Pellegrini: Post Tumbleweed Tuesday

Posted by nofowineaux in Tasting and tagged with cabernet sauvignon, chardonnay, merlot, North Fork, outside food allowed, pellegrini, petit verdot, Rejoyce, sauvignon blanc, Steakhouse Red, travel, Vinter's Pride Encore, wine, Wine Club, wine tasting, Winery September 15, 2025

September 12, 2025

*The Pellegrini tasting room is certainly quiet. Except for a few locals picking up their quarterly shipments, we had it to ourselves. By the way, note the very comfortable chairs!*

“Tumbleweed Tuesday” refers to the day after Labor Day, when, supposedly, the tourists leave the East End and locals can once again plan their chores without worrying about being unable to make a left turn. When my mother lived in Sag Harbor, she was invited to a beach party on such a Tuesday, where a tourist was burned in effigy, signaling her acceptance as a full-time resident. As far as I know, there is no such custom on the North Fork. Anyway, though the crowds have certainly decreased, fall is still a busy time out here, what with all sorts of festivals (I’m looking at you Harbes…), apple and pumpkin picking, corn mazes, and winery events. I make sure to stay close to home on Columbus Day weekend!

However, it was certainly quiet in the Pellegrini Winery tasting room on this beautiful September afternoon. We had gone there to pick up our wine club shipment, but when we arrived the place was empty, though the door was propped open. Hmmm…But after a moment, Tammy came in, apologizing. She had been serving some people who were sitting outside. We quickly collected our three bottles, and then picked out a tasting featuring all three, so we could see if we wanted to order more of any of them.

Tammy brought the tray of tastings to our table, with two little bags of oyster crackers. The standard tasting is four pours for $20, your choice out of the fifteen wines on the form. The glasses are carefully perched atop each choice. As we sipped, we listened to some Italian-ish music, which reminded us of one of our favorite movies, Big Night. It’s a brilliant film about an Italian restaurant which is struggling to survive in1950s New Jersey while staying true to their authentic cuisine. I love the scene where the chef is outraged that a couple insist on getting a “side” of spaghetti with their risotto.

2023 REJOYCE $26.99

This is a blend, named for one of the owners, of 52% chardonnay and 48% sauvignon blanc. I’ve liked it in the past, but I’m not crazy about this iteration. It has a lovely aroma of baked pears and citrus, but the taste is a bit too what my mother-in-law would have described as “sharp.” Maybe too acid? It would, however, work well with seafood in a cream sauce, on top of pasta. (That music is getting me to think about food!)

*Some information about wine club membership.*

Steakhouse Red $22.99

Wineries often have undated blends, which means they are free to mix various vintages and types as needed for the taste they want. This is a blend of 72% cabernet sauvignon and 28% merlot, and is meant to be a casual pasta or hamburger wine. Or steak, I suppose, though I’d want a wine with more depth to stand up to a big steak. This has a pleasant aroma of tobacco and berries, but is quite light. Nice, but not exciting.

2018 Merlot $32.99

We opted to get “reds only” in our shipments—we could have opted for a mix or whites only—because we generally feel Pellegrini has some of the better reds on the North Fork. We really like the North Fork Project Merlot, made by Pellegrini, one of the best wine bargains on the East End, with three one liter bottles for $36. We like that better than this, pricier, merlot, which is 2% cabernet sauvignon and which my tasting buddy describes as “Meh.” Not bad, but just okay. I could see it with roast chicken. It is dry, with some hints of cherry.

2020 Vinter’s Pride Encore $49.99

When I tell my husband they want fifty dollars for this wine, he says, “They won’t get $50 from me!” I refrain from pointing out that they already more or less have, since it is in our shipment, but I have hope. I plan to put it in the cellar, hoping it will improve with age. This is another blend, 60% cabernet sauvignon, 30% merlot, and 10% petit verdot. It has a slightly funky aroma, with some blackberry and cedar, and the taste is good, of dark fruits and figs, though again, not exciting. Dry, dark fruits, and enough depth to complement Pasta Bolognese, or, as they suggest, a rib-eye steak (I once got great rib-eye steaks at 8 Hands.). Ooh. Time to go home for supper!

Reasons for going: quiet tasting room, with some outside tables as well; the reds in general, though we were underwhelmed today; you can bring your own snacks, in case you want more than a little bag of oyster crackers; the North Fork Project wines, which feature merlot, chardonnay, and rosé, three big bottles for $30 or 36, a definite bargain.

Pellegrini: ‘Tis the Season

Posted by nofowineaux in Tasting and tagged with cabernet franc, cabernet sauvignon, chardonnay, merlot, North Fork, outside food allowed, Pellegrini Vineyards, petit verdot, Rejoyce, rose, sauvignon blanc, Steakhouse Red, wine tasting December 15, 2024

December 12, 2024

If you’d never been to Pellegrini, you might think those flying cherubs were part of the Christmas decorations, like the stockings hung from the rafters and the poinsettias on the tables, but they are always there. We know this because we belong to the Pellegrini wine club, and so find ourselves visiting the tasting room with some regularity—like the couple we saw at a nearby table, who had come, like us, to pick up their winter shipment, and were quietly enjoying a glass of wine.

We had a dual mission on this visit—to pick up our wines (we belong to the “red only” group), and order cases of wine to send as gifts. In order to select which wines to send, we picked out a tasting of six wines, and sat ourselves down to share the tasting (we could have gotten two, but sharing one is fine by us) and make some decisions. As usual, the tasting came with a little bag of oyster crackers, useful for clearing the palate between sips.

*To order a tasting, simply circle your choices on this sheet. The wines will then come on a tray atop the chosen types.*

2022 Sauvignon Blanc $26.99

I figured we’d like this, since we have in the past—though that’s not always true—and we did. The aroma is floral, and the wine has pleasant notes of mineral and fruit—maybe apricot? It would go well with oysters or other seafood, but nothing too hearty. Yes, into the cases.

