Long Island wines

[Scoop]

After a recent trip out to the East End, and helping my better half with a "Vineyard Thanksgiving" article for NY Newsday, we've been sampling recommendations from some of the winemakers out there (and not necessarily their own!).

It's no secret that much maligned Merlot does very well on the North fork -- "Peconic and Pomerol, the world's two best expressions of Merlot," says Eric Frey of Lenz (an old buddy of Foodie's from the Finger Lakes), only slightly tongue-in-cheek.
And there are some definite similarities in climate and geography between the two regions. Fittingly, the Lenz 1997 Gold Label Merlot is a hedonistic (yet expensive) beauty, with complex layers of flavor that are approachable now, but will undoubtedly improve with some age.

Two other LI merlots worth the search are Gristina's amazingly Bordeaux-like 1997 (great soil notes here) at around $16 a bottle retail, and Bedell's 1996 (great balance and black fruit), which we drank at a restaurant by the glass.

Two other noteworthy choices: the Lenz 1997 Gewurtztraminer and the Schneider 1997 Cabernet Franc.

The Gewurtz has the textbook Lychee fruit and aromatics, but it is light and zippy in style, with a slight bit of fizz when first opened. Very food friendly.

The Schneider Cab Franc is a balanced beauty, with big black cherry fruit and nice soil and herbal notes. A delight (around $18 retail at Garnet in NY).

In about 5 years, watch for Shinn Vineyards!

Cheers,

Scoop