Visit to Long Island

I recently visited the North Fork of Long Island for the first time along with Pedro Teixeira, one of the owners of Running Brook Vineyards.  I made the trip primarily to pick up a few used French Oak barrels.  Making the trip was easy… 1 ½ hour drive from New Bedford to New London, CT where I drove right into the ferry.  Then a 1 ½ hour boat ride across to Orient Point.  Another 20 minute drive and we were at Lenz Winery where Eric Fry awaited us.  If you have read my previous references to Eric here on the blog, you understand how much I appreciate having Eric as sort of a mentor. I’ve met with Eric several times and every time I walk away a richer person… in knowledge.

Eric poured several of his wines for us.  All around very tasty wines, including his lesser-oaked Chardonnays. Then he took us to his cellar and we tasted through three of his yet to be bottled reds.  These were some of the best red wines I’ve tasted from an East coast winery.  These wines show great balance and it’s easy to tell that they were aged with patience and care.

We then met Kareem Massud, winemaker at family owned and managed Paumanok Winery.  I was very excited about tasting their Chenin Blanc and the wine delivered big time.  Excellent wine with gorgeous floral notes that I expect from a Chenin.  We took a trip out to the vineyard to take a look at their plantings, both new and old vines.  Paumanok is the only winery in the region to grow Chenin which is surprising to me despite knowing that Chenin is not a very popular grape.  If Travessia ever ventures into planting its own vineyard… Chenin Blanc will be there.

We stopped at a couple other wineries and eventually ran out of time.  We loaded the barrels at Bedell Cellars and waited for Shinn Vineyards winemaker Anthony Napa to meet us just to say hi.  A.Napa used to be winemaker at Running Brook back in 2005.  I had spoken with him a few times over the phone so it was great to finally meet him in person.  I’ll have to make another trip and taste his wines at Shinn.

A few final notes…

-    Most white wines I tasted were excellent. Most reds were good but in my personal opinion, overpriced.
-    Long Island’s climate is very similar to Southeastern Massachusetts.  Yeap, we aren’t that distant.  So, generally, our vintage quality will match theirs.
-    Every winemaker or person I met was welcoming and eager to share their knowledge.

In the end, the trip was worth it for the people I met and the wines I tasted.  The barrels were a perfect excuse.

Comments

[Mike]

I had a Cabernet Franc from Palmer Vineyards that I found very tasty, and reasonably priced. Although I bought it BinEnds. Not sure what the regular price would have been. Haven't made it to the North Fork yet. Glad you had a good time.

[Marco Montez]

Hi Mike, thanks for the comment. You know... I think I have that same bottle of Palmer at home. Going to try it soon. I highly recommend a trip to the North Fork... it's as close to "wine country" as it gets if you live here in Massachusetts.