*Our tasting. It’s a fairly generous pour.*

2023 ReJoyce $26.99

Named for one of the owners, this is a blend of 52% chardonnay and 48% sauvignon blanc. The aroma clearly echoes the floral note of the 100% sauvignon blanc, plus some fruit. We decide the word for this one is “yummy,” as the minerality if the sb is tempered by the fruit of the chardonnay. One could sip it as an aperitif, or with charcuterie.

*The deer head is always there, but not with the Santa cap!*

2023 Rosé $24.99

Though rosé is often seen as a summer wine, I see no reason not to drink it all year long. This one is made from 100% cabernet sauvignon grapes, and has typical aromas and flavor of strawberries. It is dry, but not austere, with also some pink grapefruit taste. I could see drinking this with Chinese take-out. “Nice,” opines my tasting buddy.

2017 Merlot $32.99

Although this is a bit of a blend, it is mostly merlot—85%, plus 10% cabernet sauvignon and 5% petit verdot. Merlot is a very popular grape on the North Fork, and this is a fairly straightforward example of the genre, with tastes and aromas of cherries. It is rather light, with no depth. We decide we prefer the North Fork Project merlot, a wine also made by Pellegrini, which comes in a large bottle, one liter as opposed to the usual 750 ml. We’ll put that in the cases instead.

Steakhouse Red $22.99

Another blend, this is 72% cabernet sauvignon and 28% merlot. We smell dark fruits, including cherry, and a bit of tobacco aroma from the oak it was aged in. It is good and dry, and would be nice with pasta or pizza.

2018 Cabernet Sauvignon $24.99

Like the merlot, this is also a blend, though this time almost all cabernet sauvignon: 94%, plus 4% merlot 181 (the number indicates the clone) and 2% cabernet franc. This is a wine I might put aside for a couple of years to age, as I think it would improve over time. It has that brambly blackberry taste of cabernet sauvignon. It is dry, and definitely needs to go with food. We finish off the crackers…

*Though the vines are bare, I think they have their own wintery beauty.*

Reasons to visit: low-key tasting room, with no limo or bus crowds; consistently good wines, with some of the better reds on the North Fork; you can bring your own snacks, which is becoming a rarity. By the way, the letter that came with our winter pick-up commented that the warm, dry fall meant that this has the potential to be a stellar year for North Fork wines. “Grape vines originated in the desert, and can handle drought conditions quite well…we had an unbelievable combination of ripening, high sugars, and balancing acidity…the 2024 reds and whites have the potential to be reserve quality.”

Bridge Lane: Sunshine and Rainbows

Posted by nofowineaux in Tasting and tagged with Bridge Lane, chardonnay, dogs allowed, merlot, North Fork, outside food allowed, pinot noir, Red Blend, rose, sauvignon blanc, snacks available, white merlot, wine tasting September 2, 2024

August 30, 2024

Though Bridge Lane is close to where we live, we hadn’t been there since 2021, so when a nice afternoon with no plans presented itself, we decided to head there. It’s been a frustrating summer for weather, sometimes too hot, other times too cold, and surprisingly rainy. I’ve turned off my automatic sprinkling system several times, figuring why pay for water (and deplete the aquifer), when Mother Nature is being so generous. But this Labor Day weekend afternoon was sunny and warm, without being too warm, so off we went.

The tasting room is on the corner of Sound Avenue and Cox Neck Road, but is screened from the traffic with vegetation and walls, making the outside rainbow-striped tables feel sheltered. We were the only ones there for a while, until a large family arrived, bearing children and picnic food. They apologized for invading “our” space!

On this quiet afternoon we entered the small tasting room and ordered a single tasting to be shared, and the pleasant young women behind the bar quickly filled six glasses (for $18, up only three dollars since three years ago) on a tray, and handed it to us to bring outside ourselves. One interesting feature here is that five of the six, excepting only the pinot noir, were filled from taps, not bottles. Which reminds me to mention that wine here can be ordered by the glass, can, bottle, box, or, believe it or not, keg, which gives me a whole new image of a kegger (rosé for a bachelorette party?). Last time we were here, our guests bought a couple of boxes to take home, and seemed happy with their purchase.

Unlike in the past, they now offer snacks for sale, a “sweet board” and a “salty board,” both featuring an array of snacks for $28, plus the ubiquitous bags of North Fork potato chips (great chips, by the way). They still allow outside food, and pups are welcome at the outside tables if kept leashed. By the way, right across Cox Neck is a little shopping center, featuring a deli and a gourmet take-out food shop, and perhaps some day, if it ever opens, a pizza place. (Check the hours for Wendy’s Deli and Ali Katz, since neither is open every day.)

*Note that there are a couple of non-alcoholic beverages for the designated driver, etc.*

Having just had lunch, we skipped the snacks and carried our tray of tastes outside, to sit at one of the rainbow-striped picnic tables, nicely shaded by an umbrella, and began our tasting. Music of the “Margaritaville” genre played softly in the background.

Each glass sat atop a brief description of the wine inside it. All the wines are $20 per bottle.

White Merlot

But, you may object, isn’t merlot a red wine grape? Yes, indeed it is, but if you don’t let the juice ferment with the skin, you can get white or rosé, depending on how much contact with the skin it has. This was actually our favorite of the day, a light, pleasant white, with an aroma of citrus and honeysuckle. I think it tastes like pink grapefruit; a bit acidic but also smooth, says my tasting buddy. Now if only we had a dozen oysters…

Sauvignon Blanc

Another simple wine, with a funky aroma of crushed ferns (trust me on this, I have a whole garden bed full of ferns), neither sweet nor very dry. I taste pear and lime, though the tasting notes suggest melon. I’ve recently been enjoying the ripe melons from the farm stand, and this does not taste like any of them.

