Skurnick Spirits of Mexico & Rum

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Skurnick Wine & Spirits which was established in 1987 is one of the local distributors of wines and spirits in the New York area. In the three-tier system we have in New York State, businesses have to buy their spirits from a third party, a distributor.

On April 2nd they held an event for members of the trade that showcased their rum, tequila and mezcal portfolio. The event was held at Ixta restaurant at 299 Bowery in lower Manhattan.

If was the perfect event to attend on a rainy afternoon. At the tasting, I would say that about three quarters of the spirits were Tequila and Mezcal with the rest dedicated to Rum.

I appreciated that all of the Tequila and Mezcal producers at the tasting were from small, artisanal distillers with limited production as opposed to the Corporate, mass-produced spirits that are usually found on bar shelves in the city.

Something out of the ordinary from Mexico was eau de vie from Endenico, made from tropical fruits, and a liquor from Alamatepec made with Pasilla Mixe chiles.

The rum selection was not as extensive as the spirits from Mexico but they poured an excellent selection of rums. One of my favorite Agricole rum producers, Rhum J.R., had some new products added to their portfolio of rums, which were Fume Volcanique, Terroir Volcanique and Jardin Fruite. Producer Ak Zani poured some very excellent Haitian rum which had a cool artistic label on the bottle.

Some of what I sampled:

Rum

Rhum J.MChairman’s Reserve
R.L. Seale’sHart & Son
Holmes CayElDorado
Emmanuel CamutAk Zanj
Proof and WoodBlack Tot
Probitas

Tequila/Mezcal

SantaneraAlmatepec
SalvadoreeLa Gran
AtanasioTosba
LamataAmatitena
Nuestra SoledadDon Vicente

Slow Wine @ Eataly NYC 2024

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Slow Wine is an organization that seeks to “preserve simple, traditional ways of living and eating and that wine, just like food must be good, clean and fair, just not good”. They support and promote small scale wine makers who use traditional techniques.

Every year they host a tour in which they showcase wineries that follow their philosophy.

This year that tour will take them to Washington DC, Austin, Denver and San Francisco. On March 19th the tour came to New York City.

The event was held at Eataly Downtown located at 101 Liberty Street in lower Manhattan.

They had a walk around tasing and seminars for members of the trade in the afternoon with an evening session for consumers.

I would say that about three quarters of the wineries at the event were Italian with a handful of wineries from other countries.

I attended the trade tasting in the afternoon and as in previous events in the past, it was a lively event. These trade tastings are obviously about the wine but it’s nice to have something to snack on while sipping. Sometimes that’s some cheese and crackers but not surprisingly at Eataly they put out a nice spread of food for the attendees. Besides some excellent cheese and charcuterie, they served pasta and some really good pizza.

Some of my highlights:

2020 Authentique Wine Cellars Riesling “Brementown” (Oregon): Clear light gold, petroleum on the nose, peachy fruit with a nice balance.

2020 Donum Estate Chardonnay “Year of the Rat” (Carneros): Clear medium gold, tropical fruit notes on the nose, juicy lime notes on the long finish.

2021 Grgich Hills Sauvignon Blanc (Napa Valley): Clear light gold, herbaceous, tropical notes on the nose with herbaceous notes and crisp acids on the finish.

2021 Grgich Hills Chardonnay (Napa Valley): Clear light gold, tropical fruit notes on the nose, surprisingly light and crisp on the fruit.

2022 Unti Vineyards Vermentino (Sonoma): Clear yellow gold, sweet nose, medium bodied with kiwi notes, good structure.

2016 Paradigm Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville (Napa Valley): Opaque medium red, crushed black fruit and green herbs on the nose, tight, concentrated, dusty black olive notes on the fruit, nice finish.

2019 Unti Vineyards Aglianico (Sonoma): Opaque dark purple, oak notes on the nose, concentrated and dusty fruit, silky tannins, nice finish.

