Some people brought in bottles from trips to wineries in New York and California, and others were looking to try something out on us before pouring it at Thanksgiving. The most recent session of my six-week introductory wine class at NYU wrapped up last week. For some odd reason, Mrs. Vino always refers to this as the party, but no!

The Puzelats grow Pinot Noir, Gamay, Côt (called Malbec in Argentina), Bréton (called Cabernet Franc in the film Sideways ), Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris (called Pinot Grigio in Italy), and the rarely seen Pineau D'Aunis and Menu Pineau (called Arbois in the Jura). They buzz with energy, some say "wildness." It works.

buy lamb from my farmers market, but when the market is out of season from January - March, my food coop carries lamb from Aberdeen Hill Farms in the Finger Lakes Region of New York. used an old friend from Southwest France instead. We decided to have a New York wine with our local lamb. Add 3/4 cup of white wine.

The new oak is very obvious right now, not overwhelming at all, but obvious. Oregon 2002 St Innocent Pinot Noir Seven Springs Vineyard , $25 (secondary market). New York 2002 Castello di Borghese Cabernet Franc Reserve , $32 (winery). loved this wine back in March at the real Wine Attack Tasting.

Here is what I like about them: The reds tend to be somewhat "old-world" in style - they offer complexity and balance that can be elusive among new world wines made with the big three Bordeaux grapes. They grow and make good Cabernet Franc. very tasty bottle of Loire Cab Franc from a good producer can cost about $15.

As is common in New York, a combination of artists and other intrepid souls in about 2000 began moving to Red Hook for the low rents. BrooklynLady picked a 2002 Catherine et Pierre Breton Clos Senechal to go with our dinner that night and we loved it. These wines are made soley from cabernet franc. love this wine!

We emerged from our tasting there with a few bottles of their 2002 Cabernet Franc Reserve and a 375 ml of a 2004 zippy desert wine made from late harvest chardonnay called Allegra. So now I know that Long Island makes serious wine.what about the rest of New York? All in all - New York wine = YES!