Raphael: Pretend You’re in Italy

Posted by nofowineaux in Tasting and tagged with cabernet franc, Estate Merlot, Malbec, merlot, no dogs allowed, North Fork, pinot grigio, Raphael, riesling, rose, Rose of Pinot NOir, sauvignon blanc, snacks available, wine tasting July 17, 2022

July 15, 2022

Looking like a villa in Tuscany, the Raphael tasting room sits on the Main Road in Peconic. A covered veranda in the back looks out onto the grape vines, and the warm weather this week made it really feel like Italy. We drove in past the miniature villa gateposts, around the Italianate fountain, and parked in the lot. Through heavy wooden doors that would not be out of place on a palazzo we went, entering a huge space where a disembodied voice said, “Welcome!”

The voice soon materialized into a young woman, who cheerily asked us if we wanted to sit inside or outside. Noting that there was plenty of room to be socially distant from other tasters, we opted to sit inside at a table facing outside, where she left us with a couple of menus.

As we perused the menus, she returned with two bottles of Poland Spring water. I no longer buy bottled water, but these would be convenient for the future. It was lunch time, and on a previous visit we’d had very good flatbread pizzas. However, they no longer have them (or at least, not during the week), and the menu features a selection of cheeses, crackers, hummus, etc., all a la carte (so if you want crackers with your cheese, you need to order them). We also noticed that every tasting comes with a “snack.” “What is that?” we asked. “Sort of a grown-ups Lunchables,” she replied. Ah. We decided to add a serving of hummus ($8) and tortilla chips ($10), most of which we ended up taking home, as the chips were a huge bag and the humus a 10-ounce container (very good, by the way). The snack was indeed quite mini, consisting of about four crackers and as many slices of bland cheese, plus some slices of spicy sausage. However, it did remind us of how in Italy one is often served some sort of snack with a glass of wine, like a dish of olives, or like the time in Bologna when there were three of us sharing a bottle of wine, and the waiter brought a plate of cheeses and sausages (no charge).

Meanwhile, we were debating over which flight to get, as they have six different options. We could see by looking at other tables that the serving per taste is quite generous, but we wanted to try a panoply of wines, so we decided to just plan not to finish each glass, and get a flight of four whites for $25 and four reds for $25. Both flights were brought to our table on labeled strips of paper. Our waitress launched into her little scripted speech about each wine, enlivened by her personal preferences, with which we agreed. For example, we had a little chat about riesling, which she noted she sometimes dislikes as too sweet, but felt the current iteration of Raphael’s riesling is one she likes. I was a bit concerned when she described a couple of the reds as “summer reds,” and when I tasted them I saw why.

As we sat and sipped and munched and looked out at the vines, my tasting buddy said that Raphael gets an A+ for service and setting. As to the wines…

2021 Rosé of Pinot Noir $30

Our server explained that this is a “true” rosé, made from red wine grapes treated like white grapes. It is a pretty color, and had a pleasantly fruity aroma. We liked the taste, too, with notes of citrus and black cherry, not too sweet, not too dry. A good summer sipper.

In an effort to counteract the blandness of the cheese and the spiciness of the sausage, I combined them.

2021 Sauvignon Blanc $30

All their whites are fermented in steel, which sometimes leaves a slightly metallic aroma, which this has. It is a touch petillant, crisp and light. A little fruity. Nice.

2021 Pinot Grigio $30

In France, they call this grape pinot gris. We like this wine the best so far, with a taste of baked pears. Not much aroma. Good for sipping or with food, like roast chicken, or even pork chops.

2021 Riesling $30

Many rieslings have a smell described as “cat pee,” which, having had a cat in the past, I can say this one has, though faintly. There is some sweetness here, but there is also a bit of a funkiness which takes the edge off the sweetness. Pleasant. Though my husband finds it too sweet for him, I think it would be fine with something spicy, like Thai food.

2019 Cabernet Franc $36

This is one of the wines she described as “summery,” and I think I know why. It is soft and fresh and easy to drink, with slight tannins, a berry aroma, and tastes of ripe dark fruits.

