At the end of the Middle Road (County Road 48) wine trail is Sparkling Pointe. Sparkling Pointe, as the name implies, only crafts sparkling wine in the 'methode champenoise' (although they do not hand riddle). The oldest wine is from 2003 and all the wine from 2007 onward is 100% from the estate vineyard. If you prefer aged sparkling wine or if you are curious how sparkling pointe's sparkling wine age you will need to wait until 2027.
We tasted the following as part of the wine flight and my below each wine is my tasting notes:
Blanc de Blanc 2007 (100% estate - 100% Chardonnay)
-Subtle grapefruit notes with a hint of yeast this representation of the Blanc de Blanc shows why the North Fork could become the benchmark region for sparkling wine.
Brut NV (54% Chardonnay, 34% Pinot Noir, 12% Reserve Wine)
-My favorite sparkling wine in North America. Schramsberg's Blanc de Blanc and Blanc de Noir have lately challenged for the title but the Sparkling Pointe Brut NV has the acidity, fruit and mineral notes I expect in a sparkler. It combines in perfect balance the best of the Champagne region with the bright fruit expected from a new world wine.
2005 Brut Magnum
-The first release of Magnum size from S.P. this wine spent 7 years on yeast. Unfortunately the blend and my tasting notes are not available.
2003 Brut Selection (51% Chardonnay, 49% Pinot Noir)
-Think buttered toast. A wonderful and complex wine that has an effervescence much younger than its age would suggest.
2008 Blanc de Noir (54% Pinot Meunier, 46% Pinot Noir)
-Bright fruit of the 'red' grapes really show through in this wine. Very light yeast flavor.
The tasting flight is $17 and the tasting room has a wide array of eats to pair. Outside food can be consumed outside on the patio only. The winery offers to waive one tasting with the purchase of two bottles and gives 6 and 12 bottle discounts. We tasted with three people ($51) but we purchased 6 bottles which waived all three tastings and gave us a 10% discount. Excellent value!
*Editor's Note* - All wine's and tasting were paid for by me and all discounts given are available to all customers.
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
Monday, March 11, 2013
Friday Night - 3/8/13
Friday nights in my house is a prime night to open a nice bottle of wine and relax. This week was Realm Cellar's Tempest 2010. It is a Merlot heavy blend consisting of 64% Merlot, 32% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 4% Petit Verdot. The 2010 is the follow-up to the 2008 and 2009 which both scored 94 points from James Laube of Wine Spectator. The wine has a soft mouth feel with structured but not overwhelming (yet still pronounced) tannin. The dry style of the wine is perfectly in balance with the fruit with neither taking center stage. The finish is long and coats the tongue for an extended period. A great example of how a Merlot blend can benefit from Cabernet while holding true to the essence of Merlot.
This wine is only available via the mailing list (https://www.realmcellars.com)
Recommendation: A buy for fans of the Bordeaux Right Bank style.
*Editor's Note* - I purchased all the wine myself at retail price from the mailing list.
This wine is only available via the mailing list (https://www.realmcellars.com)
Recommendation: A buy for fans of the Bordeaux Right Bank style.
*Editor's Note* - I purchased all the wine myself at retail price from the mailing list.
Long Island North Fork Trip Part 1
The first stop on the Saturday wine tour of Long Island was Mattebella Vineyards. Mattebella is at the far end of the North Fork wine road which makes it a good place to start and work your way back to the highway. Mattebella is much smaller than many of the wineries and hosts the wine tasting in a nicely decorated small house. The house includes some couches and a nice bench. The small tasting room and lack of crowds allows for a very intimate experience.
We tasted the following wines:
2009 Famiglia Chardonnay
-If you are a fan of Chablis style of Chardonnay this is your wine. High acidity and balanced fruit. This is the opposite of the normal Chardonnay you find in the local store.
2010 Famiglia Chardonnay
-2010 was a warmer year and it shows in this wine. The fruit is much brighter, the use of oak is more prevalent and the acid is not as high. This could be described as a 'New World' Chablis.
2010 Reserve Chardonnay
-Typical Burgundian Style Chardonnay. Significant oak, vanilla and buttery qualities. Similar to anything you can find in your local wine store and cheaper.
2011 Rose
-The essence of what a true Rose should be. Light and refreshing yet has structure that will hold up with many diverse meals. The wine has a long finish. This wine will satify any lover of Provence style Rose. Best wine in the portfolio. A true sense of what the North Fork is capable of doing. This is a wine I would bring to any wine lover not familiar with Long Island.
NV Famiglia Red
-Easy drinking wine that has effervescent hints. Dark fruits in the front palate but lacking in the finish. Your typical Italian style table wine.
