The Cork Club August 2024 Selections
We almost have a theme this month. Almost.
I’ve partnered The Cellar d’Or, a great wine and cider shop in Ithaca, NY, to create a one-of-a-kind wine club that delivers some of the most delicious and unique wines from the Eastern United States right to your door. These aren’t bin ends or mass-produced, factory wine garbage. These are real wines made by real people. They are the wines I’m drinking myself — from producers you’re probably not going to find in any other wine club.
You know that I love having a theme for every shipment of “The Cork Club.” Whether a grape or a style or a suggested application, I just like having the four wines make sense together for one reason or another. Beyond just being delicious that is.
Well, for the August 2024 shipment, we almost have a theme. Almost. Three of the four wines are made from white hybrid grapes. The fourth? Well, it’s cabernet franc. I know — that I’d include a cabernet franc will surprise no one. Especially an un-oaked, partial-carbonic example.
I guess this month’s theme is “White Hybrids and Lenn Not Being Able to Help Himself.” But you’re going to love these wines. I promise you that.
I believe the Suhru Wines 2023 La Crescent is the first wine I’ve ever included made from the La Crescent grape—a fairly new hybrid developed at the University of Minnesota. Assistant winemaker Brad Ulrich made it from Finger Lakes-grown grapes. It’s fruity and fresh—and a wine that my wife and I have enjoyed quite a bit this summer. It’s not a wine to think about too much. Just chill it and drink it — with seafood or salads, or just a sunny day.
Next, we have Lakewood Vineyards 2022 Bubbly Candeo, a carbonated wine made from the Cornell-developed Cayuga White grape. Long-time club members will remember I included a previous vintage a while back. Again, this is a fresh, fruity-floral wine that I love in almost any application. Honestly, it’s nearly impossible not to like it.
Sticking with Cornell grapes, Weis Vineyards 2023 “Heart of the Lake” is made from a newer hybrid, NY81.0315.17 (also known as Aravelle). It’s a cross of riesling and Cayuga White, and this one is off-dry but nicely balanced by fresh acidity, with floral and citrusy aromas and flavors. This wine was new to me when I tasted it, but I’m interested in learning more about it over time.
Last and far from least is Macari Vineyards 2023 “Meadowlark” Cabernet Franc. Meadowlark is the winery’s second tasting room/event space/wine bar, located in Cutchogue. Winemaker Byron Elmendorf uses it to showcase some of the slightly more experimental things he’s working on—including this partially carbonic, unoaked cabernet franc. I’ve been enjoying it chilled this summer, but that’s optional. It brings the strawberry fruitiness with the layers of savoriness that make cabernet franc my favorite grape.
That’s it for this month! I’ve already settled on October’s theme — Thanksgiving wine in a box — so keep an eye out for that announcement in early October!
We have a few extra sets of these wines, so if you’re interested, SIGN UP TODAY!