2019 Pinot Noir $50

“Not a very exciting red,” opines my drinking pal, and I agree. It’s not bad, just kind of mellow and soft. When I tell him the price, he says, “We’re not getting it!” He also thinks that people may not, in general, want strong reds, which would account for the popularity of a wine like this.

*If you plan to go, check their website, and the winery is sometimes closed for private parties.*

2019 Estate Merlot $30

As our waitress noted, we are in the middle of merlot country here, as that grape is “happy” on the North Fork. This is a fairly typical North Fork merlot, with nice cherry flavor, but ultimately meh.

2020 Estate Malbec $36

This is my favorite of the reds, with a beautiful dark color, yummy fruit aroma, and dark fruit tastes—though again, no tannins. “It’s not oomphy,” says my husband, and I agree.

Reasons to visit: beautiful building and veranda, with vineyard views; attentive service; generous pour for the flights; the whites more than the reds, though all the wines were drinkable; the Rosé of Pinot Noir, the Pinot Grigio, the Malbec; nice place to come with a couple of friends.

*There’s a fairly extensive gift shop, which may be another reason to visit.*

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.

Suhru Wines: Shelter from the Storm

Posted by nofowineaux in Tasting and tagged with About Food, All for One, Bordeaux blend, Braun's, Bridge Lane, cabernet franc, Cutchogue, Ember, Lieb Cellars, Malbec, menu of snacks, North Fork, NV Brut, petit verdot, pinot grigio, Russell Hearn, Shiraz, Southold, SuHru, teroldego, wine tasting February 21, 2022

February 19, 2022

*There’s a convenient parking lot out back.*

It was the type of day when, as they say, if you don’t like the weather, wait five minutes. In the morning, with some guests, we explored the Southold Winter Festival, and it was sunny though cold and windy. We admired the ice sculptures being chiseled out of blocks of ice, stopped in to a couple of our favorite shops, and headed home to warm up and have a snack. Then we ventured out again in the afternoon, as the sunny day turned cloudy, and snowflakes flew past us, to have a tasting at Suhru in Cutchogue. By the time we emerged, the storm was over and it was sunny again. (And then later another snow squall moved through!)

*There wasn’t much to the first Southold Winter Festival, but the ice sculptor was cool.*

We were all glad we had ventured out, because we thoroughly enjoyed our tasting experience at Suhru’s small but well laid out tasting room, which we had to ourselves most of the afternoon. The young man in charge of the room was attentive, engaging, and well-informed about the wines, bringing us water and making sure we had all that we needed.

Suhru is a winery without a vineyard, as the winemaker, Russell Hearn (who is also the winemaker for Leib and Bridge Lane), buys his grapes each year based on whose crop he favors. For example, he makes wine from teroldego grapes, which were planted by Southold Farm + Cellar, who sadly had to move to Texas. At the moment, Russell offers ten wines for tasting, with four different flight options: February Favorites, four wines for $17; Whites and Rosé, four for $14; Red Wines, four for $21, and Choose Your Own, any four for $19. You can also ask for individual tastes, glasses, or a bottle. Our friends went with the red flight, while my husband and I decided to choose our own adventure.

I hadn’t been here since 2018, so I didn’t know they now have a nice lttle menu of snacks, mostly cheese and charcuterie, but also a few other items. Our friends decided to have the Marcona almonds, which turned out to be a miniscule serving for $2, so we added a bag of North Fork potato chips.

Our selections arrived in a cute round tray, with each wine resting on its labeled spot, and we proceeded to taste clockwise. I’ll detail my tasting first, then the two wines they had that differed from mine.

NV Brut $29

I’ve decided to try sparkling wines everywhere they are offered—last week I tasted two at Pindar—and so far, so good. In fact, very good. We like this dry, tasty sparkler, made in the méthode champenoise, so much that our friends add a taste to their flight after we all finish. It has that lovely yeasty aroma of good bubbly, with tiny bubbles, and tastes of pear and maybe a touch of citrus. Mouth-watering. It’s a blend of chardonnay and pinot noir, according to our helpful server.