2020 Crocker & Starr Cabernet Franc Blend (St Helena): Opaque dark red with a purple rim, smoky crushed dark fruit on the nose, chewy and tight with a nice structure and a long finish.

2020 Ceretto Barbaresco “Bernadot” (Piedmont): Clear light brick, smoky roast meat on the nose, toasty light fruit with firm tannins.

2020 Terrabianca Croce Chianti Classico Riserva (Tuscany): Clear medium red, dusty sweet nose with dusty fruit and a nice balance.

2021 Crocker & Starr Cabernet Sauvignon “RLC” (St Helena): Opaque dark red, dried herbs on the nose, chewy dark chocolate fruit, good structure and balance.

2021 Unti Vineyards Sangiovese (Sonoma): Clear medium red, tar and cigarette smoke on the nose, medium fruit with a nice structure and a balanced finish.

2021 Donum Estate Pinot Noir “Three Hills” (Sonoma): Clear light red, earth and cola on the nose, juicy cola fruit, good balance.

2021 Scarzello Nebbiolo (Piedmont): Opaque dark purple, tar and leather on the nose with silky red fruit and silky tannins.

2021 Casa E, di Mirafiore Nebbiolo (Piedmont): Clear light red with a classic nose of tar and leather, sweet fruit ending firm but balanced.

2021 Podere Il Carnasciale “Carnasciale” (Tuscany): Made from the obscure Caberolot varietal, opaque dark purple, sweet herbs on the nose, silky red fruit, balanced and a long finish.

Vinous Icons Tasting NYC 2024

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Vinous/Explore All Things Wine is an online wine Magazine run by Antonio Galloni that features articles of all things wine and wine reviews.

On March 1 & 2, they held their first annual Icons tasting which consisted of wine dinners and a walk around tasting. The event was held at the Altman Building venue space at 135 West 18th Street in Manhattan which is next door to its sister venue, the Metropolitan Pavillion. Both the dinners and the walk around tasting were open to consumers and to members of the trade and I attended both walk around tastings.

This was an amazing event for the sheer quantity of high-end quality wines from around the world. Most of the wineries in attendance were from the United State, France and Italy with a handful of wineries on hand from Australia, Spain, Argentina, Chile and even China. Most of the wineries poured different wines or vintages each of the two days so there was the opportunity to sample a wide range of wines.

As is the case in these types of tastings with such a large selection of top end wines, I narrowed my choices and focused my energies on California Cabernet and Bordeaux.

Hopefully this will be an annual event from now on.

Some of my highlights:

New World

2019 Brion Cabernet Sauvignon “Sleeping Lady Vineyard” (Napa Valley): Black with a purple rim, earth and tree bark on the nose, concentrated silky black fruit, nicely balanced with a long finish.

2019 Brion Proprietary Red Blend “Ecotone Vineyard” (Napa Valley): Black with a red rim, perfume of crushed black fruit and fresh herbs, thick and juicy with good structure on the finish.

2017 Cornell Cabernet Sauvignon “Cornell Estate” (Sonoma): Black with a purple rim, roast meat on the nose, dense and chewy fruit with chewy tannins and a long finish.

2014 Pahlmeyer Proprietary Red (Napa Valley): Opaque dark red with a purple rim, saline and pickle juice on the nose, silky red fruit with saline notes on the balanced finish.

2021 Pahlmeyer Merlot (Napa Valley): Black with a purple rim, oak and tobacco on the nose, thick and chewy with mint notes with silky, firm tannins.

2013 Plumpjack Winery Cabernet Sauvignon “Oakville” (Napa Valley): Opaque black with a brick rim, warm leather and dark chocolate on the nose, sweet mont and red fruit, silky tannins.

2018 Realm Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon “The Bard” (Napa Valley): Opaque dark red with a brick rim, ripe slate and dark fruit on the nose, chewy, dense leather fruit with dusty, silky tannins.