Chardonnay

“I’ve had better,” notes my fellow taster, and I agree. This is a very light and simple chard, with maybe some Granny Smith apple taste. Almost no aroma.

Rosé

The little label under the glass says, “Notes of guava and peach blossom.” I’ve never eaten a peach blossom, but I have had guavas. Maybe an underripe guava? This is another very light and easy to drink wine.

Red Blend

There’s no information as to which wines are in this blend, but I’m pretty sure, given the aroma and taste of cherry, that there’s plenty of merlot in there. It is dry, with some tannins. I say I taste plums, but my buddy says, “Plums would be pushing it.”

Pinot Noir

This wine has a bit more to it, with tastes of blackberry and pomegranate, quite tannic and dry. They say strawberry, which I do not taste. For the price, this is not bad, and if I were to sit here with a slice of pizza (c’mon, pizzeria, open up), this is the wine I’d get.

*We did not explore, but there are some games in the background.*

Reasons to visit: low-key pleasant setting; dogs, children, and outside snacks allowed; very reasonable prices; the white merlot and the pinot noir; wines available by the keg(!), or other more conventional containers.

*All done! Just the right amount of wine for the two of us.*

Castello di Borghese: Cherry Blossom Time

Posted by nofowineaux in Tasting and tagged with cabernet sauvignon, Castello Borghese, chardonnay, dogs allowed, Fleurette, merlot, North Fork, outside food allowed, Patricia Feiler, Pinot Noir rose, Pleasant service, rose, Rose of Merlot, sauvignon blanc, wine tasting May 12, 2022

May 10, 2022

After a stroll through Greenport, admiring the blooming cherry trees and checking out which stores were open (many are closed on Tuesdays), we headed to the “Founding Vineyard,” Castello di Borghese.

*This painting in the Borghese gallery reminded us of the cherry-tree lined streets of Greenport.*

The last time we were there was February 9, 2020, just before the world shut down. When we shared this fact with our server, she told us about her experience of working in the tasting room during that time. Right around St. Patrick’s Day, she recalled, they had a huge influx of people from the city, who all commented on how happy they were to find something open, where they could gather and socialize. We were ready to close for the night, she remembered, but the people didn’t want to leave. By the next day, she began to worry, and helped scrub down the place. Then they closed, then reopened only for curbside pickup, when they actually had a very profitable time, as people were buying bottles and cases.

*Their solution to how to serve a flight.*

When it was time to offer tastings again, they spent some time figuring out how to manage serving flights, since previously most of their service was to people standing at the bar, chatting and getting their tastes one at a time. Finally, they decided to use little plastic baskets and clear plastic cups, with the variety written on paper inside the basket, under each cup. She noted that she felt bad about all the plastic they were now using, and I suggested she look into the corn-based plastic used by Old Field, which she promised to do.

*The room is large, but rather plain, though they have tried to enliven it with Christmas lights.*

We were sitting at a table in the large room they now use for tastings, which was lined with paintings by local artist Patricia Feiler, whose paintings of seascapes and blossoming cherry trees felt very familiar. Once again, we were the only customers—until, as we were leaving, another couple arrived—so we took our time to sip and discuss each wine. Our server asked us if we would like some pretzels, and when we said yes supplied us with two little bags of them. They do allow outside food. They also seem to allow dogs, since as we entered, we met Herbie, the owner’s classic black dog, and very friendly he was indeed.

They have two flight options: Classic, of two whites, a rosé (picked from three options), and two reds; or the Red Flight, which has many of their more expensive reserve wines, of five reds. We opted to share a Classic Flight, which she brought to us in a little plastic basket. She also thoughtfully gave us each a glass so we could easily share each taste by pouring it into the glass. Since it was a slow day, she treated us to all three rosés, which is why I can comment on them in this piece.

2020 Sauvignon Blanc $29

This is a fairly typical NoFo sauvignon blanc, with some citrus and almost-ripe pear taste, crips, dry, and summery. It has a pleasant floral aroma with a touch of ginger.

2020 Chardonnay $25

My tasting buddy thinks this and the sauvignon blanc are a little sweet, but I counter that what he sees as sweet is fruity, and he says, “I’ll accept that,” then adds, “It borders on sweet.” We agree that this steel-fermented chard is good, with tart peach flavor (they say nectarine and starfruit), but not outstanding.

Fleurette Rosé $18

The menu describes this blend of merlot and chardonnay as an “aperitif wine,” and “off-dry.” I can agree with both descriptions, and could see sipping this somewhat sweet wine with charcuterie, where the sweetness of the wine would be balanced by the saltiness of the meat. It is relatively complex for a rosé, with tastes of ripe cantaloupe and lemon zest. It smells sort of melon-y, too.

2020 Rosé of Merlot $22

“I could see sitting on the deck and sipping this after a day at the beach,” opines my husband, and I agree. This has the typical strawberry aroma and flavor of most local rosés, with again a touch of citrus. I say that people who like sweet wine would not call this sweet, he adds “enough.”

*I thought giving us each a glass so we could easily share was a nice idea.*

2021 Rosé Pinot Noir $50

I had to check the price list twice, since I can’t see any reason why this rosé costs so much. My buddy describes it as “zippy,” and I add that it is very dry and citrusy, with almost no aroma. Sophisticated? Maybe.

*You can just see the handwritten labels.*

2017 Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon $25

Nice. Is that damning with faint praise? It is a light, bright, and pleasant red, with aromas of cedar and black cherry and tastes of cherry, too. I think it would be better with food, like roast chicken. Or a hot dog, offers my pal.

2020 Reserve Cabernet Franc $44

Like all the wines we have sampled today, this is very drinkable but not outstanding. It has a delicious aroma of blackberry jam and spice, and has nice dark fruit tastes, with soft tannins.

*This is a fairly typical painting by Patricia Feiler, at least one of whose paintings was featured on the cover* of Dan’s Paper.