2020 Pinot Grigio $19

Although we are told that this is their “signature wine,” I am not enamored of it. On the other hand, my tasting buddy really likes it. As they say, there are no wrong answers in wine (well, there are, but, as they say in French, “Chacun à son gout.”) I get lemon and green apple tastes, but also something like cardboard. It is light and dry.

2020 Teroldego $30

Teroldego is a Northern Italian grape, not often grown on Long Island, so I ask our server where the grapes came from, which is how I learn the vines were planted by the owners of Southold Farm + Cellar. I was sorry to see that winery close, because they made some lovely wines, were very nice people, and had the most creative wine names I ever saw, but they had some sort of difficulties with local regulations and eventually closed up shop and moved to Texas, where they now have a winery. In any event, I’m glad the grapes are being used, because this is a delicious wine. It has a beautiful aroma of roses, and tastes of red raspberry and other berries. It is a somewhat light red which would go well with charcuterie, and could even be slightly chilled to accompany seared tuna. Last week I bought some fresh tuna steaks at Braun’s and my friend and I seared them with a pan sauce of capers, lemon, and garlic, and this would have gone well with that.

2019 Shiraz $25

When our daughter got married, we had a little wine tasting to decide which wines to serve. We already had the white picked out—Channing Daughter’s Scuttlehole Chardonnay—but we needed a red to go with lamb. This shiraz would definitely have been a contender. It is a bit peppery—apparently some people compare the taste to Dr. Pepper! –which would cut the fat of the lamb nicely. Good red fruit tastes plus something deeper.

2019 Cabernet Franc $30

“This tastes lighter than I expected,” opines our friend, who nonetheless finds the wine, which is in her tasting, not mine, quite pleasant. It has some teroldego mixed in, we are told. Good berry tastes. Our friends got up to peruse the display of bottles, and were charmed to realize that they have actually tasted wine from this winery, as one with the T’Jara label is carried in their local wine shop in Queens. In fact, according to a map on the wall, Suhru ships to many of the states.

2019 Ember $25

Our friends like this so much, that I add a taste of it after I finish my flight. This is Suhru’s Bordeaux blend, a merlot-heavy mixture including cabernet franc, cabernet sauvignon, petit verdot, and malbec. It is so drinkable that I resent sharing it with my tasting buddy. Kidding. Or maybe not. It is complex and balanced, with aromas of fruits, including cherry, and lots of interesting fruit tastes. The name? They had a little competition in the family, and apparently one cousin felt ember was a good name, as it evoked the long-lasting warmth of a fire. I can see that. I buy two bottles to take home.

Reasons to visit: intimate tasting room where you can sometimes interact with the owners; all the wines are good, but especially the Brut, the Teroldego, the Shiraz, and the Ember; they have a nice little menu of snacks, but don’t bother with the Marcona almonds, unless you think $2 for about ten nuts is a good price; there is a backyard patio seating area for warm weather; if you’re planning a picnic, note that they offer several of their wines in cans.

*This is a fascinating shop in the Feather Hill shopping center in Southold.*

*Another favorite shop is About Food, where you never know what you will find.*

Pugliese Vineyards: Memories of Italy

Posted by nofowineaux in Tasting and tagged with Blanc de Blanc, blanc de noir, cabernet franc, dogs allowed outside, Merlot Reserve, North Fork, pinot grigio, Pugliese Vineyards, Sangiovese, snacks available, Sunset Meritage, Veronica's Rose, wine tasting December 17, 2021

December 15, 2021

http://www.pugliesevineyards.com

As we drove up to Pugliese Vineyards, we admired the vine-wrapped pergola, and reminisced about a trip to the Puglia region of Italy. While there, we stayed in a Masseria, actually a lovely resort located on a farm, and ate delicious fresh food and drank some good wines. Unfortunately, only two of the wines we tried here lived up to our memories.

The tasting room was empty on this warm December Wednesday, except for two members of the Pugliese family who were busy preparing gift baskets with their signature hand-painted wine glasses and bottles of wine. We were immediately ushered into another space, where many little metal tables that seem to have escaped from someone’s garden were set up. “We’re offering table service now,” we were informed, as we were handed several menus. One was for the wines currently on offer for tastings, another gave the prices of the bottles with some information on each wine, and the third was for foods on offer. Since we had just had lunch, we were not interested in cheese and crackers, so we just perused the wine list.

