Important Update From the Founder
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Marathon Tasting at Paumanok with Charles and Kareem
Tasted June 5, 2017 by Mlermontov with 392 views
Introduction
The sheer hospitality of the Massouds is already legendary in these parts. As are the wines - one needs to look no further than Paumanok to learn about what LI is capable of producing. It has been a pleasure to know this family for over a decade and to watch the wines and the winery develop. The best part - the hospitality - has remained a constant. Thank you guys - your kindness and dedication to your guests and your wines is well documented.
The food available at the winery, btw, is not only a great match for the wines - but simply delicious as well. Oh and... oysters on weekends? yes, please!
Thanks also to Dan H. for arranging and inspiring this trip and Kim C. for joining us!
Sorry if the notes are rather brief.
Flight 1 (11 notes)
Rosé
2015 Paumanok Dry Rosé
88 points
mineral and herb notes over the strawberry fruit. bright mid with some white peach and cranberry. dry and light with a hint of citrus and berry on the finish. excellent summer wine.
Rosé
2016 Paumanok Dry Rosé
88 points
currently riper than the '15, with more strawberry flavors. dry herbs and fruit in mid. light, needs a bit of time imo to gain more on the finish. quite delicious.
White
2015 Paumanok Chenin Blanc Minimalist
91 points
I like this wine a lot. this is showing a bit more subdued than it did last year - but also more mineral touches. bright gooseberry flavors, great citrus mid. Apples and a touch of honey. cant wait to try it in 3-4 years.
White
2016 Paumanok Chenin Blanc Minimalist
90 points
showing riper than the '15 - but that is youth (15 showed riper last year). Sweet peach over honey and some funk. big juicy mid. interesting cider-like note of apples in the mid. good finish. this will be fun to open and watch it develop. also grabbed one for the cellar.
White
2016 Paumanok Chenin Blanc
89 points
Fun in a bottle. A total crowd pleaser - bright with green apple and pineapples. good ripe core of grapefruit and melon. If you think of sunshine in a bottle - this is the wine.
White
2016 Paumanok Sauvignon Blanc
88 points
the other side of the coin - riper richer and more tropical than the chenin. deep notes of ripe citrus in the middle. finishes with some zest and a touch of sweet fruit. very pretty.
White
2015 Paumanok Sauvignon Blanc Minimalist
92 points
this is just a plain fun wine. Funky, unusual tropical fruit, white flowers. in the middle there is a touch of rose-hips and a bright red berry note - the closest is Cornelian Cherry (dogwood family). The whole cluster / tank press and 18 hour soak really adds a unique dimension to this wine.
White
2014 Paumanok Chardonnay Barrel Fermented
89 points
young - showing a hint of vanilla from the oak and touches of butter. mid is bright - full of beautiful citrus notes and great power. this needs time to show itself - but looks like another great chardonnay.
White - Off-dry
2016 Paumanok Semi-Dry Riesling
89 points
as a riesling geek - and someone who has had more than a few Paumanok rieslings - i can say this is the best semi-dry riesling i have had yet. made in a kabinett/qba style - this lightly sweet riesling (30g RS) shows a ton of charm. White peaches on the nose with bright red berry note in the mid along with more white and yellow peach. my only gripe would be the medium finish - but this is quite and excellent effort.
White
2016 Paumanok Dry Riesling
88 points
Feinherb style wine - with a touch of sweetness (5g RS) and loads of topical fruit (pineapples and mango). good fresh note keeping this wine bright. great match for spicy food as well as seafood.
White - Sparkling
2012 Paumanok Blanc de Blancs
91 points
excellent effort. bright green apple notes. middle of yellow apples and hints of citrus. turns toward a riper apple note right before a clean and dry finish. this was simply wonderful on an early summer day. add oysters for heaven.
Flight 2 (8 notes)
Red
2014 Paumanok Cabernet Franc
88 points
this is for the lovers of bell peppers and herbs over fresh cherry fruit. delicious ripe red and black fruit notes in the mid over the herb/tobacco note. nice finish of spicy and savory tannin.
Red
2014 Paumanok Cabernet Franc Grand Vintage
91 points
Richer than the reg C.Fr. - riper black fruit, showing very young with touches of vanilla over the full-powered fruit. blackberry and cassis layers over the herbs. coats the palate in lush fruit and tannin. needs time but should develop well.
Red
2013 Paumanok Merlot
90 points
Paumanok Merlots are hard to beat. this is no exception - bright blackberry and cherry fruit, mid is bright with mineral and herbs under the bright red fruit notes. showing young tannins and a lovely savory herb on the finish.
Red
2013 Paumanok Merlot Grand Vintage
92 points
third time tasting this wine - and third time this is in my top 3. Simply a go to for LI Merlot - pretty wine with good black and blue fruit, bright mid with ripe plum over mineral notes, great length and finish... what is there not to love? I put my bottles away - this will really be a star in 5 years or so.
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Comment
Red
2014 Paumanok Cabernet Sauvignon
89 points
Initial sniff was monumental - this is blueberry pie! on the mid it showed more austere - with the blueberry tempered by the bright acidity and herbal notes. Still powerful tannic grip should give way with a bit of aging. The wine showed more violet and lilac notes on the nose as time went on - as well as a ripe core of fruit.
Red
2014 Paumanok Cabernet Sauvignon Tuthills Lane Vineyard
92 points
Bitter chocolate notes over plum and blackberry. brilliant middle of ripe fruit, core of acidity and powerful tannin. long finish. this will develop amazingly over a decade. strong effort!
Red
2013 Paumanok Assemblage
91 points
Balance and complexity is the name of this game. Of you want pure power - look to the Cab. here there is a perfect play of fruit and acidity. Good red and blue fruit, savory herbs and bright acids in harmony. give it a bit more age and think of it as an old school claret.
Red
2013 Paumanok Petit Verdot Apollo Drive
94 points
Boom! Powerhouse - toasty, big black fruit. Plum power x 100. Sweet chewy fruit, polished sexy middle - and yet still oh-so-fresh! this is a monster with a well combed and conditioned fur. Long finish with sweet and tart black fruit. WOW.
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Flight 3 (2 notes)
White - Sweet/Dessert
2012 Paumanok Late Harvest Riesling
91 points
BA level sweetness in this ice-wine. Apricots and mangoes, candied nuts, nice bitter sweet orange note on the back. rich sweet finish. think peach tart or blue cheese.
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White - Sweet/Dessert
2012 Paumanok Sauvignon Blanc Late Harvest
90 points
The overt vanilla notes that were present two years ago are not there now - this feels light on the nose, with buttery peaches and caramel corn. mid is rich, buttered popcorn in a butterscotch sauce. TBA sweetness on the finish. very unique!
Closing
thanks again guys.