Reasons to Visit: calm, laid-back place with pleasant wines; art gallery featuring various local artist shows; you can bring a picnic and your dog (certainly outside); the chardonnay, the Fleurette (though it is a bit sweet), and the merlot/cabernet sauvignon blend.

Duck Walk: Time to Par-tee

Posted by nofowineaux in Tasting and tagged with Absenthe, Aphrodite, Beer, cabernet sauvignon, dogs allowed, Duck Walk, gewurztraminer, merlot, North Fork, outside food allowed, pinot grigio, Pinot Meunier, pinot noir, riesling, sauvignon blanc, windmill red, wine tasting March 28, 2022

March 26, 2022

This time the only complicating factor—we thought—was the well-behaved pooch our visitors brought with them. So we carefully planned to go to Jason’s Winery for a tasting, even though we knew Jamesport was holding a St. Patrick’s Day Parade that Saturday. Looking at a map of the parade route, we thought we could get to Jason’s. A couple of detours later, we got there—only to discover that it was the site of an after-parade party, with the grounds packed with cars. Plan B. We parked on a side road and called a couple of other tasting rooms. No dogs; no dogs; okay for a dog, but there’s one here now, said the lovely woman at McCall’s, and the room is small. We popped our heads in anyway, and were barked at. Never mind. Then I remembered that Duck Walk is owned by the same family that owns Jason’s and Pindar—the family of Dr. “Dan” Damianos—and is also “pet friendly.”

*Dr. “Dan” Damianos overlooks the tasting room.*

Though the rain had commenced to fall heavily, we decided to head to Duck Walk as our last possibility, as the afternoon was slipping away. In we went, to be greeted by a wall of sound. Though the live entertainment consisted of one man with a guitar, his amp and mic must have been set on the loudest settings, and the room is cavernous, so it was so noisy we could barely hear the woman at the cash register inside the door. The noise was abetted by perhaps five or six bachelorette parties, easily identifiable by the woman in the midst of each wearing a white veil, including one group whose theme was “disco,” and who were dressed in sparkling outfits. Should we stay? We decided to stay.

*The bride-to-be is easily identifiable.*

*By the time we left, the sun was out. That’s March–if you don’t like the weather, wait five minutes.*

The visiting pooch was a big hit with the bachelorettes, who had a great time petting him and receiving doggie kisses in exchange. We also noted that Duck Walk allows outside food, and one party was happily consuming picnic lunches, most likely provided by the limo company. Some bags of pretzels and popcorn are for sale, plus bottles of water.

We paid for two tastings, at $13 for four tastes, and received a little slip of paper to present at the bar. You can also pay directly at the bar, as we observed. However, considering how hard the two—later three—servers were working, I’m glad we didn’t give them that additional task. After seating ourselves at a picnic table as far as possible from the music—which would have been fine at a lower decibel level—we headed to the bar and perused a menu. There we were confronted with twenty-three possibilities on a complicated list which has the categories “white wine varietal,” “white blends and rosé,” “red blends,” “red wines varietal,” and “dessert & sparkling wines.” Whew. One guest prefers her wines on the sweet side, so she consulted with Matt, a superlative server, who kindly marked the sweeter wines—eight in all—on her menu. Also on offer, they make Absenthe, the “traditional distilled spirit with wormwood,” for $5 per taste. At the bar, I noted a couple of taps for Greenport Harbor beers. As I went to get one of my tastes, a couple walked up to the bar and the young man told his companion, “I want a beer,” so I hope they were happy with what they found.

*Not sure what the plastic cups are for. Our tastes, of about an ounce and a half, came in nice glasses.*

We opted to get up and get each taste, since there was no way to carry all four to our table and we didn’t want to stand at the bar. Matt did a great job of remembering me each time I came back, and helping me keep track of what we had had. I’m not sure how he did it, with the crowd around the bar.

I’ll list the wines in the order in which I tasted them, indicating which were in our guests’ tasting with an *.

2020 Reisling* $21.95

Reislings can vary in their level of sweetness, which is why I rarely buy one I haven’t tasted, and this one is definitely on the side of sweeter. Our guest compared the taste to “sucking on a lollipop.” I smell honeysuckle; she tastes peach and butterscotch.

2020 Sauvignon Blanc $21.95

This is a light, dry sauv, with lots of citrus. I say lemon/lime, and my tasting buddy says more on the lime-y side.

Windmill Red * $18.95

Yuk. This smells like dirt—and not the somewhat pleasant petrichor smell—and tastes worse. It has no depth and an unpleasant taste. None of us wants to drink it, so I return the glass to the bar, where Matt very kindly replaces it with a red he hopes we’ll like better, for no extra charge.

2020 Pinot Grigio $21.95

Finally, a wine we like. This has a pleasantly peachy flavor, with lemon at the end.

2019 Pinot Meunier * $26.95

Matt gave us this as a replacement, probably thinking of my friend’s penchant for sweet wines. “Shades of Manischevitz,” is the comment. Yes, I agree, this tastes very like grape juice.

2018 Merlot $21.95

We have a brief discussion of merlot, and how it is so popular on the North Fork. This is a fairly typical merlot, with some nice cherry flavor and good mouthfeel. Nothing special, but drinkable.

2020 Cabernet Sauvignon * $21.95

“Not as good as the merlot,” is our consensus, “but okay.” It is dry, with a hint of tannins, and some dark fruit flavor.

2019 Pinot Noir $38.95

I get a pleasant bramble aroma and taste, with very soft tannins. I can see how someone who is put off by big reds would find this pleasant. Just okay.

2020 Aphrodite * $21.95

Save this for last, counsels Matt. Right. It is, after all, a dessert wine, and comes in a slim, pretty 375 ml. bottle featuring a picture of the goddess of love. But we don’t love it. It’s too sweet even for my sweet-loving guest. It tastes like a sugary fruit salad, though I guess if you paired it with foie gras or walnuts it would be tolerable. The menu suggests pouring this gewürztraminer wine over vanilla ice cream. Yes, it is that sweet.

