The wines of Channing Daughters
Interesting wines from New York State's Long Island

Website: www.channingdaughters.com

Long Island winery Channing Daughters grows or sources grapars from all three of the Long Island AVAs. Winemaker Christopher Tracy clearly likes to experiment, and has a wide array of varieties to play with:  Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio, Tocai Friulano, Sauvignon Blanc, Muscat Ottonel, Malvasia, Gewurztraminer, Pinot Bianco, Merlot, Blaufrankisch, Pinot Noir, Dornfelder, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon, Teroldego, Refosco and Lagrein.

The estate vineyard, first planted in 1982 by venture capitalist Walter Channing around his Bridgehampton home, has 28 acres of vines, and is sufficient for about half the winery’s needs.

Small quantities of many different wines are made. I tried a selection (see notes below), and they are imported into the UK by Wine Equals Friends, whose prices are indicated. Overall, quality was consistently high.

THE WINES

Channing Daughters Mudd West Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2010 Long Island, New York State
Rounded, fruity and attractive with bright lively fruit. Fresh with nice purity and just a hint of grassiness. 87/100 (£16.99)

Channing Daughters Vino Bianco 2008 Long Island, New York State
A blend of Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio and Tocai Friulano. Textured and slightly peachy with some nice citrus fruit. A fresh style with great balance and lovely pure fruit. Crisp. 88/100 (£14.99)

Channing Daughters Pinot Grigio 2009 Long Island, New York State
Nice grapey edge to the crisp, bright, dry fruit, with hints of herbs and citrus. Good acidity. Fresh and attractive with linear flavours and some nuttiness on the finish. 87/100 (£15.99)

Channing Daughters Clones 2008 Long Island, New York State
90% Chardonnay with the balance Tocai Friulano, Gewurztraminer, Aligote, Semillon and Viognier. Rounded, nutty and intense. Nice fruit but there’s a toasty, buttery dimension I’m not too keen on. Broad, rounded, fruity and quite rich. 85/100 (£20.99)

Channing Daughters Rosato di Cabernet Franc 2010 Long Island, New York State
Pale blush colour. Fresh, lively nose with some green herby notes as well as strawberry and cherry fruit. The palate is soft textured and broad with nice fruit and an attractive savoury twist. 89/100 (£15.99)

Channing Daughters Rosato di Merlot 2010 Long Island, New York State
Pale colour. Lively, bright and zippy with nice textured and acidity. Subtle herb and cherry fruit. Very appealing. 87/100 (£15.99)

Channing Daughters Rosso Fresco 2008 Long Island, New York State
Merlot and Syrah with a dash of Petit Verdot and Dornfelder. Fresh, bright, herby nose with some vivid berry fruit as well as a touch of greenness. The palate is bright and vivid with a roasted edge to the fresh berry fruits. Nicely grippy. 86/100 (£14.99)

Channing Daughters Mudd 2006 Long Island, New York State
72% Merlot with the balance Cabernet Sauvignon, Blaufrankisch and Dornfelder. Ripe, fresh and grippy with some gravel and roast coffee notes. Lively with a tasty, savoury twist to the black fruits. A restrained style with some appeal. 88/100 (£23.99)

Channing Daughters Pazzo 2004 Long Island, New York State
100% Merlot fortified with neutral grape spirit and maderized. Pale-ish red colour. Unusual: totally unique and quite complex. It is not sweet. It is more like a sherry or dry madeira with some complex, lively, spicy characters. I like it. 92/100

Wines tasted 06/11  
Find these wines with
wine-searcher.com

 

Back to top