A tasting consists of any four wines from their list for $20, but since there were 23 wines on the list, we decided to order two tastings, so we could sample more of their offerings. The tastes came in little plastic cups, and I’m not sure if it was because of the vessel, or because the wines were all too cold, or if they are just like that, but most of the wines had little or no aroma. The pour was generous enough that we only emptied two of the glasses. Our server wrote the name of each wine on the cups with black marker, which was fortunate, as you will see.

Pugliese is one of the vineyards that does a brisk business with limos in the summer, when their pretty grounds are generally teeming with crowds. They also offer a roster of live music performances. On the back of the price list we noted some deals, especially an offer of any six wines (excepting ports and sparklers) for $69. Good deal, about which more later.

*Our tastes came in these little plastic cups. It may be just me, but I think wine tastes better in glass.*

2012 Blanc de Noir $25.99

This sparkling wine provided an auspicious start to our tasting. Made from pinot noir grapes, it has a slight pink tinge, and a tasty, toasty, taste of pears. Very nice.

2015 Blanc de Blanc $25.99

Tooth-achingly cold, this wine seems to have hardly any taste, though when we circle back to it, we get green apple. It is crisp and refreshing, but a more or less generic sparkling wine.

2016 Pinot Grigio $17.99

I generally like pinot grigios, or their French cousin, pinot gris, but not this one. It has an unpleasant metallic tinge to it. My drinking buddy says it tastes like it came straight from the tap—the water tap.

2017 Veronica’s Rosé $17.99

Like many rosés, this has a light pink color, and a slight taste of strawberry. Unfortunately, it also has a slightly unpleasant metallic edge.

2014 Sangiovese $16.99

We move on to the reds, and find this one drinkable, a decent pizza wine, though it is rather light. My husband opines, paraphrasing Gertrude Stein, that there is “no there there.”

2015 Merlot Reserve $16.99

Perhaps they have made use of a “flavor extractor,” we joke, since this is an extremely light merlot, lacking most of the deep cherry flavor one usually gets with North Fork merlots. As my tasting pal notes, you can’t tell the players without a score card—or in other words, there’s not enough taste to tell what they are.

2019 Cabernet Franc $16.99

Whew. This one is more to our liking, a pleasantly dry red with some hints of spice and berry. It would be fine with food, though we are not much interested in sipping it on its own.

2015 Sunset Meritage $34.99

Finally! Another wine we like. A blend of merlot, cabernet sauvignon, and cabernet franc, it is a very drinkable red, smooth, with pleasant berry flavors. But is it worth $35 a bottle (I hate that whole 99 cents thing.)? Our server makes an appearance, and I ask her if this is included in the 6/$69 offer. Yes, it is. Okay then. We will take six of these! We save about $140. And have a perfectly acceptable wine for everyday drinking. When we order it, our server makes some comment about the holidays coming, and I laugh and say, we drink wine every day!

Hand painted glasses and a bottle of wine, all ready to give as gifts.

Reasons to visit: pretty outdoor area for the warm weather, though you are also liable to encounter a crowd; the Blanc de Noir and the Sunset Meritage; some good deals on buying six or twelve bottles; they allow dogs outside; you can buy as a gift a wrapped set of two hand-painted glasses and a bottle of wine; they also sell very attractive large photographs of the North Fork.

Large artistic photographs of the North Fork are available for purchase.

Suhru: A Warm Welcome November 16, 2019

Posted by nofowineaux in Tasting and tagged with Coffee Pot Cellars, Dry Riesling, Jamesport Manor, methode champenoise, North Fork, NVBrut, pinot grigio, Russell Hearn, sauvignon blanc, Shiraz, snacks from Touch of Venice, SuHru, Suhru Ember, Susan Hearn, T'Jara Cabernet Franc, T'Jara Merlot, Touch of Venice November 18, 2019

https://www.suhruwines.com/

Another tasting room housed in a former house, Suhru similarly has a warm family vibe.