Reasons to visit: you need a place that welcomes dogs and/or outside food; you are with a group of bachelorettes; the pinot grigio and the merlot; you like sweet wine.

Pellegrini: A Brief Visit

Posted by nofowineaux in Tasting and tagged with gewurztraminer, North Fork, outside food allowed, Pellegrini Vineyards, Regalo, Richmond Creek Cabernet Franc, Steakhouse Red, Wine Club, wine tasting December 23, 2021

http://www.pellegrinivineyards.com

December 21, 2021

It was time, we were reminded in a phone call, to pick up our wine club selections for December, so we popped over to Pellegrini on a gray, chilly afternoon. Inside, Teri gave us a warm welcome, remembering that we are in the “red only” category. We decided to do a tasting, mainly sampling the wines in our box to see how we would use them, or whether we wanted more.

We also decided to try this iteration of the gewürztraminer for two reasons: it is a grape I sometimes like and sometimes do not, depending on how sweet its wine is, and they were offering a special, that if you bought two bottles at $24.99, you got a third one free. We did, and also bought a three-pack of the North Fork Project Merlot, the best wine bargain on the North Fork: three big bottles of a very nice merlot for $30.

There were two other small groups in the tasting room, quietly enjoying their tastings, so social distancing was not a problem, and we all wore masks when away from the tables.

Since Teri had some free time, I asked her about a name for one of the wines, a white blend called REJOYCE. I asked the right person! It used to be called White Medley, until a winery in California got in touch and informed them that they already had a patent on that name. Uh-oh. What to call it? So Pellegrini had a little contest to come up with a new name. Teri thought of REJOYCE as a play on words, since Mrs. Pellegrini’s first name is Joyce. She won three bottles of wine, and a bit of local fame.

2019 Gewürztraminer $24.99

Delicious! Sweet floral aroma, and tropical fruit tastes, with pineapple and mango predominant. It would be great with spicy food, and it is not too sweet at all.

Steakhouse Red $19.99

A non-vintage (so they can blend it for consistency) blend of 72% cabernet sauvignon and 28% merlot red, this is a tasty though somewhat light wine, with mouth-watering tannins. We discuss whether or not this merits the name “Steakhouse,” since it is not the kind of big intense red one often thinks of to go with steak, but I think the tannins might do well to cut the fattiness of meat. Maybe it would complement lamb chops.

2015 Richmond Creek Cabernet Franc $29.99

“Serviceable” is the term my tasting buddy applies to this pleasant, but not big red. “Itsy-bitsy” is his next comment. Nice tastes of fruit and spice. We’ll be happy to drink it, probably with pasta. (After we got home, I remembered that Osprey also labels wines Richmond Creek, so I’ll have to ask about that next time.)

2015 Regalo $49.99

“Regalo” means gift, a good term for this blend of 50% petit verdot, 30% cabernet sauvignon, and 5% cabernet franc, because it is lovely. We like this the most, and plan to put it in the cellar for special guests. It is relatively complex, with good tannins and tastes of fruit and tobacco.

Reasons to visit: what I’ve said in past reviews, plus this time all the wines we sampled, but especially the gewürztraminer and the Regalo.

Osprey’s Dominion: Good Place to Perch February 22, 2020

Posted by nofowineaux in Tasting and tagged with Carmenere, dogs allowed, Erich Glaubitz, gewurztraminer, merlot, North Fork, North Fork Doughnut Company, Osprey's Dominion, outside food allowed, petit verdot, reisling, Richmond Creek Red Blend, sauvignon blanc, Warm Spice Wine, wine tasting February 24, 2020

https://ospreysdominion.com/

On this warm, sunny Saturday, we drove east on Main Road, passing wineries with almost-full parking lots. We theorized that it was the combination of the end of the February vacation and the beautiful weather that had drawn the crowds, plus the promise of music in many of the tasting rooms. I had checked the Winterfest web page before we left home, but it was soon clear that many places had live music they had not bothered to register with the Winterfest page. So I suggest that if you are looking for music, you check individual winery web pages to see what they have scheduled—or just head out to the North Fork and look for the “Live Music” signs.

Many people were relaxing and enjoying the food they brought with them and the music. We would have preferred if Erich Glaubitz had lowered his volume, though we liked the music.

Fortunately, we liked the folky music the singer/guitarist, Erich Glaubitz, was playing at Osprey’s, because otherwise his overly loud amp would have been unbearable. The loud music did make it hard to converse, but we managed. We stood at the bar; however, the room was filled with people who had brought snacks with them, sharing bottles of wine as they sat at tables and enjoyed the sun-filled space. Osprey doesn’t offer much in the way of food, though a sign on the bar offered the “best guac dip EVAH!”—an assertion with which my husband begged to differ, since he makes an awesome guac. We noticed a number of canine companions, so this is a place you can bring your doggy friend.

We enjoyed an instant rapport with our server, who noted that she also kept a notebook for her tastings, and recommended that if we are ever in Windham we look for a terrific wine bar she found there. She helped us with our choices from the list of many wines, after some discussion of our likes. One tasting option is five wines for $12, which was plenty for us to share. We could also have chosen four of their “Library” wines—aged wines that they have just released—for $15. Then we had to figure out which five wines. There are five whites, one rosé, eight reds, and five Reserve Collection wines, a combination of whites and reds. Not to mention three dessert wines. Oh boy.

One thing I like about this winery is that they have a variety of wine prices.

She set us up with two tastes at a time, and urged us to ask anyone for help if she didn’t happen to be available.

As I drive around the North Fork, I love spotting the osprey nests, which are huge constructions on the top of poles.

2017 Sauvignon Blanc $19

I like to start with a sauvignon blanc, because they tend to be light and dry, and work well with whatever follows them. This was no exception. Our server noted that she tastes grapefruit, and we agree. My tasting buddy thinks it may be a touch sweet, while I find it tart, and then we decide what is reading as sweet to him is a bit of melon taste when you first sip it. Good with light fish dishes.

