The Wine Undertaker
I am a Licensed Funeral Director and this is my love affair with wine and the people that make Long Island wine so special. E-mail me here:
michaelgortonjr@
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Author Archives: Michael Gorton, Jr.
Raphael 2002 First Label Merlot Quick Sip
This was a gift from Richard Olsen-Harbich, winemaker at Raphael, when I visited a while back. I kind of forgot about this after looking through my notebook of tasting. I did taste this with Rich in the tasting room, he … Continue reading
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A Vist to Pindar Part 2
This is part 2 of a 2 part post on my visit to Pindar Vineyards. You can see the first part here. Melissa, Pindar, Les and myself walked in and the tasting room was busy…lots of business and people…very nice … Continue reading
Posted in Long Island, Pindar, Winery Visit
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Raphael’s 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon gets 90 Points from Wine Spectator
I received some excellent news the other day from Melissa Martin at Raphael. Below is a press release from Raphael about a score they received on their 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon. This will be released to the public in Mid-December. When It does … Continue reading
Posted in Cabernet Sauvigon, Raphael
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Tweet-up at Shinn Estate Vineyards
Recently, Virginia wine bloggers John Witherspoon of anythingwine.com and his wife, Megan of Wineconcience.com paid a visit to the North Fork of Long Island. They were spending a few nights at Shinn Estate Vineyards while visiting some of the wonderful … Continue reading
Posted in Shinn Estate Vieyard, Winery Visit
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Funeral Directors invade Long IslandWine Country
On Sunday, the Nassau-Suffolk Funeral Directors Association kicked off their first annual “Long Island Wine Country Tour”. There was a total of 11 funeral directors, their family and friends. We Visited Krupski’s Pumpkin Patch to pick some pumpkins and roll … Continue reading
Posted in Long Island, Winery Visit
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A visit to Pindar Vinyards Part 1
Not too long ago, I was invited to visit Pindar Vineyards and taste some wine with Les Howard, Pindar’s winemaker, and Pindar Dimanons, Pindar’s vineyard manager. I was very excited about this visit, as I am for most visits, but … Continue reading
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Raphael 2005 Malbec
This 2005 Malbec I tasted with Rich Olsen-Harbich, winemaker at Raphael Vineyards. I was fortunate to take this home, taste it further, enjoy with my wife, and take notes. Malbec is a dark purple grape that is used mainly as … Continue reading
Posted in Long Island, Malbec, Raphael
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More than My First Harvest at Shinn Estate Vineyards
The other day I had my first experience harvesting fruit to make wine at Shinn Estate Vineyards. I asked David Page and Barbara Shinn if I could come out on my day off and get to know the process of … Continue reading
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Wine Blogging Wednesday #62: Pindar 2007 Johannisberg Riesling
This Wine Blogging Wednesday, #62 is titled “A Grape by Any Other Name”. It is hosted by Dale Cruse over at drinksareonme.net. We are assigned to find a wine with a lesser known varietal on the label. I found this … Continue reading
Posted in Pindar, Riesling, Wine Blogging Wednesday, Wine Store
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Raphael 2006 Cabernet Franc Short Sip
This wine is Raphael Vineyards 2006 Cabernet Franc. This, however, was not one of the wine’s I tasted with Richard Olsen-Harbich, and to be honest, I can see why. I picked up this bottle at my local wine shop when … Continue reading
Posted in Cabernet Franc, Long Island, Notes, Raphael, Short Sip
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Second annual Regional Wine Week set for Oct. 11-17
This week is a special week in the wine world. It is the second annual Regional Wine Week. What’s that you may say…well basicaly, you are asked to drink a local wine. For me that’s easy, I have been doing … Continue reading
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Pellegrini Vineyards 2004 Cabernet Franc Short Sip
I found this bottle at a wine shop on my way home from work one day and was eager to try it considering I had recently tried a few other Cabernet Franc’s from other vineyards from the 2004 vintage. Pellegrini … Continue reading
Posted in Cabernet Franc, Long Island, Notes, Short Sip, Wine Store
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Raphael Vineyards 2004 Cabernet Franc Short Sip
This wine was given to me by Richard Olsen-Harbich, Raphael’s winemaker. I tasted this with Rich in the tasting room, but he was gracious enough to allow me to take this home and enjoy it some more with my wife … Continue reading
Posted in Cabernet Franc, Long Island, Notes, Raphael, Short Sip, Winery Visit
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Borghese 2004 Cabernet Franc Short Sip
From Castello di Borghese, comes this 2004 Cabernet Franc. In all the years that I have live on Long Island since 1998, I have never visited this vineyard. I can tell you that these vines are some of the oldest … Continue reading
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Winery Visit at Raphael Winery
A few weeks back I was invited to spend some time at Raphael Vineyard. I had been in contact with Melissa Martin at Raphael after doing a review of their rose. She had asked that I pay a visit the … Continue reading
Posted in Long Island, Notes, Raphael, Winery Visit
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I fell in love with the North Fork…all over again.
You know when something is there and you just take it for granted. You know when an old friend is just down the road, and you don’t hang out that often, but when you do, you never want the night … Continue reading
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Undertaking Wine 