Rose Hill Vineyards and Inn: Celebratory Weekend July 6, 2025

*The logo reminds me of Gertrude Stein’s poem, “Rose is a rose is a rose.”*

It had been a busy weekend. Aside from it being the Fourth of July, a family member was celebrating one of those “big” birthdays, and we had a large gathering at our home on Saturday, so on Sunday, the actual birthday, we wanted to go somewhere close to home and quiet. We also had a few other requirements to meet the needs of our guests: dog friendly, okay for children, good wines, roomy enough to seat eight, and somewhere they hadn’t been before. Rose Hill fit perfectly, plus, being somewhat off the main wine route, we knew it would be quiet, even on this July 4^th weekend. Our guests had been to the location when it was Shinn, but not since the new owners and the renovation. So off we went to Oregon Road (so-named, according to one local, because it was so remote “it might as well be in Oregon”).

*In addition to the patio, they have seating out on the lawn.*

We were greeted by a very friendly young man, who quickly assessed our group and showed us to a table on the shady patio, where we felt quite comfortable despite the warm day. One member of our group, who had spent some years on the West Coast, opined that the patio had a “California vibe,” with its natural wood, flowers, and relaxed feel. There is also a gift shop, inside a building where one pays one’s tab. Two young shoppers assessed the offerings as “cute but pricey.”

*Some of the gift shop offerings, plus a view of the patio.*

The youngsters were supplied with their own bottle of fizzy pink lemonade ($15), which they quite enjoyed, and we ordered roasted spiced nuts (not spicy) and olives for the table, medium-sized bowls for $12 each. Meanwhile, we perused the menu (accessed through a QR code on the table) for the tasting options.

*In addition to the sparkling water, free carafes of cool tap water are supplied.*

Rose Hill (named for a street the owners had lived on) offers three flights: Summer, Classic, and Red, each featuring five wines for $30. My husband and I decided to share the Summer flight, one guest also chose that one, and another decided on the Classic Flight (a third couple had already been to a couple of tastings, so they opted to share a glass of the Brut Rosé and a bottle of Saratoga sparkling water).

*This is a screen shot, so it is a bit blurry!*

Cat, our charming and efficient waitress, brought out the flights, pointed out the tasting notes below each glass, and we began. Of course, as happens when we do a tasting with friends, there was a lot of conversation not related to wines, so my comments might be a bit brief. I’ll go through our selections first.

2024 Palmilla $34

First and best! This is a blend, primarily of chardonnay, plus albariño, gewürztraminer, and a little semillon, which I only know because someone (an owner?) stopped by our table, so I was able to ask. Anyway, we all like it, noting an aroma of pineapple and other tropical fruits, and a flavor of pineapple and mango, plus some citrus.

2024 Concrete Blonde $48

I happen to know that the name refers to aging in a concrete “egg,” rather that wood or steel, which tends to give wines more depth. In this case, the sauvignon blanc is very light, with a faint aroma of earth or clay, and some herbal flavors. My tasting buddy likes it better than I do.

*The Summer Flight: one always tastes from left to right.*

2024 Riesling $28

“Off dry” means the wine is not dry, but happily this wine, though a bit sweet, is not too sweet to sip, though I think I would prefer it paired with a nice plate of Pad Thai. Good.

2024 Grüner $28

Though One Woman’s Grüner is one of my favorite North Fork wines, this tastes quite different. The assessment at the table is “A lot of people would not like this wine, but we do!” It is interesting, very herbal, with an aroma that combines spice with a touch of menthol, almost medicinal. It would pair well with a cheese tray, like the one I assembled for our party, with some of Love Lane Cheese Store’s delicious offerings, including their truffled brie, Cambazola blue, Mimolette, a smoky Gouda, and Catapano’s cranberry flavored goat cheese.

2024 Rose Hill Rosé $34

This is a just okay rosé, made from merlot, dry, with the expected strawberry aromas and flavor. A nice dish of pasta with shrimp would pair well with it.

Now to the Classic Flight, of which I had small sips.

2022 Brut Rosé $48

This is mildly bubbly, with some nice yeasty aromas and a bit of a bready taste. Pleasant. It is primarily chardonnay, with some pinot noir, which gives it the pink tinge.

2024 Coalescence $28

Shinn had a wine they called Coalescence, which I really liked. This one was judged “forgettable” by my table mates, though I thought it was okay. It’s a blend of sauvignon blanc, chardonnay, riesling, semillon, and pinot blanc.