2014 Gewürztraminer $19

Certain North Fork wineries make what I consider exemplary versions of particular wines, and for me One Woman makes the best local gewürztraminer. This one, which also contains some riesling, is not as good as hers. The aroma is interestingly complex, including petrichor and gooseberries. We find it a bit too sweet, especially at first sip, though then it ends quite tart, almost acid. It’s not bad, but I find something a bit off-putting about it.

Richmond Creek Red Blend $14

Richmond Creek is their less expensive label, but we like these wines just fine, and often buy them at Vintage, the wine store in Mattituck. This one is a Bordeaux-style blend, of 42% cabernet sauvignon, 26% cabernet franc, 23% merlot, and 11% pinot noir. The aroma is lovely, combining cherry, mint or eucalyptus, cedar, and tobacco. It is very dry, with some tannins, and nice fruit. This is a good everyday red, a burger or pasta wine.

2014 Carmenere $30

I was interested to try this wine, since Osprey is the only winery on the North Fork to grow this grape. The 2008 Carmenere is on the list of Library wines, so clearly they feel this is a good wine for aging. I think the 2014 could use more time. The aroma is of dark berries, and it tastes like red plums. Lots of tannins—my tongue feels dry. This would match nicely with a rich beef stew, maybe a boeuf bourguignon.

2013 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon $39

Our server urges us to try this one, which she categorizes as their best red, having won many awards. She adds that it is blended with some merlot and petit verdot. It is quite good, full-bodied, with lots of dark fruit flavor and mouth-puckering tannins. It might benefit from further aging. I could see having this with lamb chops.

I didn’t expect to like this, but I did. Nice way to end our tasting.

Warm Spice Wine $16

Smiling, our server brings us this “extra” at the end of our tasting, urging us to try it. This is not a wine I would have chosen, but I find it surprisingly pleasant. It is seasoned with orange peel, anise, and cinnamon, with the taste of orange predominating. I thought it would be too sweet, but it is not at all. If I still skied, I could see sipping this by the fire after a day out on the slopes. Essentially, it is glogg, the Swedish mulled wine. Delicious.

This is only a small selection of the gift items they carry.

Reasons to visit: pleasant large room, with options to stand at the bar or sit at a table; you can bring your own food—and pup; nice selection of gifts, augmented on this day by a woman selling hand-made jewelry; the sauvignon blanc, the Richmond Creek Red Blend, the Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon; and, surprisingly, the Warm Spice Wine. We also like the Richmond Creek Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, which we often buy for everyday drinking at our local wine store.

On the way home, we stopped at the North Fork Doughnut Company and bought these doughnuts for dessert. On the right is Peach Cobbler, and on the left is Hound Dog, which, since it includes peanut butter and bacon, I assume is an homage to Elvis. Yum.

Laurel Lake: Not Their Fault, But… February 1, 2020

Posted by nofowineaux in Tasting and tagged with cabernet franc, Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve, Gewurtraminer, Laurel Lake Vineyards, nice outside area, North Fork, outside food allowed, Pinot Gris, Wind Song Red, wine tasting February 3, 2020

http://www.llwines.com/

We have had several prior visits to Laurel Lake which we enjoyed, including once in the early fall when we sat outside with some friends and experienced good table service and a leisurely afternoon, and another time in the winter when we had the tasting room mostly to ourselves and had a lovely chat with the winemaker. However, this time a very noisy crowd of women having a bachelorette party, succeeded by an even noisier group celebrating a birthday, made it hard for us to relax and enjoy our tasting. Part of the problem is that the room is all hard surfaces, promoting echoing sounds. Not anyone’s fault, but it did color our appreciation of the wines.

The room looks empty, but off to the left there’s a large and rather noisy group.

There’s plenty of room for groups—which must reserve ahead—at Laurel Lake, especially if you include the outside area, but the main tasting room is a middle size. We decided to sit at a table, and get up to ask for each of our four tastes. The menu offers four tastes for $16, from a menu of six whites and eight reds (minus the sauvignon blanc, which was used up). With some guidance from the servers—one of whom, Maureen, amazingly recognized us from our visit over a year ago—we chose our four.

2018 Pinot Gris $23.99

A good place to start, this is a relatively simple, direct white, the French version of pinot grigio. The wine doesn’t have much aroma, just perhaps a touch of flowers and minerals. It is dry, with tastes of unripe pear, salt, and minerals. It would be fine with a delicate fish dish.

2018 Gewürztraminer $23.99

The menu wisely includes a little pronunciation guide to this wine, which people might otherwise hesitate to order! And order it they should, as it is very likely a crowd pleaser. It has enough fruit to make it easy to drink, but not so much sweetness that we were put off by it. The aroma is of thyme honey and oak, and it tastes like peaches and apricots. It would be fine to sip on its own, but even better with kung pao chicken.

2015 Cabernet Franc $22.99

I was thinking of getting their red blend, called Wind Song Red, but the server warned me that it is “semi-sweet.” So, no. Instead I got the cab franc, which had a very promising aroma of fruit, leather, nutmeg, and plums. It is, she informed me, their most popular red. We found it pleasant, but one-dimensional, light-bodied, with slight tannins and nice acidity. I taste purple plums and maybe a touch of black olive. I could see how people would find it easy to drink. The tasting notes suggest pairing it with grilled tuna, and I agree.

2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve $29.99

The word “reserve” can mean anything a winery wants it to mean, but generally it denotes their higher end wines. All of Laurel Lake’s wines are moderately priced, with this the most expensive one on the menu. It is a dry, smooth, pleasant (there’s that word again—am I damning with faint praise?) red, with light tannins, tasting of dark fruits and berries. The menu describes it as having an “intense aroma,” but we thought not. Interestingly, the last time we were here we tried the 2012 iteration of this wine, and liked it very much. Just shows the importance of tasting each vintage.

