Sample the East End's Best Wines for Budbreak
Winemakers, owners and enthusiasts (that’s most of us) have all been atwitter, and literally on Twitter, sharing news of budbreak from vineyards all over of the Island this week. Seeing the grapevines’ first buds appear always makes this an exciting time of year in the wine world, and there’s no reason not to join the fun. Even if that just means sampling some of the best whites and reds our fair shores have to offer.
Every year, voters on the North Fork and in the Hamptons make a plea for their favorite bottles on the East End in our Dan’s Best of the Best competition, and it turns out we’ve got pretty good taste as a community. So, to help you celebrate budbreak and prepare for this year’s Best of the Best nomination season (it’s just around the corner), we’re listing the East End’s 2014 Favorite Wine winners.
Eat, drink, be merry and think carefully about who you want to nominate for 2015.
Sparkling Pointe earned our Platinum distinction for their 2003 Brut Seduction. Made by Gilles Martin, this prestige cuvee was called “Cadillac Bubbly” by renowned wine writer Hugh Johnson and earned 90 points in both Wine Spectator and Wine Enthusiast. Released after eight years of age, it has a deep gold color and a lovely floral aroma.
Wölffer Estate’s Summer in a Bottle comes in a close second with our Gold award. This rosé blends the gold-label Wölffer Rosé and the white-horse-label Grandioso Rosé, to become Wölffer’s third still dry rosé. An homage to the summer of 2013, the wine has a distinct fruit character that tastes like everything we love about the Hamptons.
McCall Wines landed the Silver spot for their Pinot Noir. With a balanced flavor of dark cherry with subtle strawberry and spice aromas, this dark red is barrel-aged in French oak, contributing notes of vanilla and toast, and an elegant finish.
Bronze winner, Lieb Cellars makes a fabulous Pinot Blanc. Their signature wine is presented in an Alsatian-style bottle and is produced from some of the oldest vines on the North Fork. The 2013 vintage is fermented entirely in stainless steel tanks to display the true varietal character featuring notes of lemongrass, lime zest and rose petals.
See all Dan’s Best of the Best Long Island wine winners here.
Visit DansBOTB.com to find the best of everything in the Hamptons and on the North Fork.