2023 Chardonnay $34

There are a LOT of chardonnays on the North Fork, and I would choose some of those over this one, which is assessed as “meh.”

2023 Mojo $34

This is a very light red, an unoaked cabernet franc, with tastes of pomegranate and berries and a touch of earthiness. Nice.

2022 Wild Boar Doe $52

Say the name out loud, and you will realize that this is a Bordeaux-style blend (merlot, cabernet sauvignon, petit verdot, and malbec). It is also our other favorite of the day, which one guest describes as “juicy and delicious,” and another as “a star.” Lots of dark fruit taste, with some notes of spice and figs. Yum.

*Our “well-behaved” dog, who was allowed on the patio–and attracted several pats, as well as the attention of a couple of other dogs who passed by.*

Reasons to visit: pleasant setting off the beaten track; dogs allowed on the patio, though not inside; standard menu of snacks; the Palmilla and the Wild Boar Doe, in particular, though we also liked the Grüner; they have an inn, in case you want to stay the night.

Rose Hill Vineyards: Change Can Be Good

Posted by nofowineaux in Tasting and tagged with Albarino, Brut Rose, Cadence, Concrete Blonde, Estate Merlot, First Fruit, menu of snacks available, merlot, merlot 3, no outside snacks, North Fork, Palmilla, petit verdot, riesling, rose, Rose Hill, sauvignon blanc, wine tasting June 14, 2024

June 9, 2024

Home

When Rose Hill was Shinn, I liked the somewhat hippie-ish vibe it had, a bit off the beaten path, on Oregon Road (allegedly so named because it was so far away it might as well have been in Oregon—really, it’s not that far). However, the changes have been improvements, with a lovely shaded patio for outside tastings, plus a much larger indoor room for cold or rainy days. There’s now a large area of lawn set up with tables as well.

When you enter the parking area from Oregon Road, you will see four parking spots reserved for the overnight guests of the Inn, plus a pebbled lot for everyone else. The parking used to be around the back, but no more, though that is where you’ll find the entrance to the tasting room. We were cheerfully greeted by one of several pleasant young women who circulated around the patio, and told we could choose whichever table we liked. We picked a table for the four of us that was well shaded, and settled down to read the menu, which one acquires via a QR code embedded in the table top.

The menu offers three different flights: the Estate Flight, of five varied wines for $30, the Summer Flight, of five whites and a rosé for $30, and a Red Flight of five reds, also $30. We decided we would get the Estate and Summer flights, as there was no overlap, and requested extra glasses so we could share the generous tastes. We also ordered a sparkling pink lemonade for our designated driver, which he said was quite good.

*We assumed this is an outside bar, which can be used in the summer if it gets crowded.*

Since it was lunchtime, we also perused the menu of “Light Bites,” and settled on the Mediterranean Board, for $32, thinking if it was not enough food we might order something else. However, as it happened, the serving of three dips—a hummus, a goat cheese and sweet red pepper puree, and a yogurt somewhat like a tzatziki—with toasted pita triangles and some breadsticks, plus black and green olives, was plenty, especially since we asked for and got some additional pita triangles when, as so often happens, we ran out of dippers before dips. We liked all three very much.

*Somehow I forgot to take a photo of the dips, but here are our extra bread sticks!*

Our attentive waitress brought us a large bottle of chilled water with compostable plastic cups, and happily answered all the questions we had, though she had to ask someone else to tell us why the winery is called Rose Hill. Apparently, the owners used to live on a street called Rose Hill.

Since I tried all the wines, the following list includes all ten, with the wines from the Estate Flight first, except for the last two, when we tried the Merlot after the Rosé. At the end, we decided we’d like to try one more wine, while we finished off the last of our dips, and the waitress recommended the 2020 Cadence, a lovely red we found tasty and very drinkable, though not worth $45. The menu also offers a port and a brandy.

2022 Brut Rosé $48

This sparkling wine, made using the méthode champenoise, has a lovely aroma of toast and red berries, with some berry and lemon taste. Very nice.

*The Summer Flight, and very light and summery it was.*

2022 First Fruit $28

A steel-fermented sauvignon blanc, this is a very light white, with an interesting aroma of almond extract. We could see having this with—believe it or not—ice cubes in it, on a very hot day, as it is refreshing but not very flavorful.

