Monday, August 18, 2008
Jamesport Winery
After lunch we moved over to route 25 and drove to Jamesport Winery. Jamesport has been around for awhile. It is one of the older wineries on North Fork. We tasted their Red Wines and enjoyed them. Unfortunately, I can't remember what we drank and they didn't give us the tasting notes. I'll have to ask Steve more about them.
Macari
Our favorite vineyard of the day! Really!
Ask if Karen is pouring the day you go. She is extremely knowlegeable and will make your visit well worth it. We loved everything about Macari, except the fact we couldn't join their wine club and have our wine shipped to Texas. The laws are all screwy in New York and some wineries will ship to you and some won't. Just ask and see what you can work out. We were able to ship some wine back home that we ordered today.
We chose to taste the House and Premium Flights. I'm glad we did because we would have missed some great wines if we chose one or the other.
Here's a run-down on what I discovered.
The Collina 48 Chardonnay was fruity and pleasant. I am not a big fan of fruity wine, but this one was nice; something you could enjoy everyday. And at $7.99 a bottle, it is a GREAT VALUE!
The 2007 Sauvignon Blanc is one of their best wines. It is cool and crisp. You will taste grapefruit, lime and some lemon blossoms. It is fermented in a stainless barrel so you won't have those oakey flavors...it's all fruit!
Next we had a Rose 2007. Again, I'm not much of a rose girl, but this was delicious fruit. Soft coral in color (from the Merlot grape skins), aromas of watermelon, white cherries and Italian plums evolve into a friendly wine with a dry, fruity, crisp finish. I'm sure you will enjoy this wine.
We moved on to the reds...
The Collina 48 Merlot as one of my favorite wines today. I ordered several bottles and had them shipped back home. This Merlot is fantastic for everyday drinking or sipping. It is a great value and tasted as good as the $42 Shinn Merlot we just bought...really! It is full of spice and flavory with a rich, lingering finish.
We also tried the 2003 Merlot Estate and Sette. Both were good, as well as a good value at $14.99 a bottle. Steve enjoyed a very good and smooth wine with the Merlot Estate. YOu will taste a ripe, juicy black cherry in the Merlot.
The Sette is half Merlot and half Cabernet Franc. This wine also had an aroma of spice and fruit combined. I enjoyed a slight spicy flavor.
On we went to the 2004 Bergen Road Merlot which is extremely smooth. It should be at $42.99 a bottle. There are hints of nutmet and pepper aromas with wild berries, cherries, plums and vanilla. I found this a luscious, velvety finish.
We ended with an unexpected treat, the 2004 Block E, a dessert wine. We haven't had a good dessert wine in years, so we were very pleasantly surprised at this treat. As Karen told us, "You have this for dessert, not with dessert". Even if you are stuffed full, you will enjoy this terrific wine. It is much better than any Canada ice wine we tasted. It is like drinking fruit!
I discovered they don't have enough cold days to make a true ice wine, so Macari freezes their grapes and then makes wine from their frozen grapes.
Steve definitely wants to get one of the Block E bottles so we will have it shipped home.
We chose a cheese package with 4 cheeses, crackers, olives, pickles and almonds along with a bottle of Collina 48 Merlot. We each had a glass of Merlot on their patio and viewed their beautiful winery. I'm not much into big wineries but if you come on a week day, you'll have a glorious time at Macari. This was definitely our favorite stop today.
Ask if Karen is pouring the day you go. She is extremely knowlegeable and will make your visit well worth it. We loved everything about Macari, except the fact we couldn't join their wine club and have our wine shipped to Texas. The laws are all screwy in New York and some wineries will ship to you and some won't. Just ask and see what you can work out. We were able to ship some wine back home that we ordered today.
We chose to taste the House and Premium Flights. I'm glad we did because we would have missed some great wines if we chose one or the other.
Here's a run-down on what I discovered.
The Collina 48 Chardonnay was fruity and pleasant. I am not a big fan of fruity wine, but this one was nice; something you could enjoy everyday. And at $7.99 a bottle, it is a GREAT VALUE!
The 2007 Sauvignon Blanc is one of their best wines. It is cool and crisp. You will taste grapefruit, lime and some lemon blossoms. It is fermented in a stainless barrel so you won't have those oakey flavors...it's all fruit!
Next we had a Rose 2007. Again, I'm not much of a rose girl, but this was delicious fruit. Soft coral in color (from the Merlot grape skins), aromas of watermelon, white cherries and Italian plums evolve into a friendly wine with a dry, fruity, crisp finish. I'm sure you will enjoy this wine.
We moved on to the reds...
The Collina 48 Merlot as one of my favorite wines today. I ordered several bottles and had them shipped back home. This Merlot is fantastic for everyday drinking or sipping. It is a great value and tasted as good as the $42 Shinn Merlot we just bought...really! It is full of spice and flavory with a rich, lingering finish.
