Lazy Meadow Wine Tasting

What better scenario to taste nearly a dozen wines than to pack up the car for a weekend getaway with friends to the mountains, grill up some meat and fish, and start popping the corks. That’s exactly what I did with my wife Tahirih and our friends Brian and Lisa a couple weekends ago. Our destination was Lazy Meadow Inn, a renovated motel opened up within the past year by Kate Pierson of the B-52s. (www.lazymeadow.com) Check out the great kitschy décor for yourself.

The ten wines…. notes are below.

Reds
2002 Clos Senechal – Loire Valley (France)
$21 at Crush (www.crushwineco.com)
Lisa thought it was a Classic Cabernet Franc with a medium body and a nice nose, strong finish bit just a little heavy on the alcohol. Would go great with food from the grill.

2002 Sheldrake Point Cabernet Franc – Finger Lakes (New York State)
$15 at GCP (www.gcpliquors.com in Elmira Heights, NY)
We all thought this was a bit over-oaked, masking the cabernet franc flavor. Lisa thought that this made it taste even a bit like a Zinfandel. Tahirih found it round and soft in the mouth with a nice medium finish. 10% Merlot.

2002 Sheldrake Point Merlot – Finger Lakes (New York State)
$15 at GCP (www.gcpliquors.com in Elmira Heights, NY)
Strangely, we thought the Sheldrake Point Cabernet Franc was a better Merlot! Too much wood hiding a lack of fruit. Unbalanced.

2004 Vicien Malbec Reserva (Argentina)
$8 at Garnet (www.garnetwine.com) 68th and Lex.
I thought this was one of the best red wines of the weekend. Surprisingly lush and fruit forward and notes of oak but not too much. Lisa thought the alcohol was a bit heavy.

2003 Viticcio Chianti Classico – Tucany (Italy)
$12.50 at Garnet (www.garnetwine.com) 68th and Lex.
Very nice Chianti for the price. Brian thought it was crisp and food friendly. Medium finish but full bodied. A little oak to balance it out with the dark berry flavors.

Whites
2003 Peconic Steel Fermented Chardonnay – Long Island (New York State)
$14 at Vintage New York (www.vintagenewyork.com)
Full bodies even without the oak, zing of acidity. Lemony and complex. Would go well with a stout fish like a giant octopus or humpback whale. Could also go well with chicken.

2003 Atwater Vidal Blanc – Finger Lakes (New York State)
$9 at Vintage New York (www.vintagenewyork.com)
Brian thought this was “truth in advertising” as the back of the bottle says “good crisp summer drinking.” Obvious notes of apple and pear. Clear and clean. A Very nice light wine.

1997 Franz Kunstler Riesling Kabinett – Germany
$14 at Slope Cellars (www.slopecellars.com)
One of the best whites of the trip. Tahirih thought it had a mineraly quality, nice balance of tropical fruit, including touches of leeche and pear, and low acidity. Very complex.

1997 Franz Kunstler Rheingau Riesling Halbtrocken – Germany
$14 at Slope Cellars (www.slopecellars.com)
Very similar to the Kabinett but just a little less complex. More leeche but this also had hints of vanilla. Excellent and another favorite white of the trip.

2004 Bedell Cellars Artist Series White – Long Island (New York State)
$25 at Vintage New York (www.vintagenewyork.com)
A blend of Viognier, Chardonnay and Gewürztraminer, this had citrisy aromas along with some melon and spice. Medium bodied and crisp with a lingering finish. Nice.