Author Archives:

About Michael Gorton, Jr.

I am a Licensed Funeral Director who is having a love affair with Long Island Wine and the people that make Long Island wine so special. I am married to my wife Melissa and live in Rocky Point. Our first son Gabriel Noel was born on July 27, 2010. We have three cats and one dog.

TateCamp 2012: Northern Virginia

Tomorrow I will be hitting the road to head to TasteCamp 2012.  This will be my second TasteCamp.  My first was to the Finger Lakes back in 2010.  After missing out on the Niagara TasteCamp of last year, I am … Continue reading

Posted in Event, Non Long Island, TasteCamp, Wine | 1 Comment

Memories That Will Last Forever From A Bottle of Wine — Remembering Grandpa One Year Later

One year ago today, on Sunday, May 1, 2011, my grandpa, “Charlie” Lorey left us.  After a 10 month battle with congestive heart failure and a wonderful Easter Sunday dinner, my grandpa’s heart could not bear the struggle no more. … Continue reading

Posted in Cabernet Franc, Long Island, Roanoke Vineyards, Story, Thoughts, Uncategorized | 2 Comments

Paumanok Vineyards 2011 Sauvignon Blanc

The 2011 vintage could have been one of the wettest ones on record, especially on the back-end of it.  After a stellar 2010 growing season, mother nature brought us back to reality.  A cooler growing season matches this cool climate … Continue reading

Posted in 2011, Long Island, Paumanok Vineyards, Sauvignon Blanc | 1 Comment

Something Old, Something New — a Peconic Bay Wine Dinner at Jewel

James Silver, Peconic Bay Winery‘s General Manager, hit the nail on the head when he said that this dinner was old meeting new.  Jim, was talking about older wine from Peconic Bay Winery meeting a new restaurant, Jewel that is … Continue reading

Posted in Event, Food, Long Island, Peconic Bay Winery, Winery Dinner | Leave a comment

Leo Family Cellars 2007 Red

John Leo has a cult following as a winemaker out on the North Fork.  That is my honest opinion. He is a consulting winemaker for Premium Wine Group in Mattituc; the winemaker at Clovis Point Vineyards and now he has … Continue reading

Posted in 2007, Leo Family Cellars, Long Island, Red Wine | Leave a comment

Clovis Point 2007 Vintner’s Select Merlot

Clovis Point is slowly gaining some attention.  Their reds have captured my attention since I first visited them on a beautiful summer day back in 2005.  They may be under the radar for some, which is a shame.  They should … Continue reading

Posted in 2007, Clovis Point, Long Island | 2 Comments

Suhru 2009 Shiraz

Syrah is not planted in every vineyard here on Long Island.  Shiraz is even harder to find here on Long Island. That second sentence is just in jest, Shiraz and Syrah are the same grape, it is just called different … Continue reading

Posted in 2009, Long Island, Syrah | Leave a comment

Roanoke Vineyards 2008 Gabby’s Cabernet Franc

There are a handful of single vineyard offerings here on Long Island.  Sometimes I wish there would be a few more.  It would give people an opportunity to understand terrior and how the slightest slope of the land, how thinning of the … Continue reading

Posted in 2008, Cabernet Franc, Long Island, Roanoke Vineyards | Leave a comment

Wine Blogging Wednesday #74: Palmer Vineyards NV Special Reserve Brut

For those of you not in the know, Wine Blogging Wednesday was started a while back by Lenn Thompson at the New York Cork Report.  It is hosted by a blogger who picks a theme that other bloggers around the … Continue reading

Posted in Chardonnay, Long Island, Sparkling Wine, Wine Blogging Wednesday | 6 Comments

Pindar Vineyards 2010 Viognier

Pindar Vineyards in Peconic, is one of a handful of vineyards on the east end the grow and bottle Viognier.  Bedell Cellars and Martha Clara Vineyards are the other two who release their own Viognier.  Macari Vineyards uses some in their … Continue reading

Posted in 2010, Long Island, Pindar, Viognier | 1 Comment

Anthony Nappa Wines 2010 “Spezia” — Wine Blogging Wednesday #73 “Spark”

You need a spark to start an engine.  You need a spark to light a fire.  You need a spark to keep a relationship going.  You need a spark to get things in motion and keep them moving. I had … Continue reading

Posted in 2010, Anthony Nappa Wines, Gewürztraminer, Long Island | 2 Comments

Roanoke Vineyards 2009 Rhyme and Meter

Roanoke Vineyards in Riverhead has produced Chardonnay for years now.  Mainly from vines planted by long time Long Island wine grower Steve Mudd and Roanoke Vineyards co-owner  Rich Pisacano.  Roman Roth, Roanoke Vineyards winemaker, has always made wonderful steel fermented … Continue reading

Posted in Long Island | 2 Comments

Raphael Vineyards 2010 Riesling

This is the sophomore vintage for Raphael Vineyards Riesling and the first under their winemaker Les Howard.  These are young vines that still need time to develop and as they do I am sure the wine will as well Raphael … Continue reading

Posted in 2010, Raphael, Riesling | 2 Comments

What I Did On My Blogger Hiatus

So you might be wondering what I was up to while I was away from regular blogging.  The long and short answer is I started to get into craft beer. Sure, I was tasting and drinking wine on occasion, but I found … Continue reading

Posted in Beer, Craft Beer, New York | Leave a comment

Martha Clara Vineyards 2009 Cabernet Franc

2008 was a tough and challenging vintage.  2009 was the same but it was longer, therefore most vineyards were able to hang their fruit and let it ripen longer in hopes that they could extract the most out of their … Continue reading

Posted in 2009, Cabernet Franc, Long Island, Martha Clara | Leave a comment

Shinn Estate Vineyards 2010 Chardonnay

You have all heard me mention how great the 2010 vintage was, no need to bring it up again.  It has also been mentioned that the 2010 vintage may have been a bit too hot for the Sauvignon Blanc grape. … Continue reading

Posted in 2010, Chardonnay, Long Island, Shinn Estate Vieyard | 2 Comments