We also tried the 2003 Merlot Estate and Sette. Both were good, as well as a good value at $14.99 a bottle. Steve enjoyed a very good and smooth wine with the Merlot Estate. YOu will taste a ripe, juicy black cherry in the Merlot.
The Sette is half Merlot and half Cabernet Franc. This wine also had an aroma of spice and fruit combined. I enjoyed a slight spicy flavor.
On we went to the 2004 Bergen Road Merlot which is extremely smooth. It should be at $42.99 a bottle. There are hints of nutmet and pepper aromas with wild berries, cherries, plums and vanilla. I found this a luscious, velvety finish.
We ended with an unexpected treat, the 2004 Block E, a dessert wine. We haven't had a good dessert wine in years, so we were very pleasantly surprised at this treat. As Karen told us, "You have this for dessert, not with dessert". Even if you are stuffed full, you will enjoy this terrific wine. It is much better than any Canada ice wine we tasted. It is like drinking fruit!
I discovered they don't have enough cold days to make a true ice wine, so Macari freezes their grapes and then makes wine from their frozen grapes.
Steve definitely wants to get one of the Block E bottles so we will have it shipped home.
We chose a cheese package with 4 cheeses, crackers, olives, pickles and almonds along with a bottle of Collina 48 Merlot. We each had a glass of Merlot on their patio and viewed their beautiful winery. I'm not much into big wineries but if you come on a week day, you'll have a glorious time at Macari. This was definitely our favorite stop today.
Shinn Estate Vineyards
We arrived at Shinn Estate Vineyards, another cute winery. Shinn has a few rooms for lodging along with their vineyards. We chose the 3 wine tasting for $6.50. we received a free tasting of "first fruit" Sauvignon Blanc-Semillon with our corks. I found it similar (once again) to Chenin Blanc. Not very much depth...just a plain wine.
On to our 3 red wine tastings...
The 2005 Estate Merlot was a good value at $26. (I hadn't see the other wines for that day yet) It wasn't my fav, but it was good flavor for the price.
The 2005 "Wild Boar Doe" was spicy and aromatic. This is a blend of Merlot, Cab Sauvignon, Malbec, petit VErdot, and Cab Franc. You might try it with seasoned meats or grilled meats.
Finally, we tried the 2005 Nine Barrel Rserve Merlot. This was smooth with flavors at the base of your tonge. There is a wonderful finish that doesn't disappear. The rich taste lingers for awhile.. The Nine Barrel includes mostly Merlot with some Petit Verdot, Cab France and Malbec. Only 9 barrels were produced (225 cases). If you like this wine, grab some now before it is all gone.
On to our 3 red wine tastings...
The 2005 Estate Merlot was a good value at $26. (I hadn't see the other wines for that day yet) It wasn't my fav, but it was good flavor for the price.
The 2005 "Wild Boar Doe" was spicy and aromatic. This is a blend of Merlot, Cab Sauvignon, Malbec, petit VErdot, and Cab Franc. You might try it with seasoned meats or grilled meats.
Finally, we tried the 2005 Nine Barrel Rserve Merlot. This was smooth with flavors at the base of your tonge. There is a wonderful finish that doesn't disappear. The rich taste lingers for awhile.. The Nine Barrel includes mostly Merlot with some Petit Verdot, Cab France and Malbec. Only 9 barrels were produced (225 cases). If you like this wine, grab some now before it is all gone.
Sherwood Winery
After a huge breakfast, we started down route 48 to taste a few wines. The first winery we found was Sherwood Vineyards...what a cute tasting room. We discovered they won the award for Best Tasting Room the past 2 years by Dan's Paper (Long Island-Hamptons newspaper). When I saw the outdoor tasting room, I knew why they received their award. You will see cute outdoor decor along with an old Studebaker. Plus, your wine pourer will seat you at a patio table and bring your wines to you. We sat under an umbrella and enjoyed 7 wines.
The tasting was $10 for 7 wines, a pretty good Monday deal!
We had never tasted a White Merlot before so I was curious to see what it was like. I found it was similar to a Chenin Blanc from years past. The Chardonnay was flat. The 2007 Rose should reveal lots of aroma of strawberry and raspberry. I found it was too strawberry in flavor. Unfortunately, I was reminded of Boones Farm Straweberry Wine.
We moved on to the Merlot. Steve thought the 02 Merlot was OK and I liked it, seeing a variety of flavors. We both liked the 03 Oregon Road Merloot as a table wine. The bouquet was wonderful. As the winery states, this wine smells of spice and tastes of velvet. You can pair it with lighter dishes of chicken & duck or heavier dishes of beef and potatoes.
The Cabernet Franc was ok and we ended with the 04 Merliance. The Merliance is a combo of 5 vineyards which I enjoyed very much. At this time, less than 20 cases of Merliance remain.
We left with a few corks for a free tasting at Shinn.
Whether or not you like this wine, you should go to Sherwood for the experience of the quaint little wine tasting room. It is well worth the trip off route 48.
The tasting was $10 for 7 wines, a pretty good Monday deal!
