Posts Written OnOctober 12, 2010

Wolffer Estate Vineyards 2007 “Perle” Chardonnay

By Lenn Thompson, Executive Editor My feelings about New York barrel-fermented chardonnay are pretty well known — there is too much of it made and it's rarely distinctive. True, some of that is just my personal preferences. I don't typically reach for barrel-influence chardonnay often. But I think if you asked many local winemakers, they'd rather have less chardonnay in the ground than they do. More sauvignon blanc, maybe, here on Long Island? Maybe more riesling or gewurztraminer in the Finger Lakes? Being near-ubiquitous doesn't mean it can't be any good, however, as this Wolffer Estate Vineyards 2007 "Perle" Chardonnay…

The Grapes of Roth 2004 Merlot

By Lenn Thompson, Executive Editor Much has been written — both here on the NYCR and elsewhere — about various tasting processes and practices. Much of the chatter focuses on tasting blind versus not, or just how many wines can (or should) be tasted in one sitting. There isn't enough discussion about the length of time over which each wine is tasted, however. If I'm tasting a wine with the intention of writing a review here on the site, I taste it over the course of at least three days — often with and without food. To me, that more…