2009 Ridge Vineyards Lytton Springs Red Blend 1.5L (Dry Creek Valley): Opaque dark red with a brick rim, pretty perfume of sweet violets, chewy and minty with dusty tannins, long finish.

2016 Ridge Vineyards “Monte Bello” Blend (Santa Cruz Mtns): Opaque dark red with a brick rim, sweet perfume of tar and violets, silky fruit with some astringency on the finish.

2013 Shafer Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon “Hillside Select” (Napa Valley): Opaque dark red with a purple rim, dried herbs and mint on the nose, juicy, dark chocolate fruit, gritty tannins, nice balance.

2016 Stag’s Leap Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon “SLV” (Napa Valley): Opaque black with a purple rim, dark leather and roasted nuts on the nose, chewy dark chocolate fruit, silky tannins, long finish.

2016 Stag’s Leap Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon “FAY” (Napa Valley): Opaque black with a purple rim, crushed black fruit and red roses on the nose, concentrated black fruit, dusty tannins.

2021 Tor Cabernet Sauvignon “Beckstoffer To Kalon BFD” (Napa Valley): Opaque dark red with a purple rim, crushed black fruit on the nose, juicy with coffee and roast meat notes on the fruit, dusty and silky tannins.

2012 Vine Hill Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon “VHR” (Napa Valley): Black with a brick rim, pretty perfume of sweet violets, tar and leather, silky red fruit with a great balance.

2020 Vina Don Melchor Cabernet Sauvignon “Puente Alton Vineyard” (Maipo Valley): Opaque medium red, crushed green herbs on the nose, tight with bright red fruit.

Old World

2016 Chateau Brane-Cantenac (Margaux): Opaque medium red, closed nose of mint and earth, chewy red fruit with bitter almond on the long and balanced finish.

2015 Domaine De La Chapelle “Hermitage La Chapelle” (Rhone): Opaque dark red to black with a brick rim, closed nose of roast meat, juicy and chewy black fruit with firm tannins on the great balance.

2016 Chateau Canon (St Emillion): Opaque medium red, big nose of smoke and roast nuts, tight red fruit, firm tannins.

2018 Chateau La Gaffeliere (St Emilion): Clear medium red, perfume of barnyard on the nose, chewy with gritty tannins on the long finish.

2016 Chateau Larcis Ducase (St Emilion): Clear medium brick, smoky toast on the nose, tight and concentrated fruit, silky tannins with bitter almonds on the finish.

2010 Chateau Montrose (St Estephe): Clear medium red, brick rim, pretty perfume of slate, mint and red roses, silky dark red fruit with a dusty and balanced long finish.

2019 Chateau Montrose (St Estephe): Clear medium red with a purple rim, perfume of roast meat and crushed red fruit, juicy and thick with chalk notes on the dusty and balanced finish.

2009 Chateau Pichon Longueville “Comtesse de Lalande” (Pauillac): Clear medium brick, warm cigarette smoke on the nose, dusty fruit with a smoky notes on the tight, but balanced finish.

2018 Chateau Pichon Longueville “Comtesse de Lalande” (Pauillac): Clear medium brick, tree bark on the nose, crushed red fruit with green herbs, earth and leather on the fruit, firm but balanced finish.

2014 Bodegas Vega Sicilia “Unico” (Ribera del Duero): Opaque medium red with a brick rim, tar and cigarette smoke on the nose, silky red fruit with bitter almond notes on the finish.

Wine & Spirits Top 100 2024

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Wine & Spirits magazine available in both print and online, is dedicated to the news. the people and places of worldwide wine and spirits.

The magazine of course, reviews wines and spirits of the world using a 100-point rating system.

Every year they hold a tasting in San Francisco and New York City honoring the top 100 wines of the previous year based on their ratings. The New York event was to raise money for the NY/NJ Baykeeper, an organization that advocates “clean water in the local watershed and the citizen guardian of the harbors, bays, streams and shores of the New York and New Jersey harbor estuary”.