Reasons to visit: pleasant tasting room, if it’s not filled with noisy groups; nice outside area for warm weather; at the moment they allow outside snacks; the gewürztraminer and the cabernet franc, small selection of amusing wine-related gifts.

I’m a sucker for magnets with cute slogans on them.

The Old Field: “Next Time, Bring a Picnic!” June 23, 2019

Posted by nofowineaux in Tasting and tagged with Barrel Fermented Chardonnay, Cacklin Rose, Charging Goose Sauvignon Blanc, Dashing Duck Red Meritage, Ice House Rescue Cabernet Franc, merlot, Mostly Steel Chardonnay, North Fork, outside food allowed, pinot noir, rooster tail, The Old Field Vineyards, wine tasting June 25, 2019

The expansive picnic grounds are very inviting.

https://theoldfield.com/

The parting words from our excellent server were, “Next time, bring a picnic!” This was advice which many others seem to have followed, as we noted several groups at picnic tables scattered about the grounds, enjoying bountiful repasts along with glasses of Old Field wine. Since many wineries now request that you not bring outside food, a great reason to visit Old Field is to picnic on the lovely grounds, enjoying the chickens and ducks that wander at will and the pretty scenery, punctuated by historic buildings.

Historic buildings? Yes, some of them date to the 1860s, as the current owners are the sixth generation of the family to farm this land. They are particularly proud of the restored Ice House, which may be reserved for small parties (I would say ten is about the limit.), and which overlooks a pretty pond. Speaking of parties, they were also gearing up to host a wedding—we could just see the tents down near the waterfront—of 250 guests.

We came with friends, and sat on the rustic deck for our tasting. One friend engaged our server in conversation about the farm, learning that it spans 23 acres, with about ten devoted to grapes. She also spoke fondly of the family of owners, who are very much hands-on, in both the field and the winery. At harvest time, she said, she helps hand-harvest the grapes.

Old Field offers eight wines to taste, in varied configurations. You can do Chilled, three whites and a rosé, for $12; Red, four reds for $13; Everyday, four of their lower priced wines, mixed whites and reds, for $10; or Topflight, four of their higher priced wines, again mixed whites and reds, for $13. We decided that the three of us (one opted not to drink) would share one each of the Chilled and Red tastings, which would allow us to sample all of their wares. Our server Irene, who had already become a pal, told us she would divide each taste between two glasses, but I have to say, looking at the size of the pour, that we got a very good deal.

The bar.

As we sat and sipped and chatted, admiring the pretty chickens—our friends have raised chickens, and so were quite appreciative—we decided that, regardless of the wine, this was a lovely setting in which to spend the nicest day so far of the summer (as one friend kept asserting, even though summer had just started).

One of the tables on the rustic deck.

1. 2016 Mostly Steel Chardonnay $22

The name “Mostly Steel” refers to the fact that they use 10% oaked chardonnay in this wine, which has a green apple scent, and tastes of mineral, salt, and citrus, with just a touch of what our friend characterized as “nut butter.”

2. 2016 Barrel Fermented Chardonnay $28

Because this is fermented in neutral—or used—oak barrels, this is not too buttery. I do get the wood taste, however, which you would recognize if you have ever chewed on a pencil. My husband likes it better than I do. We detect some nut smells, as well as lemon. The taste ends with a mild citrus flavor, like Meyer lemons.

3. 2017 Charging Goose Sauvignon Blanc $28

Old Field likes to acknowledge their feathered friends in the names of their wines, hence the name of this one, as well as the image of a goose on the label. This is an unfiltered wine, which means you can see tiny bits of grape floating in the bottle, and also means secondary fermentation may take place in the bottle. I like this the best of the whites. It has a bit of a tingle on the tongue, and tropical fruit tastes, like kiwi and guava and pineapple. Our friend thinks it smells a bit like cider, and I agree, adding that the aroma is a bit funky. It would go well with local bluefish, which I am cooking for dinner.

4. 2016 Cacklin’ Rosé $22

Irene tells us that this is a dry rosé, in the French style, and spends eight hours on the skins of the merlot grapes from which it is made. It doesn’t have much aroma, and the taste is dry, slightly acidic, though sweet at the end. Out friend asserts it has a banana taste. I don’t get that, and offer “tangerine.” Well, they say there are no wrong answers when it comes to the question of what you taste in wine.

5. 2016 Dashing Duck Red Meritage $16

This is their Bordeaux blend, a mixture of merlot, cabernet franc, petit verdot, malbec, and pinot noir. The aroma is sweet, reminding us, we all agree, of a fruit punch. Our friend asserts it recalls the taste of the water her mother would soak raisins in overnight, to plump them. I don’t know about that, but it is certainly a light red, with no body. One of us notes that it is a good red for people who don’t actually like red wine.

6. 2014 Rooster Tail $16

90% merlot and 10% cabernet franc, this has the expected cherry taste and aroma of a merlot, with a slightly funky aroma. We agree to characterize it as a “spaghetti wine.”

An historic photo of the Old Field Ice House is featured on the label of the wine.

7. 2014 Ice House Rescue Cabernet Franc $45

Why the name? They used the proceeds from the sale of this wine to finance the restoration of the ice house. Back before there was refrigeration, people would harvest blocks of ice in the winter and store it, insulated with hay, in ice houses. This is another fairly simple red, slightly fruity, with a touch of nutmeg, plus aromas of dark fruits. It would be okay with lamb chops.

8. 2013 Merlot $28

I detect a scent that it takes me some time to identify, and which I decide is camphor, mixed with cherry. There’s also a touch of something chemical at the end of the taste, though primarily it tastes of black cherry.

9. 2014 Pinot Noir

Extra! Irene notes that, when she has an open bottle of this, she likes to share it, though usually it is only for wine club members. Good move. We like this the best of the reds. It is fairly complex, with some layers of flavor, and pleasant vegetal aromas of asparagus and cut grass.