2007 Old World Blend
-Remains true to old world style. Has the earthy qualities you would expect from Chianti or Bordeaux. The front and mid palate show dark fruits and the finish has only light tannin. An easy drinking wine that would benefit from food.
2008 Old World Blend
-The weather in 2008 was not a sunny as 2007 and it shows immediately in the wine. The wine has a high tannin content and the dark fruits are not as prevalent. Another wine that would benefit from food at the table.
Overall the 2009 Famiglia Chardonnay and 2011 Rose are exceptional wines. The red wines are enjoyable but lack the depth and complexity of the whites and roses.
Recommendation - a must visit on your North Fork adventures.
*Editor's Note* - I paid full price for the tasting and purchased two bottles at full retail price.
We tasted the following wines:
2009 Famiglia Chardonnay
-If you are a fan of Chablis style of Chardonnay this is your wine. High acidity and balanced fruit. This is the opposite of the normal Chardonnay you find in the local store.
2010 Famiglia Chardonnay
-2010 was a warmer year and it shows in this wine. The fruit is much brighter, the use of oak is more prevalent and the acid is not as high. This could be described as a 'New World' Chablis.
2010 Reserve Chardonnay
-Typical Burgundian Style Chardonnay. Significant oak, vanilla and buttery qualities. Similar to anything you can find in your local wine store and cheaper.
2011 Rose
-The essence of what a true Rose should be. Light and refreshing yet has structure that will hold up with many diverse meals. The wine has a long finish. This wine will satify any lover of Provence style Rose. Best wine in the portfolio. A true sense of what the North Fork is capable of doing. This is a wine I would bring to any wine lover not familiar with Long Island.
NV Famiglia Red
-Easy drinking wine that has effervescent hints. Dark fruits in the front palate but lacking in the finish. Your typical Italian style table wine.
2007 Old World Blend
-Remains true to old world style. Has the earthy qualities you would expect from Chianti or Bordeaux. The front and mid palate show dark fruits and the finish has only light tannin. An easy drinking wine that would benefit from food.
2008 Old World Blend
-The weather in 2008 was not a sunny as 2007 and it shows immediately in the wine. The wine has a high tannin content and the dark fruits are not as prevalent. Another wine that would benefit from food at the table.
Overall the 2009 Famiglia Chardonnay and 2011 Rose are exceptional wines. The red wines are enjoyable but lack the depth and complexity of the whites and roses.
Recommendation - a must visit on your North Fork adventures.
*Editor's Note* - I paid full price for the tasting and purchased two bottles at full retail price.
Friday, March 8, 2013
Wine Tasting
Tomorrow I will be wine tasting on Long Island's North Fork. We will discuss the tastings and results in a future post. I wanted to discuss, the rules or perceived rules on wine tasting. There are a number of opinions and most I believe are too rigid.
Rich's Guideline to Wine Tasting
1- It is fine to 'swallow' - As long as you keep it to two or three wineries.
2- Have high expectations of your host. If the winery wants you to take their wine seriously they should provide an employee who is willing and able to answer all your questions.
3- If you like a wine, take a bottle home.
4- If your goal is to get drunk, go to the wineries that support this behavior. They will be three people deep and the employees will pour the 'next' wine without any description.
5- If 4 is the opposite of your goal, avoid these wineries at all costs. This knowledge can be found at yelp or knowledgeable sites or blogs.
6- A wine club is a great option if you love the winery and their hard to find wines. Some wineries best offerings are limited to the wine club only. But do not be pressured into signing up. If your host hands you a form before you taste a wine, throw it out.
7- TAKE NOTES! Your day can be busy so writing down notes about each wine will help you at the end of the day.
8- Your experience can enhance the wine tasting. If you have a great time with a great host do not be disappointed if the wine you brought home does not live up to your expectations. This is why publications such as Wine Spectator do blind tastings.
Any guidelines I missed?
Rich's Guideline to Wine Tasting
1- It is fine to 'swallow' - As long as you keep it to two or three wineries.
2- Have high expectations of your host. If the winery wants you to take their wine seriously they should provide an employee who is willing and able to answer all your questions.
3- If you like a wine, take a bottle home.
4- If your goal is to get drunk, go to the wineries that support this behavior. They will be three people deep and the employees will pour the 'next' wine without any description.
5- If 4 is the opposite of your goal, avoid these wineries at all costs. This knowledge can be found at yelp or knowledgeable sites or blogs.
6- A wine club is a great option if you love the winery and their hard to find wines. Some wineries best offerings are limited to the wine club only. But do not be pressured into signing up. If your host hands you a form before you taste a wine, throw it out.
7- TAKE NOTES! Your day can be busy so writing down notes about each wine will help you at the end of the day.
