News
|
Long Vineyards Celebrates the 25th Anniversary Chardonnay
To honor the release of our 25th anniversary Chardonnay, Lauber Imports, our esteemed New York-New Jersey distributor from almost the beginning, hosted a special tasting at their Manhattan office in March. Pictured here are Bob and Pat Long holding a surprise cake arranged by Manhattan Sales Manager Tony Di Dio, a.k.a. 'The Count of Carroll Gardens,' made by his favorite Brooklyn bakery, Monteleone's Pastry.
We kicked off celebration of our anniversary release in early January with a vertical tasting of selected vintages at Bob and Pat's home at Long Vineyards. The gathering included the winemaking team of Bob, Zelma Long, Sandi Belcher; vineyard manager John Arns; vineyard consultant Dr. Philip Freese; lab consultant MaryAnn Graff; and longtime Long Vineyards friends, Belle and Barney Rhodes, Joel Fleishman, Betsey and Johnny Apple.
The selection of vintages tasted were: 1977, 1979, 1981, 1986, 1990, 1997, 2000, and the 25th anniversary vintage, 2001. Favorite vintages of the tasting were the 1981 and 1979. Master Sommelier Catherine Fallis, who supervised the wine service, commented on her website - www.planetgrape.com:
"Across the board, the Chardonnay's were elegant in style, soft and supple in texture, showing tropical fruit, specifically papaya, mango, and guava attributed to the vineyard just adjacent to the house, with an earthy streak sometimes showing itself, and pleasant, tingly acidity. Differences really reflected oak-usuage philosophy. Long Vineyards Chardonnay was the first barrel-fermented Chardonnay in Napa Valley, and, surprisingly, is today one of the most elegant, with truly refreshing understated use of oak. How nice to taste the subtle expression of earth rather than the overdone, points-driven manipulation of man."
Those of you who have older vintages of Long Vineyards Chardonnays in good cellar conditions should be richly rewarded. Let us know!