2023 Concrete Blonde $48

Why concrete? I was able to answer this question, as I have learned that, in addition to steel and wood, wine can be fermented in a concrete “egg,” which I find adds some depth and interest to whites without the oakiness I dislike. We all like this one, which had just a touch of sweetness and much more body than the other sauvignon blanc. My friend pronounces this “versatile,” and we agree that you could pair it with cheeses, fruits, seafood, or chicken. Very nice to drink on its own, as well.

2023 Palmilla $34

I forgot to ask about the name, but this is a blend of albariño, gewürztraminer, sauvignon blanc, sémillon, and chardonnay. It smells like oranges, and tastes like various tropical fruits. We like it.

2022 Albariňo $65

My friend and I, who often agree about all sorts of things, agree about albariño as well—it is a wine we often order when, for example, we are in a wine bar and want to get a glass of something. What I like about albariño is that it is never too sweet, and usually has some pleasant citrus tastes without being too tart. This is fairly classic, though over-priced.

Rose Hill Rosé $30

Most rosés around here taste and smell like strawberries, which this one does, too, with a slightly woodsy aroma as well. Pleasant.

2023 Riesling $28

There’s a reason why I never order a riesling unless I’ve tasted it, since they are often too sweet for me, and this one, though it is described as “off dry,” is a perfect example of why that is a wise policy. “Horrible,” says my pal. “Smells like candy,” I note. Yes, it is sweet.

2022 Merlot 3 Rosé $30

The menu notes that this is a Croteaux rosé, and I remember that the same people who bought Shinn also bought Croteaux, which only makes rosés. This is an extremely light rosé, almost white, very dry, with not much flavor.

2020 Estate Merlot $34

Though this has the usual cherry aroma of North Fork merlots, the flavor is very light and dry, with almost no fruit, “more like a pinot noir,” opines my friend. Just okay.

*The glass of Cadence we ordered to sip as we finished our dips.* *It is a blend of merlot and petit verdot.*

Reasons to visit: lovely patio; excellent service; good snacks; the Concrete Blonde (no blond jokes!), the Palmilla, the Albariňo, and the Cadence.

*I peeked into the inside room, just to see what it was like. Looks nice.*

Shinn Estate Vineyards: It Pays to Take the Back Road July 25, 2019

Posted by nofowineaux in Tasting and tagged with cabernet franc, cabernet sauvignon, Concrete Blonde, Concrete egg, Croteaux, Divine, Diving, Eau de Vie, Haven, Julius Drover Alembic Brandy, Julius Drover Apple Brandy, Malbec, merlot, Mojo, Non-vintage Red Blend, North Fork, Oregon Road, petit verdot, Pinot Blanc, rose, sauvignon blanc, Semillon, Shinn Estate Vineyard, Wild Boar Doe, wine tasting July 27, 2019

https://shinnestatevineyards.com/

The sign tells you that your trip to Oregon Road has successfully landed you at Shinn.

As the couple at a nearby table on the Shinn Vineyard’s new and very nice patio noted, it took some searching to find Shinn, but they were glad they had persisted, having wended their way to Oregon Road. We already knew our way, but we were glad we were there, too. In 2017, Shinn was bought by the Frankel family, and they have made some attractive changes, though the place has a less funky vibe than it used to.

As you enter, drive past the B and B, and go around to the back, where the tasting room is located.

On arrival, we were offered seats inside—in the A/C—or outside on the patio. Though it was a warm day, it was not oppressively so, and the patio offered shaded areas. We ended up spending almost an hour there, doing a leisurely tasting plus a couple of other tastes and sharing a delicious cheese board. Reggae music played in the background—I remember one verse mentioning “island sun”—and it was easy to forget we were on Long Island and imagine we were on a tropical island.

The tasting menu offers many options, from a rosé flight for $16, which includes a couple of Croteaux rosés, to our choice, the Winemaker’s Picks, of five of their higher end wines for $28. Why, you may wonder, do they feature Croteaux rosés? Because the Frankel family recently bought Croteaux as well, and have reopened the tasting room and garden there. Our server assured us that they are keeping the Croteaux rosés the same as they were. We’ll have to check that out!

Our server brought the wines to us, the three whites first and then, when we had finished them, the two reds, carefully placed on a little mat which had labeled spots for each wine. She also brought us a glass bottle of water and two plastic cups, a nice touch.

