Monday, December 19, 2011

The LI vineyard closest to NYC is...

...Loughlin Vineyard.

I've heard the rumor of a vineyard in Sayville for a while but haven't really found the time to investigate until this past weekend.  Lucky for me I did a little research before hand or I would have never been able to find this shack in the high marsh grass of the south shore.  Now don't read that as a bad thing.  I am always up for a good adventure and this was no different.

A few traffic lights east of town, tucked away off a dirt road just north of 27A lies one of the most unexpected treasures in the quaint village of Sayville.  The family owned and operated Loughlin Vineyard has been producing a mix of red, white & blush since 1985. 

Estate grown & bottled in Sayville, the wine is strictly sold from this wood shack which is heated by an old wood burning stove and run by Mr. Loughlin himself.  With production hovering around 1000 cases per year Mr.Loughlin cheerfully proclaims, "that's why the wine is so expensive".  At $22 a bottle I'd say it was a bargain just based on the experience alone.  In addition to the non-existent tasting fee & free cup of wine "because it's the holidays".


Typically I would spend some time writing a long winded and partially inebriated review of the wines, but this is one time it has so much less to do with the product than it does the atmosphere.  On a biting cold day, walking into the charming rustic shack was shocking yet strangely homey.  Decorated with a pebble floor and some classic photos of days gone by we were immediately greeted by the old man who looks like he would rather be fishing than pouring wine into plastic cups.  Again, he could have poured me kerosene and I wouldn't have known the difference.  I was too intrigued with my surroundings.  *Don't worry, the wine was actually pretty good.

In the summer, there's a perfectly good stretch of vines with some lawn chairs scattered about for your enjoyment.  Of course there is music on the weekends & even a wooded path if you'd prefer to take in more of the Souci Lake nature preserve, but that's obviously for another day.

I suppose my only real advice is to get out and see this place for yourself.  If you're tired of the genpop madness of the NoFo, this place is the polar opposite of that.  Not a chance in hell I will give you directions because that's half the fun.  I expect that if you really want to get here, you'll figure it out on your own.

Chances are I won't be checking back in until after the holidays so I wish everyone the very best.

Happy Holidays!

-ES







Thursday, December 15, 2011

Last Night's Bottle - Coppola 2009 Diamond Claret

As time goes on I'm getting much better at this.  Not the blogging, but the drinking. I used to only drink wine coolers & zima (insert sarcasm here), but now I blog about wine...go figure.

So as the title states, I popped yet another bottle of vino last night before wrapping multiple strands of white lites around the most oddly shaped Christmas tree in recent memory. I suppose I should have taken a picture to share with the group.

*This is not my tree.*

Coppola 2009 Diamond Claret
 
Winemaker's notes:
2009 was an excellent vintage that featured only light spring rain, warm summer weather and no abrupt climate changes at season's end. This allowed us to be highly selective during harvest, choosing the very best fruit only when completely ripe. The result of these amazing conditions is a perfectly balanced and elegantly textured wine with supple tannins, rich fruit concentration and alluring notes of spice and wood. It is a lovely accompaniment to filet mignon topped with bleu cheese, grilled lamb chops or truffle buttered potatoes.

My notes:
Nose consistent of fruity flavor with a helping of spice.  Well balanced & buttery with a perfect blend of acidity. Subtle oakiness (thats right I said, oakiness) with a sweetish & savory finish. $18.99

Grape for grape, Coppola puts out some of the most recognizable and well rounded wines for the value.  I rarely if ever find myself saying, "This wine kinda sucks".  While I will state that some of their pricier bottles are not that much better than their more common brands, the label itself is always a standard in my rack.

That's all for now.

Until next time,
ES



Saturday, December 10, 2011

Last Night's Bottle - Colores del Sol 2009 Malbec

The holiday season has officially begun. Last weekend turned out to be what felt like one of the longest ever with my cousin in town and I must say my old bones are still paying for it days later.  Or it could just be that I have been pre-emptively training before I dominate the holiday dinner table in two weeks. Either way, I'm psyched for the holidays.

Last night I sampled a bottle of Colores del Sol Malbec for the very first time.  I most likely bought it wandering around the wine store looking for something different to try.  This was probably one of my better blind purchases.

From the bottle:
The vineyards producing Colores del Sol, in Argentina's most famous Mendoza region, are among the highest, sunniest, and driest in the world. This memorable Malbec brims with the enticing aromas and robust flavors of dark cherry, juicy blackberry & delicate rose petals. Sweet oak & mocha notes, with hints of smoke, glide over rounded tannins for a bold , full-bodied wine.

From my senses to your eyes:
A plum, blueberry & floral nose. Initially there is a subtle sweetness with a smokey bite. Low acidity, somewhat on the lighter side, but ultimately smooth & supple on the palate with a soft finish. $6.99

I tend to be drawn to some of the S.American wines based on price alone.  And in this instance I am pleased to report that I made a fine choice.  Based on the value & quality this wine is an easy buy. For those looking at less expensive bottles, I would surely recommend the Colores del Sol.

Until next time, happy tasting!

-ES