They held their New York tasting on February 15th at the Metropolitan Pavillion event venue located at 125 West 18th Street in Manhattan.

It was the top 100 wines of the world so they had a nice selection of wines of the world. All the major wine producing countries were represented though surprisingly the wines from France were minimal with a token Burgundy presence and no Bordeaux from what I could find.

There were noticeably fewer vendors at this event than there were in previous years which was disappointing, on the other hand the catered food was outstanding, much more than the usual cheese and crackers.

Some of what I sampled:

2021 Williams Selyem Chardonnay (Russian River): Light gold with a greenish tint, nose of honey with tropical fruit and good acidity.

2021 Ridge Vineyards Chardonnay (Santa Cruz Mtns): Clear light yellow, big toasty nose, tight with a hint of tropical fruit with firm acids at the end.

2021 Williams Selyem Estate Pinot Noir (Russian River): Clear light red, dark leather and tar on the nose, bright red leather fruit, nice balance.

2021 DeLille Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon “Metier” (Columbia Valley): Clear medium red, tobacco and earth notes on the nose, tight and smoky.

2021 Ridge Vineyards Geyserville (Alexander Valley): Clear medium red, smoke and earth on the nose, tight and dusty with firm tannins. Still young.

2021 J. Lohr Cabernet Sauvignon “Carol’s Vineyard” (Napa Valley): Opaque dark red, mint and crushed black fruit on the nose, dense and concentrated, tight with fresh herbs on the finish.

2021 Walter Scott Pinot Noir “Sojeau” (Oregon): Clear medium red, toasty earth on the nose, light red cherry fruit with earth notes on the firm finish.

2020 0rnellaia (Tuscany): Opaque medium red with a brick rim, tobacco smoke and dusty black fruit on the nose, silky red fruit, gritty tannins, nicely balanced.

2020 L’Ecole No. 41 Ferguson Vineyard (Walla Walla Valley): Clear medium to dark red, wood notes on the nose, juicy, dusty, ripe red fruit with slate notes on the firm finish.

2019 Diamond Creek Cabernet Sauvignon “Volcanic Hill” (Napa Valley): Opaque dark red with a purple rim, dark earth on the nose, dense and chewy with firm slate notes and a balanced finish.

2019 Diamond Creek Cabernet Sauvignon “Three Vineyard Blend” (Napa Valley): Opaque dark red, ripe black fruit on the nose, starts juicy then followed by firm tannins.

2019 Le Macchiole (Tuscany): Clear medium red, roasted nuts on the nose, silky dark fruit with firm and silky tannins at the finish.

2019 Bordini Barberesco (Tuscany): Clear light red, smoky tar on the nose, silky light red fruit, on the light bodied style with firm tannins.

2019 Keenan Cabernet Sauvignon Spring Mt District “Reserve” (Napa Valley): Opaque medium red, smoky barnyard on the nose, silky red fruit with dried herbs on the firm finish.

2019 Keenan Cabernet Sauvignon Spring Mt District “Mernet” (Napa Valley): Opaque medium red, bitter dark chocolate on the nose, silky red fruit with green herbs on the nicely balanced finish with some bitter almond notes.

2017 Rocca di Montegrossi “Ridolfo” (Tuscany): Clear medium red, sweet tar on the nose, chewy dark fruit with a dusty finish.

Union Grands Cru Bordeaux NYC 2024

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The Union Grands Cru Bordeaux is an organization representing 131 Grand Cru Chateaux of Bordeaux. They promote the wines of the top estates with a yearly world tour showcasing the current vintage.

In the United States the tour has taken them to Miami, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco and on January 22 to New York City. The wines they poured are the current release which is the 2021 vintage.

The event was held as it has been for several years now at Cipriani at 110 West 42nd Street in midtown Manhattan. Cipriani is an event space housed in a former back that was built when banks were built to impress with vaulted ceilings and lots of marble.

