Wolffer Estate Vineyard
2004 La Ferme Martin Chardonnay(Hamptons Long Island)
Long Island wine's "sweet spot" in terms of price-for-quality tends to be in the $20+ realm. Unfortunately, that turns a lot of neophyte wine drinkers off, but one of my favorite wines for less than $15 has long been Wolffer's simple-but-tasty La Ferme Martin Chardonnay ($14). My first bottle from the newly released 2004 vintage was slightly corked and seemed a bit heavy on the oak. It left me wondering if one of my favorite summer "house" wines had lost its decidedly East Coast style?
It was clearly just a single bottle anomaly. Opening a second (and then third) bottle a few days later, my fears were allayed. The nose was fresh with ripe pears and citrus with only a sprinkling of oak inflection. Refreshingly light but ripe, this is a fruit-driven summer sipper with abundant pear and apple flavors accented by a squeeze of lime. For $13.50, this is a great pool –- or ocean-side –- wine that offers nicely balanced fruit and acidity. It also went nicely with parmesan-sweet pea risotto cakes fresh from my own kitchen.
Reviewed July 18, 2006 by Lenn Thompson.
Other reviewed wines from Wolffer Estate Vineyard
Wolffer Estate Vineyard 2003 Estate Selection Chardonnay (Hamptons Long Island)Lenn Thompson 8/23/2007 |
The Wine
Winery: Wolffer Estate Vineyard |
The ReviewerLenn Thompson writes about New York wines for Dan's Papers, |