Reasons to visit: Lovely picnic grounds, where you can bring your own food and purchase wines to drink; if I were bringing a seafood picnic, I’d get the sauvignon blanc to drink; if I were eating cheeses and charcuterie, I might still get that, or maybe the Rooster Tail; generous pour; chickens and ducks to watch running around.

Old Field may be the most photogenic winery on the North Fork.

Pellegrini Vineyards: In the Club June 4, 2019

Posted by nofowineaux in Tasting and tagged with 8 Hands, cabernet franc, cabernet sauvignon, gewurztraminer, merlot, North Fork, outside food allowed, Pellegrini Vineyards, petit verdot, Rejoyce, rose, sauvignon blanc, Steakhouse Red, steel chardonnay, Vintner's Pride Encore, wine tasting June 6, 2019

https://www.pellegrinivineyards.com/

The day was pretty, but too chilly to sit outside.

We had thought we might sit outside, but though it was sunny it was so chilly that we asked the server if we could close the door to the tasting room. Since at that moment we were the only people there, he said sure. Later, a few other people arrived, including a couple who brought their lunches, sat in the courtyard with glasses of wine, and were clearly, based on some remarks to the server, planning to have their wedding there. We’ve seen how they set up for events, tenting the courtyard, which makes it into a large room.

This is just one side of the courtyard.

The tasting room itself is rather small, with just a few tables and a bar along one side, augmented in warm weather by outdoor tables. Since you take your entire tasting with you on a tray, Pellegrini is a nice place to bring snacks and sit with friends. A take-to-the-table tasting includes three two-ounce pours of your choice, plus one ounce of the rosé, for $16. You can also stand at the bar and get three one-ounce tastes for $9, a good option if you’re going to more than one winery that day.

As soon as we entered, we noticed the new furniture, with more comfortable chairs.

As wine club members, we could have done any tasting we wanted, but we opted to follow the standard format and do two trayfuls, one of whites and one of reds. Since our membership is “reds only,” we wanted to be sure to try the wines in our shipment. Our tasting confirmed our original judgment, that Pellegrini does a better job with reds than whites.

Each tasting comes with a little bag of oyster crackers.

1. 2017 Rosé $19.99
We were particularly interested to try the rosé, since it was on sale, and we like to have plenty of rosé on hand for the summer. This is a dry, steel-fermented blend of 57% merlot, 27% cabernet franc, and 16% cabernet sauvignon. With such a variety of grapes, you might expect a fruitier wine, but this is a rather lean rosé, more like a white, with tastes of unripe strawberry and minerals. My tasting buddy labeled it a “confused wine,” not sure if it wanted to be a white or a rosé. However, we liked it enough to buy the three-bottle package for $33. That night, we enjoyed a glass with a plate of pan-fried locally-caught blowfish tails (not the poisonous kind!) and a spinach salad made with local spinach and 8 Hands Farm bacon. As they say, what grows together goes together!

A locally-caught delicacy–fried blowfish tails. Yum.

2. 2014 Gewürztraminer $24.99
Mmmm. This smelled lovely, flowery, fruity, perfumey. The taste…not so much. Gewürztraminers can be too sweet, and this one was. I got tastes of honey and over-ripe pear, with just a touch of minerality. I prefer One Woman’s interpretation of this grape. This wine is a good illustration of why vintage matters. Over the years, there have been some Pellegrini gewürztraminers we liked, and others we found too sweet.
3. 2017 Steel Chardonnay $19.99
I opted for the steel chardonnay over their couple of versions of oaked, since I often prefer steel to oak. This is a fairly standard North Fork chard, with lots of lemon aroma and taste. Just okay.

4. 2017 REJOYCE $24.99
I still haven’t gotten around to asking what this name of this blend of 63% chardonnay and 37% sauvignon blanc means. However, we did not rejoice at the taste, which is somewhat pineappley, but very light, with just a touch of sweetness. Almost not there at all. Meh.

5. 2014 Cabernet Franc $29.99
Now we moved on to the reds in our club shipment. Fortunately, we liked this one, a somewhat light, dry red with aromas of plums and berries and a taste of stewed prunes and cherries. Though it is simply called cabernet franc, it also has 15% cabernet sauvignon and 5% merlot. It would go well with lamb, since the dryness would cut through the fattiness of a chop.

Our wine-club selections after we brought them home and before we put them in the wine cellar.

6. Steakhouse Red $19.99
Though they label this “Steakhouse,” I think it should be called “pasta,” since it is not quite big enough a red to stand up to a steak. This iteration is a blend of 72% cabernet sauvignon and 28% merlot, but as a non-vintage wine the blend could vary from year to year. For the price, it is a good choice. I asserted that the aroma had a touch of funk, but my husband asserted I was “hallucinating the funk.” Nice generic red.
7. 2013 Vintner’s Pride Encore $49.95
This is their Bordeaux blend—40% merlot, 40% cabernet sauvignon, 17% petit verdot, and 3% cabernet franc—and a very good blend it is. This is a wine that would stand up to steak, or maybe boeuf bourguignon. Delicious, is what I wrote. Dry, with plenty of dark fruit tastes, and some tannins. I observed that it had nice legs, and my pal made a silly joke about its pants. Well, this was our seventh taste, though we had left all three whites unfinished.

See the legs?

Reasons to visit: good all-around winery, especially for reds; you can take your tray of tastes to a table and enjoy a visit with friends plus your own lunch or snacks; alternatively, you can stand at the bar and have smaller samples, a good option if you’re going to more than one winery; the rosé, the Cabernet Franc, the Vintner’s Pride Encore.

I love this time of year, watching the vineyards green up and the farm stands start to open.

NoFo Wineaux

Wine notes from Long Island's North Fork

Tag Archives: outside food allowed