oak character is more understated on the rich, concentrated palate, where dark berries and plums mingle deftly with woodsy spice, cocoa bean and vanilla. I miss the savory, herbal edge that cabernet franc should have, but with round, well-integrated tannins, it’s approachable now but should cellar well for at least the shorter term. Producer: Wolffer Estate Vineyard AVA: The Hamptons, Long Island ABV: 13.3%…