LIWINEDAD

 Continuing our weekend excursion to Maine just before we departed, we added in a boat tour. The tour was a short 90-minute powerboat cruise departing from Perkins Cove and taking in the major sights, including the Lighthouse. We departed at 10:00 and were treated to a very smooth adventure.  The boat was comfortable; we all had seats and were not packed into tight rows.  The crew was amicable and helpful.  The tour guide provided just the right amount of commentary and answered everyone’s questions.  The tour itself covered all the lovely new homes along the shore and the history of the Lighthouse and the Lobster business. The cruise was quick but well worth the modest price. I am looking forward to the next one. HOMES ALONG THE WAY LEAVING PERKINS COVE LIGHTHOUSE APPROACH 2 LIGHTHOUSE APPROACH LIGHTHOUSE KEEPERS HOME LIGHTHOUSE MORE COASTAL HOMES UNDERWAY

During our expedition to Maine, we stayed at a beautiful place call Sparhawk Oceanfront Resort .  The experience was that of a resort, but the price was remarkably modest at about $200 a night for two nights.  The rooms were all clean, fresh, and well-appointed with all the standard amenities.  The rooms had sweeping panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean that are unrivaled.  The team was sharp, clean, brisk, and very helpful.  Check-in and out process was efficient and less than 5 minutes total.  Continental breakfast, including plenty of good coffee, pastries, bread, Hard boiled eggs, and cereals, is provided.    An additional attraction is a Marginal Way, a seaside walkway starting at Sparhawk and following the shoreline about 2 miles down to Perkins Cove.   Along the way are spectacular views of the Maine coast, beaches, the Atlantic Ocean, and of course, on the land side, restaurants, hotels, and shops to enjoy along the way.   The walkway ends at Perkins cove with a cluster of sho

  On a rare occasion, we venture off Long Island, and last week we, with a few friends, decide to explore Maine for a 3-day excursion.  One place we stopped was the Muddy Rudder in Yarmouth ME.  From the outside, the restaurant presents the quintessential quaint Maine restaurant on a river look and feel [1].  Inside, the dining spaces both inside and out are bright open, and airy.  The tables all have an unobstructed view of the river and meadow beyond, including deer strolling.   The menu is extensive, with many appetizers, seafood, chicken, and meat dishes to select from the main course and sides. Of particular note was the Lobster Egg Rolls, packed with lobster and plated with a sweet chili lime dipping sauce. The New England Clam chowder was also a winner, thick creamy and packed with clams.   For the mains [2], we had the Lobster Croissant and side Caesar, the baked Haddock with a side of Lobster Mac N cheese, a large bowl of mussels, and an “Easy Lobster” with rudder beans a

If you are interest in Long Island wines, then this is the book for you.  It is currently in its third edition, and the author's blog post ( Wine, Seriously ) updates to the book as the Long Island wine country continues to evolve.  The book was first published way back in 1987, then again in 2000, and now it is in the 2019 third edition.  The book presents a good, fun, and enlightening history of the origin and development of the Long Island Wine Country .  The history also covers the people and personalities that have pioneered the wine industry over the past ½ century.  Beyond the history and personalities, the book expands out to cover all the wineries, both current and past, including the owners, winemakers, terroir, and processing facilities.  In short, in a compact under 300-page book, the author presents a comprehensive deep dive into the wine industry of Long Island from its fledgling start in the early 1970s to today.  The book is well worth the modest price and is an exc

  Channing Daughters May club selection included a Syrah club exclusive.  The Syrah is 100% Syrah fruit, so this is a pure expression of the fruit and the winemaker's talent.  The fruit was hand-harvested, and foot stomped.  The yeast is wild and indigenous to Long Island.  The wine rested in used oak barrels for just the right oak balance.  The body is medium with intense purple color.  On the palette, well-established acids are providing brightness to the wine.  Blueberries, blackberries come forward with a pleasantly long finish with a hint of oak.  As this was a limited production, I look forward to getting more next year. Channing Daughters Winery 2019 Syrah, Mudd West Vineyard

 Memorial Day is a day to relax with Family, friends and to reflect on the sacrifices that so many before us made to give us this day.  The day here started a bit cloudy, but it did not stop the Jones Beach air show.  As we live near the beach, we enjoyed the flyovers of all the aircraft as they darted back and forth over the beach, putting on the show.  As this is a day for Family, food, and wine, our son and his girlfriend joined us.  The menu this day was a selection of prime steaks grilled on a ragingly hot searing station and accompanied by all the fixings, including homemade caramelized onions.  Now no day would be complete without some wine, and today was no exception.  We enjoyed five different wines from both the east and west coast of the US. We opened with the 2019 Caymus Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley, one of Jo’s favorite red wines.   It opens with strong notes of Vanilla on the nose, and the taste is rich with very well-structured tannins, balanced acid, and

This Jamesport Vineyard wine arrived in our May club shipment, and while it should have rested for a few more years, I could not resist enjoying this franc now.  The nose had oaky notes, red fruits such as Strawberries, and maybe a hint of clove. Color is medium to light purple and clear even though the wine was unfined.  The mouthfeel is a medium to light body with notable acid, which is not surprising with a Ph of around 2.0.  The palette is classic Long Island Franc bursting with fruit and aggressive tannins.  Most notably is the Cherry and Strawberry finishing with a bit of pepper.  Overall an excellent wine to enjoy now or let rest a bit longer for even better structuring of the tannins.  JAMESPORT 2019 ESTATE CABERNET FRANC