The Judgment of Riverhead, November 20 at Roanoke Vineyards

By Lenn Thompson, Executive Editor

Next Saturday, Roanoke Vineyards will host "The Judgment of Riverhead" a tasting that is modeled, quite obviously, after "The Judgment of Paris." Top wines from California and France -- wines scored 90 or higher by The Wine Advocate or Wine Spectator, from $40 to $140 -- will face off against top wine from Long Island in a blind tasting.

The wines will be tasted by a panel of nine wine and restaurant industry professionals -- including yours truly -- using a 20-point scale, just like at the original 1976 event in Paris.

A group of 55 attendees will also taste and score the wines during the sold-out event. Those scores will be tallied separately.

In all, we'll be tasting 18, including nine chardonnays (three from each region), and nine reds, focusing on Bordeaux varietals (again, three from each region).

Tastings like these are always educational and fun. And while I'm sure some will interpret the results to mean more than they do, I consider it an honor to take part.

More than anything, I'm looking forward to tasting with, and learning from, a great group of judges that includes Michael Cinque, retailer, Amagansett Wines and Spirits, Louisa Hargrave, co-founder of Hargrave Vineyard, Michael Kaminski, sommelier and director, Luce and Hawkins, Kareem Massoud, winemaker at Paumanok Vineyards, Mike Mraz, owner and beverage director of the North Fork Table and Inn, David Milligan, former president of Seagram, Chateau & Estate Wines Co., and the author of "All Color Book of Wine", Tom Schaudel, author, executive chef and owner of A Mano Oysteria and Coolfish restaurants, and Christopher Tracy, winemaker and co-owner, Channing Daughters Winery.

Check back after the event for at least a post or two -- and maybe even some video -- about the event.

Comments

[Tom Mansell]

Which one gets to be Alan Rickman?

[Bryan]

People are paying to drink California wine?

[Julia Burke]

You're judging in a wine competition?

[Lenn Thompson]

It's always fun when our own staff plays peanut gallery.

Tom: That's a good question.

Bryan: I prefer to think that they are paying for the other wines and that the California wines are just there to remind them what they don't like.

Julia: Haha...expected this one. Yes, I'm sitting on this panel and I'm scoring the wines. But this is a far cry from the competitions we took issue with a couple months ago, in size, scope and results.

I don't think the organizers have medals that they are planning to put on the bottles as we score them.

I am looking forward to this tasting -- it could be fascinating -- but the results won't stagger me no mater what they are. Even if Long Island sweeps every flight (impossible) it certainly does not mean that Long Island is "better" than anyone else. The sample size is too small, the tasting panel is (mostly) locals.

Everyone is taking it seriously -- including me -- but it is what it is and nothing more. And it's going to be a lot of fun.

Of course, I also committed to doing this before we published that post as well, though I think I'd still agree to do it.

[Sean]

spin as you may, it still smells of hypocrisy.

[Lenn Thompson]

Sean: You know this is a no-spin zone, but you're entitled to your opinion.

Are you going, by the way?

[Sean]

Of course. See you there.

[Lenn Thompson]

Excellent. It's been far too long.

[Jay Schneider]

Sounds like it's going to be a lot of fun, looking forward to seeing you there!! (by the way, I think having you as a judge is an excellent choice!)

[True Religion Jeans]

Sunshine through from the clouds, leaving continuously warmth;