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Wine Recommendation
The Lenz Winery
1994 Cuvee R.D., Estate(North Fork of Long Island)
Eric Fry, one of Long Island's most experienced winemakers is well-known for his mastery of Merlot. But, one should not forget that he is also the baron of bubbly and his talent is responsible for many of Long Island’s best sparkling wines – at Lenz and at other wineries such as The Old Field and Lieb Family Cellars.
The Lenz Winery 1994 Cuvee RD ($50) is a well-aged combination of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay that is well worth the price. RD stands for “recently disgorged.” Disgorgement, degorgement in French, is the part of sparkling wine making that involves releasing the cork to let out a small amount of wine that contains yeast sediment and then topping off the bottle with wine and a new cork. Fry believes that RD wines should be enjoyed soon after this process — just as beer is best when fresh. Rich, expressive and funky (in a good way), the nose of this wine is toasty, yeasty and nutty with underlying apple-pear character. The palate features flavors that closely match the aromas, with medium body, vibrant acidity and a refreshing, apple-y finish.
Too often, sparkling wine is thought of only on New Years Eve and for wedding toasts — which is a shame. Sparkling wine is perfect with a wide array of foods and this upscale bottling is deserving of a place at your dinner table.
Reviewed July 1, 2006 by Lenn Thompson.
Other reviewed wines from The Lenz Winery
 2001 "Old Vines" Cabernet Sauvignon (North Fork of Long Island)Lenn Thompson 8/16/2006 |
The Wine
Winery: The Lenz Winery |
The Reviewer
Lenn Thompson
Lenn Thompson writes about New York wines for Dan's Papers, |