The bottle of cold water was quite welcome.

After we finished the five wines in our tasting, we still had quite a bit of cheese left of the $14 cheese board, so we each added one more taste, which I have put at the end of the listing. These also came on tiny round coasters with labels for what they were.

1. 2018 Concrete Blonde $40

Why this name? The sauvignon blanc is aged in a concrete “egg” made, we are informed, from “French soil,” instead of in steel or oak. Macari also uses this method, and you can find a discussion of the concrete egg in my entries on that winery. The aroma of the wine is lovely, floral, like a bouquet of summer flowers. The wine is more reminiscent of a chardonnay than a sauvignon blanc, almost creamy, with a citrus taste that is like a cross between a mandarin orange and a lemon. It doesn’t really complement the cheese, but would be quite nice with charcuterie.

This was a fairly generous cheese platter, though I never feel as though they give you enough crackers.

2. 2016 Haven $35

What, I wondered, is referenced by the name of this blend, of 70% sauvignon blanc, 20% semillon, and 10% pinot blanc? Haven is a reference to the type of soil on the farm, we were told, a combination of sand and loam. This one is aged more traditionally, in oak, and I can scent a touch of the oak when I sniff. Then I get flowers. The wine is softer than a usual sauv blanc, with some depth and a touch of spice, perhaps nutmeg. It’s a good food wine.

3. 2016 Pinot Blanc $35

Now we’re back in experimental territory, as puncheon (i.e. big) barrels of neutral oak were used to age this wine, for eight months. The aroma is faint, with a touch of honeysuckle, but, on the other hand, as my husband notes, it has a lot of taste. Again, I think of this wine as soft, not tart but not sweet, with some nice fruit tastes. It would make a lovely aperitif wine, as it is very easy to drink on its own.

4. 2018 Mojo $26

In 2014, Shinn had such a copious harvest of cabernet franc that they ran out of oak barrels, and so decided to make an unoaked cab franc. Then they were so pleased with the result that since then they have made it that way on purpose. The menu describes this wine as “bright, fresh,” and I agree. They serve it chilled, which is nice on a hot day. The aroma has a touch of funkiness, perhaps pine or forest floor, plus minerality. This pleasant, fruity wine would be great for sangria.

5. 2016 Wild Boar Doe $42

Of course, this is their Bordeaux blend: 59% merlot, 21.5% cabernet franc, 12.5% petit verdot, and 7% malbec. The merlot gives it a cherry aroma and taste, but I’m not sure what the other grapes add. “It could be more assertive,” asserts my tasting buddy. I get some light tannins, and the wine is dry, but, again, the word that keeps coming to mind is soft.

6. Non-vintage Red Blend $19

We needed a bit more beverage to go with the rest of our cheese, so my husband opted to try a red we’d be likely—based on price—to buy. This is a light, refreshing summer red, a simple table wine. It’s a blend of 61% merlot, 22% cabernet franc, 15% cabernet sauvignon, and 2% petit verdot, and tastes, as you’d expect, of the merlot cherry flavor. We bought two bottles.

I like cognac, and this one was quite delicious.

7. Alembic Brandy $65

Brandy? Yep, they actually have a menu of four brandies, labeled Julius Drover Brandy. Our server gave me a rundown of the four. Divine is made from semillon grapes combined with the alembic; Eau de Vie is made from whatever scraps of grapes they have around and is only aged for one year, so it’s pretty forceful; Apple Brandy is like Calvados, and is made from apples and pears; and Alembic Brandy is made from chardonnay grapes, aged four years. If you like cognac, you’ll like the Alembic, which I quite enjoyed. The taste made me think I should be drinking it after dinner, perhaps with a good cigar and a bowl of walnuts for cracking (just kidding about the cigar).

Reasons to visit: Off the beaten track, so less crowded and quieter than the big places, especially in the summer, as our new friends on the patio noted; lovely outdoor patio; nice menu of snacks; certified sustainable (a landmark for locating them is their tall windmill); the Concrete Blonde in particular, but all the wines are very drinkable, if not exciting.

NoFo Wineaux

Wine notes from Long Island's North Fork

Tag Archives: Concrete Blonde

Rose Hill Vineyards and Inn: Celebratory Weekend July 6, 2025

Rose Hill Vineyards: Change Can Be Good

Shinn Estate Vineyards: It Pays to Take the Back Road July 25, 2019