Early morning starts are not a new thing to me.
Yesterday I took my girls for a walk at 5am. I have two labs a black Luna and a chocolate Sunshine. They are mushy and have way too much energy sometimes. So i like to wear them out in the morning with a long and brisk walk. On good to fair weather mornings we walk all the way down to the bay and i let them run wild off the leash on the beach. Yesterday was a good morning.I had an early 8:32AM meeting at the store with one of the proprietors of Sheamaldi Farms in the morning. He happens to be my wine rep for Michael Skurnik Wines, and he had some fantastic gems for me to try....i know what you are thinking...wines at 8:32AM?!?! ...sounds crazy yes. But try it first before you knock it. My palate is fresh and ready to go. I always seem to be able to taste more out of a wine in the morning rather then later in the day.
With the wines we visited Italy: Umbria and Tuscany as far as the regions are concerned. First up there was the Cantina Fratelli Pardi Rosso di Montefalco from Umbria. Umbria is a region of Central Italy bordered by Tuscany to the west, the Marche to the east and Lazio to the south. Mostly hilly or mountainous the topography is dominated by the Apennines to the east. It is the only Italian region which is both landlocked and with no common border with other countries. The Rosso di Montefalco, a blend of 70% Sangiovese, 15% Sagrantino, 10% Merlot, and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon fermented in stainless steel, after which it aged 18 months, 70% in large casks and 30% in stainless steel vats. It glows with a rich ruby color. Its lush and fruity with delightful notes of fresh cherries and raspberries with very awesome herbal notes- that give it an amazing rustic old world feel. - silky tannins and fresh acidity. Breakfast of champions! haha
Tuscany or Toscana as the Italians refer to it is roughly triangular in shape and situated between the northern part of the Tyrrhenian Sea and the central Apennines, surrounded and crossed by major mountain chains, and with few yet very fertile plains, the region has a relief that is dominated by hilly country. The Bibi Graetz Casamatta is made from 100% Sangiovese grapes, and comes from a variety of young vineyards located in different zones of important traditions such as the Sieci, Siena and Maremma, and reconfirms the exceptional nature of the Tuscan territory. It reflects the philosophy which holds a strict emphasis on territory and tradition. The wine boasts an intense super ruby red color. A very concentrated nose, rich dark and earthy. Old world style in a new world frame of mind. Bibi grew up in a world of canvases and paint brushes in an artistic family and has since transferred his creativity from paintings to grape vines. All his wine labels feature his incredible artwork. The wine is medium bodied on the full side. Rich and earthy and complex. Gnarly dark fruits sing on the palate and the finish is quite fantastic as well. Amazing considering it retails under $12. A perfect everyday drinking wine that will leave you beyond satisfied.
The day would only get better. Headed out east to Long Island wine country. There was no plan. I stopped in at Osprey's Dominion and managed to catch the wine maker Adam tasting through the most current vintages that will be released shortly. I joined him and we tasted thorough all the wines. It's one of my favorite wineries on the Island simply because they keep their price points very reasonable and the wines are pretty good. I spent a good amount of time picking Adam's brain about how he handles the volatile Long Island climate, and why he chose to make wine here on Long Island rather than somewhere else like California. After a fun tour of the winery and some tank samples of things he is working on I started heading back west and popped into Bedell Cellars. Bedell's owner, Michael Lynne, former Co-Chairman and Co-CEO of New Line Cinema and Executive Producer of the Lord of the Rings trilogy, is raising the bar for quality among Long Island wine estates. He has installed a world-class wine making team led by Consulting Oenologist Pascal Marty, formerly of Chateau Mouton Rothschild, Founding Winemaker Kip Bedell, Winemaker Kelly Urbanik -first ever female to be hired on Long Island, and industry veteran Vineyard Manager Dave Thompson. The tasting room and the rest of the facility is gorgeous clean and immaculate. The wines speak for themselves. Surely the price points due as well, but its definitely a stop worthwhile making on the east end.
Here are some truths and facts people may not know about Long Island Wine Country. It's not NAPA it's not Sonoma, as a matter of fact it's not California period. Nor is it Burgundy, Bordeaux, or any other part of France. It's Long Island people. A very young region with a lot of growing up to do that has made pretty big strides over the last decade. The maritime climate the terroir all give its wines charm that stands out. For Long Islanders it's a fun and delightful day out in the Fall, Summer, Spring or even Winter. Enjoying all that the region has to offer.The Long Island Wine Country scene is exploding. The wines are getting much better and it will soon be a region spoken of on global terms. Cheers
No comments:
Post a Comment