The wines at the tasting were still very young at this point, which I understand but it is a good way to get an overview of that particular vintage and on how the vintage is coming along and on how the wines may age in the long term.

Bordeaux has been lucky with a string of very good vintages in the past few years. In good vintages there is so much good juice grown in that region that there is plenty of good wine coming out from even the third, fourth tier and cru bourgeois estates.

Unfortunately, that streak came to an end with the 2021 vintage. It was a challenging and uneven year. For the most part I was getting a lot of tart, red cherry juice notes on many of the wines with nothing anywhere ready to drink at this point. 

Fortunately, when things are not so good in the vineyards for the regular wines means that the conditions were good in Sauterne and Barsac for the Botrytis mold to grow. There were about half the producers pouring these dessert wines at this event that they’ve had in the past but what I tried was well balanced.

Some of what I sampled:

Pessac-Leognan

Chateau CorbonnieuxDomaine de Chevalier
Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte

Saint Emillion

Chateau CanonChateau Canon La Gaffeliere
Chateau La GaffeliereClos Fourtet
Chateau Pavie Macquin

Pomerol

Chateau BeauregardChateau Le Bon Pasteur
Chateau ClinetChateau Le Gay
Chateau Petit Village

Margaux

Chateau Brane CantenacChateau Dauzac
Chateau Cantenac BrownChateau Kirwan
Chateau Prieure LichineChateau Rauzan Gassies
Chateau Siran

Saint Julien

Chateau BeychevelleChateau Branaire Ducru
Chateau GloriaChateau Gruaud Larose
Chateau LagrangeChateau Leoville Barton
Chateau Leoville PoyferreChateau Gloria

Pauillac

Chateau BatailleyChateau Clerc Milon
Chateau d’ArmailhacChateau Duhart Milon
Chateau Grand Puy DucasseChateau Haut Batailley
Chateau Lynch BagesChateau Lynch Moussas

Saint Estephe

Chateau Cos LoboryChateau Lafon Rochet
Chateau de Pez Chateau Phelan SEgur

Haut Medoc

Chateau Coufran

Sauternes/Barsac

Chateau Doisy DaeneChateau Guiraud
Chateau de Rayne VigneauChateau La Tour Blanche

Jersey City Whiskey Fest 2024

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On January 20th, I attended my first event of 2024, the Jersey City Whiskey Festival.

Similar events including wine and beer are run by the same company and are held around the New York area in Brooklyn, Manhattan and Long Island with many of the same vendors and food stalls. These are consumer-oriented events that a wine/spirit geek might find not as intensive as they would like but they’re guaranteed to have a lively crowd. They held a day and evening session, and I attended the afternoon session.

The event was held at the Harborside Atrium, an event space just steps off the Exchange Place Path railway station in Jersey City. It’s on the waterfront and as a nice bonus, you get a killer view of the lower Manhattan skyline.

The event space itself was big and airy which made it feel less crowded than it was. Usually at these things, I concentrate on the brown spirits followed by rum, with an occasional stab at tequila/mezcal.

Surprisingly, I began the tasting with a shot of pickle juice infused vodka from the Original Pickle Shot brand which wasn’t half bad. American whiskey was well represented with Balcones, Penelope, Yellowstone and Uncle Nearest.

I had some interesting single malt Irish Whisky from Waterford which also poured their Agricole style rum from their Grenada distilled Renegade brand. Natterjack and Dead Rabbit were additional Irish Whisky being poured.

The most interesting bottle had the be the guitar shaped bottle of mango infused tequila from Rock n Roll.

I attended a seminar hosted by Old Line whiskey company based out of Baltimore. They poured their Double Oak Series, Flagship 95°, Navy Strength 114°, American Single Malt and a 7-year Caribbean rum.

Zachys Winter Champagne Soirée 2023

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Zachys has been a wine and spirit retailer and auction house since 1944. They had a store in Scarsdale for many years but ended up moving their operations to Port Chester in 2022.

