Macari Vineyards & Winery

Just about every Long Island winemaker and vineyard manager I've spoken to in recent weeks has told me that 2007 is going to be a tremendous, classic vintage for Long Island wines.

Sure, sometimes winemakers are prone to hyperbole - they do need to sell wine after all - but I trust them this time. We've had months of sunny, warm-but-not-hot days with very little rain. Of course, we won't know for at least several months just how good the white wines of 2007 will be. For the reds, it could be several years.

But if you don't want to wait, you can get your first taste of 2007 right now. Macari Vineyards’ 2007 Early Wine ($15) is made with 100 percent Chardonnay fruit harvested in mid-September and, it was released a week or two ago, meaning it makes the fastest trip from vine to glass of any local wine. But this deliciously fresh wine isn't a mere novelty like the vulgarity that is Beaujolais Nouveau.

With a nose that is somewhat reminiscent of Sauvignon Blanc, the Early Wine's aromas move from citrus to kiwi to peach and minerals. The palate is crackling with acidity - balancing gentle sweetness - with flavors of green apple, peach, minerals and citrus. This is a wine that Austrian-born winemaker Helmut Gangl made in the style of a “ungwein” ('young wine') from his homeland. It works just as well here. Trust me. Serve it with spicy cuisine or any other time when Riesling is a good choice.

Reviewed November 8, 2007 by Lenn Thompson.