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Host Carlo DeVito reviews wines from Lenz Winery on the North Fork of Long Island, with winemaker Tom Spotteck and Lenn Thompson, Founder and Editor of the Cork Report.
This is Thomas "Tom" Spotteck the winemaker at Lenz Winery. "After serving in the USMC, Thomas Spotteck transformed a hobby of brewing and fermenting into a career as a winemaker. He immersed himself in all aspects of the Long Island wine industry, working in the vineyard with our vineyard manager, in the cellar, and even spending time behind the counter in the tasting room. In addition to Long Island, Thomas has premium wine experience in Columbia Valley, WA and Stellenbosch, South Africa. He holds a Bachelors of Science degree in Viticulture & Oenology from Washington State University. Thomas’ passion for creating great wines is inherited. He is the son of viticulturalist, Gordon Spotteck of Parlow, VA. In 2016, he returned home to Shelter Island and joined The Lenz Winery as our Winemaker & Oenologist."Tom is a good guy, a regular guy. He's incredibly passionate about wine. And he's just as passionate about fishing and other local shellfish. There are many days after putting in a hard day's work (or week's work) that he makes for a boat and a fishing pole. Lenn and I had a great time spending a morning with him. The interesting this about Tom is that Tom is bringing some more current winemaking trends to a winery that is steeped in tradition. He's releasing some new wines, and some wines at younger ages. And still some traditions at the winery
are remaining. It's an excellent blend of old and new!.
The Lenz Firefly was a lovely, quaffable wine. A great summer sipper, dry, but with lots of fresh fruit. Big thumbs up!
The Lenz Cuvee 2014 has Consulting Winemarker (and former head wine maker) Eric Frey's fingerprints all over it. Bread, ripe red apple, fresh pear, and honeysuckle notes about with lovely toast and vanilla Exquisite.
The Lenz Malbec 2015 was my favorite wine of the tasting. I LOVE Long Island Malbec, and this was lovely. Jammy, with notes of blubbery and plumb, this was a soft, beautiful wine that was heavenly.
This was a shocker to me, let alone Lenn Thompson. Neither of us could remember a Cab Franc from Lenz in recent memory. Another influence of Tom. The Lenz Cabernet Franc 2017 was fantastic, with notes of dark cherry and dark raspberry. Good tannins. Well balanced and complex. A very excellent version of a Cabernet Franc. An absolute winner!
The last wine we had was the Lenz Late Harvest Chardonnay 2010. It was the color of gold with lovely notes of honey and dried apricot. Big and unctuous, it had enough acidity to keep it well balanced and not cloying.