Like many fine wine shops, they often host wine tastings. Some are complimentary and some are more extensive tastings that you have to buy a ticket to.

I attended one of those extensive tastings last May which featured a wide selection of wines of the world. On December 2nd they held their Winter Champagne Soirée tasting for the upcoming Christmas and New Years Eve holidays.

Many of the large Champagne houses were on hand to pour several of their wines from their “regular” bottles to their uber luxury label.

I have to say, this tasting had an excellent price to quality ratio. For the modest cost of the ticket, you had the opportunity to sample some really high-end wines.

Some of the wines I sampled:

Bollinger: Le Grande Annee 2014, PN Brut AYC 2018, Special Cuvee Brut NV.

Laurent Perrier: Grand Siecle Iteration 26, Brut Cuvee Rose NV, La Cuvee Brut NV.

Ruinart: Blanc de Blancs NV, Brut Rose Second Skin NV.

Tatttinger: Comtes de Champagne Rose 2008, Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs 2012, Brut La Francaise NV

Charles Heidsieck: Rare 2018, Rose 2008, Brut Rose Reserve NV

Deutz: Amour de Deutz Blanc de Blancs 2011, Brut Rose NV, Classic Brut NV

Veuve Clicquot: La Grande Dame 2012, Rose NV, Brut NV

Gosset: 12 Ans de Cave a Minima Brut, Grande Reserve Brut NV

Krug: Grande Cuvee 171st Echoes Limited Edition NV

Dom Perignon: Blanc de Blancs 2013

They also had a selection from a few small, mom & pop grower champagne producers such as Laherte Freres, Larmander Bernier and Pierre Moncult.

Benvenuto Brunello NYC 2023

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On November 28th I attended the Consorzio del Vino Brunello di Montalcino Benvento Brunello New York City stop of their world tour.

This was to showcase to members of the Restaurant trade and Media, the upcoming release of the current vintage of Brunello. Since according to the DOCG regulations, the regular Brunello have to wait 5 years to be released and 6 years for the Riservas, this was the 2019 vintage for the regular Brunello and 2018 vintage for the Riservas.

The event was held at the Public Hotel on 215 Chrystie Street in the lower east side of Manhattan.

The set up was similar to what they had during Covid era and was a sit-down tasting. You would download an app with the wines that were available, and you would order up to five wines at a time to sample and they would bring the wines to your table.

Since they wines that were served were the new releases, I thought that they were still very young and could have used some more time in the bottle to smooth out the rough edges. On the 2019’s for the most part I was getting a lot of bright red fruit with very crisp acids. The 2018 Riservas were more appreciable with more dark fruit and earth notes.

Some highlights:

2019 Argiano: Clear light brick, smoky tar on the nose with nice red fruit, good balance.

2019 Carpineto: Clear medium red, earthy nose, juicy fruit with tar notes with a nice balance of moderate tannin and acid.

2019 Casisano: Clear light red with a brick rim, tar and barnyard on the nose, juicy red fruit with moderate acids and a dusty finish.

2019 Donatella Cinelli Colombini: Clear light brick, tar and leather on the nose, with firm, dusty red fruit.

2019 La Fornace: Clear light brick, sweet tar on the nose, red fruit with firm acids and earth notes on the finish.

2019 Nardi: Clear medium to dark red, tarry nose, juicy, earthy full red fruit, firm finish.

2019 Pacenti “Rosaldo”: Clear medium red, tar, anise and earth on the nose, chewy black fruit, nice and balanced, drinkable.

2018 Caprilli “AdAlberto” Riserva: Opaque medium red with a brick rim, tar and dark chocolate on the nose, red fruit with gritty tannins, anise notes, nice balance.

2018 Corte Pavone Riserva: Clear medium red with an amber rim with juicy black fruit and slate notes on the firm but balanced finish.

2018 Donatella Cinelli Colombini “Vento” Riserva: Opaque dark red, dusty tar and anise on the nose, chewy fruit with tree bark notes ending with big tannins.