We had never tasted a White Merlot before so I was curious to see what it was like. I found it was similar to a Chenin Blanc from years past. The Chardonnay was flat. The 2007 Rose should reveal lots of aroma of strawberry and raspberry. I found it was too strawberry in flavor. Unfortunately, I was reminded of Boones Farm Straweberry Wine.
We moved on to the Merlot. Steve thought the 02 Merlot was OK and I liked it, seeing a variety of flavors. We both liked the 03 Oregon Road Merloot as a table wine. The bouquet was wonderful. As the winery states, this wine smells of spice and tastes of velvet. You can pair it with lighter dishes of chicken & duck or heavier dishes of beef and potatoes.
The Cabernet Franc was ok and we ended with the 04 Merliance. The Merliance is a combo of 5 vineyards which I enjoyed very much. At this time, less than 20 cases of Merliance remain.
We left with a few corks for a free tasting at Shinn.
Whether or not you like this wine, you should go to Sherwood for the experience of the quaint little wine tasting room. It is well worth the trip off route 48.
Lavender by the Bay
As we drove away from By The Bluff B&B, we ran right into Lavender By The Bay. We stopped and looked around at the lavender farm...quite interesting. I've always read about lavender and the calming effect it has. I had fun looking around and seeing their huge farm in back.
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Scrimshaws
We drove to Georgetown for a quiet dinner at Scrimshaw. The drive was 5 minutes. We had reservations, but they didn't have a table on the water available so we decided to get a bottle of wine at the bar. The bartender helped us pick a nice cabernet. The first cab we tasted was local and a bit bland. So we moved on to a blend of cabernet & merlot from the western edge of West Australia. What I liked about this wine was the merlot taste overlaid with a spicey flavor. It was smooth and enjoyable, even though it was a bit pricey at $48.
Here's what the winery has to say about it.
Cape Mentelle
Cabernet Merlot 2004
Margaret River
The vineyards lie in the far southwest corner of Western Australia, where the Margaret River meets the Indian Ocean. This classic blend produces a beautifully balanced wine, characterized by fine grained, ripe fruit tannins. Traditional vinification methods, including maturation in French and American oak barrels, have produced an elegant blend with merlot adding softness to the finer cabernet. This wine can be enjoyed now or cellared for up to ten years.
Our wait for an outside table was short, about 15 minutes. Although it was a bit windy, the view was gorgeous. I tried to take a picture of the moon rising over the horizon, but it never worked. So, we took pictures of Scrimshaws.
Steve & I split the Pasta of the Day, Seafood Canneloni. I believe the pasta was homemade and stuffed with seafood and cheese. The rolls were like Parker House Rolls with a blend of spices on top.
The couples arriving after us walked outside and decided it was too windy. If you want to sit outside, without all the wind, you should probably arrive earlier than eight for dinner. At least that's my guess.
All in all, a nice way to end a long day.
Here's what the winery has to say about it.
Cape Mentelle
Cabernet Merlot 2004
Margaret River
The vineyards lie in the far southwest corner of Western Australia, where the Margaret River meets the Indian Ocean. This classic blend produces a beautifully balanced wine, characterized by fine grained, ripe fruit tannins. Traditional vinification methods, including maturation in French and American oak barrels, have produced an elegant blend with merlot adding softness to the finer cabernet. This wine can be enjoyed now or cellared for up to ten years.
Our wait for an outside table was short, about 15 minutes. Although it was a bit windy, the view was gorgeous. I tried to take a picture of the moon rising over the horizon, but it never worked. So, we took pictures of Scrimshaws.
Steve & I split the Pasta of the Day, Seafood Canneloni. I believe the pasta was homemade and stuffed with seafood and cheese. The rolls were like Parker House Rolls with a blend of spices on top.
The couples arriving after us walked outside and decided it was too windy. If you want to sit outside, without all the wind, you should probably arrive earlier than eight for dinner. At least that's my guess.
All in all, a nice way to end a long day.
By The Bluff
Off to East Marion the northern tip of Long Island's North Shore. We finally pulled into the driveway of our B&B, By The Bluff. Patricia greeted us with a hug at the front door. She showed us around their lovely home and introduced us to their 2 big saint bernards that weigh about 170 pounds, really!
As we walked upstairs, Patricia told us we picked a lovely room. She was right. The Leitrim Room was gorgeous with dark wood floors, white wrought-iron bed and classy white decor. I loved it. Then she showed us the lovely sitting room and bathroom off the side. I'm sitting at the old-fashiioned dressing table as I type. Patricia has thought of everything as she has a huge walk-in closet with lots of extras (iron, hair dryer, shoe rack, extra blankets and towels). There's even a cute towel wrap around to wear after your shower.
Before dinner, we walked to the beach which is about 2 minutes down the road. It is gorgeous. The beaches were covered with smooth rocks and pebbles. We learned from our waiter that the beaches on Long Island Sound (north side of north shore) are covered with pebbles and the Peconic Bay (south side of north shore) beaches have sand.
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