8- Your experience can enhance the wine tasting. If you have a great time with a great host do not be disappointed if the wine you brought home does not live up to your expectations. This is why publications such as Wine Spectator do blind tastings.
Any guidelines I missed?
What to drink
The other day I realized I have been drinking much more beer than wine which is against my norm. After careful examination I realized the more I go out, the more I drink beer. Philadelphia is a beer city, within a few blocks of my house are four very good gastro pubs with diverse micro brews on tab. They have house wine but it is not worth the price nor is the quality what I consider up-to-par.
On the airplane I was sitting in first class with a guy who ordered "red wine". I inquired to why he ordered the 'red' wine over beer, where at least the flight attendant gives you the beer names, and he told me "I'm just a wine drinker".
Which leads to my question of the night. When you have the choice between lower quality wine or a decent or good beer (or mixed drink) what do you choose?
On the airplane I was sitting in first class with a guy who ordered "red wine". I inquired to why he ordered the 'red' wine over beer, where at least the flight attendant gives you the beer names, and he told me "I'm just a wine drinker".
Which leads to my question of the night. When you have the choice between lower quality wine or a decent or good beer (or mixed drink) what do you choose?
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
What I drank - February 2013
Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin Vintage 1999
Older Champagnes journey from bright, light and effervescent to a beautiful golden color with hints of bing cherry and only small amounts of bubbles. This wine reminds me of an adolescent teenager - not fully mature but not a child. Slightly golden in color with good acidity and just a faint hint of cherry. Would benefit from another 5-6 years in the cellar.
Comments - Buy and Hold till 2019
Fantesca - King Richard's Reserve Pinot Noir Russian River Valley 2009
Fantesca is known for their rich Spring Mountain Cabernet and their Burgundian style Chardonnay, both crafted by the master winemaker Heidi Barrett. The Pinot Noir (made by Anthony Arcudi) should not be overlooked. For those who enjoy California style Pinot Noir this is a wine to try. The only negative is the cost ($114).
Comments - Only available through the wine list.
Sojourn - Russian River Valley 2010 Pinot Noir
In terms of QPR this wine may have no equal. Focusing on single vineyard Pinot's from Sonoma this vineyard blend should be the benchmark for all those who are not ashamed of the California climate. Graceful yet fruit forward the wine meets my three criteria, great front and mid palate combined with a long finish. Price ($42).
Comments - Buy a case and share with friends.
*Editor's Note* - I purchased Sojourn and Fantesca as a mailing list member at full price. The Veuve Clicquot was a gift from friends.
Older Champagnes journey from bright, light and effervescent to a beautiful golden color with hints of bing cherry and only small amounts of bubbles. This wine reminds me of an adolescent teenager - not fully mature but not a child. Slightly golden in color with good acidity and just a faint hint of cherry. Would benefit from another 5-6 years in the cellar.
Comments - Buy and Hold till 2019
Fantesca - King Richard's Reserve Pinot Noir Russian River Valley 2009
Fantesca is known for their rich Spring Mountain Cabernet and their Burgundian style Chardonnay, both crafted by the master winemaker Heidi Barrett. The Pinot Noir (made by Anthony Arcudi) should not be overlooked. For those who enjoy California style Pinot Noir this is a wine to try. The only negative is the cost ($114).
Comments - Only available through the wine list.
Sojourn - Russian River Valley 2010 Pinot Noir
In terms of QPR this wine may have no equal. Focusing on single vineyard Pinot's from Sonoma this vineyard blend should be the benchmark for all those who are not ashamed of the California climate. Graceful yet fruit forward the wine meets my three criteria, great front and mid palate combined with a long finish. Price ($42).
Comments - Buy a case and share with friends.
*Editor's Note* - I purchased Sojourn and Fantesca as a mailing list member at full price. The Veuve Clicquot was a gift from friends.
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Buying Wine
Each Spring and Fall my email is bombarded with offers from wineries. Combine that with the emails from the discount wine websites (WTSO, Wine Access, Lot18, Invino, etc) and deciding how to allocate my finite budget with the seemingly infinite offers is daunting.
How to decide?
I always appreciate the wineries that send out a pre-email to let me know that an offer is forthcoming. This allows some budget forecasting. I immediately discard offers that tell me in what multiples I have to purchase (minimum of 3 or 6). Wineries that offer shipping deals tend to move to the top of my list. I do not expect free shipping but for 6+ bottles a flat rate special should be standard.
I always try two new wines a year if possible from the mailing lists. There is a risk in purchasing before you taste but it helps to expand the palate. And you never know what you may try that will be amazing.
How do others make Spring Allocation decisions?
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