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2004 SELECTIONS |
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Sauvignon Blanc, that under-appreciated variety
best known for making white Bordeaux and those delicious whites
of the Loire Valley, is finding favor all over the world - especially
New Zealand. It loves a cool climate and sandy soils, so it is no
wonder that Long Island would also be a perfect location.
Tangy, crisp and clean, with characteristic aromas of fresh gooseberries,
elderflower and asparagus, a whiff of freshly-mown hay and a disposition
that marries perfectly with the briny seafood of the region ~ especially
oysters and crabs. Get a taste of summer...
This is a fresh, vibrant, balanced light bodied
white wine full of grapefruit, citrus and mineral flavors. Hand-harvested
from old vines and whole-cluster pressed lightly in a bladder press.
The must was settled overnight and the juice was then fermented
in a stainless steel tank and stainless steel barrels. The wine
was handled very gently and gravity bottled in the winter after
harvest to protect these delicate qualities.
Produced in a style to soften it's varietal characteristics
while enhancing and preserving it's natural flavors and aroma. This
wine was fermented in 30% oak barrels and 70% stainless steel. Pale
straw yellow in color with a vibrant green edge, this Sauvignon
Blanc has true varietal character. Aromas of lemon zest, marshmallow
cream, melons and a soft vanilla texture held together by it's natural
acidity.
No oak - all stainless steel-fermented - and
the product of a great vintage. Osprey's Sauvignon Blanc is heavily
aromatic, mouth-filling and drenches the palate with subtle flavors,
among them honeydew melon.
The year 2000 was as perfect a growing
season as there has been on Long Island. A long, even finish to
the fall gave all varieties the extra advantage of ripening slowly
and fully, and no variety likes those conditions better than Cabernet
Sauvignon. The wines across the board are fleshy, with rich upfront
flavors and gobs of tannins. They will all reward you with years
of cellaring potential - if you have the willpower not to drink
them now. If drunk young, they should be decanted. Here are three
of the best wines from the vintage:
Full-bodied with rich overtones of raspberry
and pepper. Enjoy with hardy red meats.
This Cabernet Sauvignon has an amazing concentration
of flavors: an intense raspberry and black-cherry nose with very
rich and forward red-fruit flavors. Its smooth, ripe tannins provide
a long, long, soft finish. This is the best cabernet sauvignon made
yet at Lenz .
Only designated in superior vintages, the Grand
Reserve is opulent, fleshy, full of cassis, cedar nuances and spice.
Like the others, it is full bodied and filled with upfront flavor.
In tribute to the seminal effort in the Hudson
Valley town of New Paltz to equalize civil rights in New York by
solemnizing same-sex marriages, Rivendell Winery of that very same
town, in a shamelessly opportunistic act of self-promotion, has
released a Limited Edition Series of three wines to commemorate
the effort. No matter which side of the aisle you stand on, these
wines taste great.
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