2018 La Serena “Gemini” Riserva: Clear medium brick, sweet perfume of tar and smoke, tarry fruit with firm acids.

Other producers I sampled:

ArmillaCapanna
BanfiCol D’Orcia
La FioritaRuffino
Val Di SugaFanti
UccellieraSanpolo
TalentiIl Poggione
CortonesiElia Palazzesi

Italian Varietals On Long Island

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The Long Island wine industry celebrates its 50th anniversary this year from when the first winery was established at Hargrave Vineyards in 1973.

Not surprisingly French varietals have dominated the industry with some forays into other grape varieties. The workhorse grape varietals out East have been Merlot and Chardonnay and at one time they had high expectations for Cabernet Franc.

Italian grape varieties don’t have a big presence in Long Island wine country with some white grapes grown, there’s a good amount of Pinot Grigio produced but few if any red grape varietals grown.

Surprisingly since there are many Italian varietals that grow well in cooler weather, and I think would grow well in the cool, maritime climate in the East End of Long lsland.

I suppose that has to do more with marketing than anything else since even novice wine drinkers are familiar with Merlot and Cabernet but not many are familiar with Toreldego or Lagrein to name a coupe of the many indigenous Italian grapes.

On a Sunday afternoon drive out East I was able to find three bottlings of Italian red grapes.

Suhru Wines 28735 Main Road, Cutchogue

The tasting house is in downtown Cutchogue, they have no vineyards, but use purchased grapes.

2021 Toreldago

Opaque black with a purple rim, dark chocolate and slate on the nose, tight fruit with crisp acids, slate notes and dark fruit on the finish.

Pugliese Vineyards 34515 Main Road, Cutchogue

Family owned and established in 1980, they are one of the vanguard wineries out East and the only one that I am aware of that grows Sangiovese.

2022 Sangiovese

Clear medium red, closed nose of red berry fruit and some stinky earth, juicy red fruit with some smoke and graphite notes on the finish. Moderate acids.

Lieb Cellars 13050 Oregon Road, Cutchogue

Established in 1992, they share the same winemaker as Suhru, their tasting room is off the main road.

2020 Toreldago/Lagrein

Opaque black with a purple rim, roasted meat and sweet black fruit on the nose, juicy black fruit with smoke, bitter almonds and wood on the finish, juicy tannins.

Raw Wine Festival NYC 2023

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The Raw Wine Festival was held in New York City on November 12 & 13. It was one stop on an international tour this year that took them to Los Angeles, Toronto, Paris and Copenhagen.

The festival was held at 99 Scott Avenue in Bushwick, Brooklyn which is a repurposed brick commercial building now used as an event space.

Raw Wine is a “collection of natural, organic and biodynamic wine artisans” that have come together to showcase their products which are “pure, kind to the planet and possibly better for your health without the use of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides or fungicides”.

This event has been running for several years and always get a good, youthful crowd sampling wines from unconventional wine makers. Both the crowd and the winemakers were more Birkenstock and flannel shirts than suit and tie.

All the major wine producing countries as well as the smaller ones were represented at the tasting. This niche wine style has grown in the past few years and have toned down the earthy and pungent aromas that were a hallmark of these wines.

Some interesting producers:

Sequerciani, from Tuscany, besides having a pretty label, bottled wines made with obscure grape varieties such as Pugnitello, Fogia Tonda, Ciliegiolo and Aleatico.

Agri Segretum from Umbria poured an interesting trio of Sangiovese based reds labeled Freghino, Pottarello and Marocchio.

Cort Sant ‘Alda from Vento poured a trio of Valpolicella including an Amarone.

Chateau Guadel poured a couple of vintages of their Grand Cru Classe Bordeaux.

Domaine Amirault showed some Cabernet Franc based reds from the Loire Valley.

Pray Tell Winery poured wines from the Willamette Vally, Oregon.