Like our last tasting, at Coffee Pot Cellars, Suhru is located in what was formerly a house and has a similarly welcome, family vibe. Susan Hearn is behind the bar, and is quick to explain, as she hospitably offers glasses of water, that the name of the winery is composed of her name, her husband Russell’s name, and the initial of their last name.

Ask Susan and she will explain exactly how they came to add the H to the name.

The last time we were there happened to coincide with their grand opening, and featured a spread of cheese and charcuterie from Touch of Venice, just across the street. No such luck today, but Susan offered that we could order snacks from Touch of Venice and they would be delivered within fifteen minutes. Though the options looked good, we were not hungry, but I do wonder why more of the wineries don’t have similar arrangements, especially the ones that are close to restaurants. A number of them do feature snacks catered by local restaurants, which they keep on the premises.

The “Shared Plates” come from Touch of Venice, and will be delivered in about 15 minutes.

On this sunny but cold November Saturday, there was a steady trickle of guests in the tasting room, including a large group when we arrived, and then a few couples, all of whom seemed very happy to have found Suhru. The room is small but nicely set up, with a bar at which one can stand, comfy couch seating areas, and tables featuring bottles of water and glasses. We decided we’d like to sit, so Susan brought our flights to the table for us, and gave us a thorough run-down of each wine.

There are three flight choices: Fall Favorites, of four wines for $14; White Wine of four whites for $12; and Red Wine, of four reds for $15. One could also choose from the entire panoply of offerings of Suhru and T’Jara wines (The T’Jara label is owned with another couple and honors Russell’s Australian roots.) and put together a tasting, or get a glass or a bottle. We also noticed that if one bought a bottle of the wine of the month—the Shiraz—one of the tastings would be free.

Russell is one of the founders of Premium Wine Group, a facility at the corner of Cox Neck Lane and Sound Avenue, where a number of the smaller wineries make their wines, taking advantage of state-of-the-art facilities, which they would otherwise not be able to afford. For example, Susan pointed out, they use screw caps on all their wines, and without the expensive machine at Premium they would have to use corks.

1. Non-vintage Brut $29
They did not have their sparkling wine ready for the opening last year, as it takes two years to make, so we were happy to have a chance to taste it today. Made from 85% chardonnay and 15% pinot noir, using the méthode champenoise, this is a creditable sparkler, with tiny bubbles and a delicious taste of fruit and mineral. Susan said it smells like roasted pears and toasted brioche, and we agreed—though we probably would have just said toast! Nicely dry and crisp.
2. 2018 Pinot Grigio $18
The aroma is a bit funky and foresty, but pleasant. The wine itself is quite delicate, with what the menu describes as tastes of Granny Smith apple, bosc pear, and lemon peel. Susan laughs as she says this, and admits that most people are happy to just say apple and pear. I think one needs to drink this with food, but something light, like a flounder fillet, rather than something heavy, which would overwhelm the wine.

Susan in motion behind the bar.

3. 2018 Sauvignon Blanc $19
My tasting buddy and I agree we like this better than many North Fork sauvignon blancs, the second most popular local grape, after chardonnay. The menu prose is a bit over-the-top, describing “aromas of passionfruit jumping out of the glass.” We chuckle at the image of aromas jumping, but quite enjoy the wine, which has the lemon one expects but more fruit than many. It would certainly be good with oysters.
4. 2018 Dry Riesling $18
I’m somewhat wary of this, since I’ve had so-called “dry” rieslings that were anything but. However, this is a really good one, with deep enough flavor to stand up to big tastes, like a lobster fra diavolo, and tastes of stone fruit and citrus. It could also make a nice sipper on its own, though my husband notes if you opened it to have with one meal it might not go with the next day’s dinner. I guess you’d just have to finish the bottle. Susan suggests that it is a good Thanksgiving wine, and I tell her that this year we’ll probably be drinking sake with our turkey, since our theme is Japanese food. But we decide to get a bottle anyway. By the way, they source all their other grapes on the North Fork, but the riesling is from the Finger Lakes.

5. 2014 Shiraz $23
Because Russell is Australian, they call this wine shiraz, rather than syrah, which is the same grape. He is particularly happy to make this wine, because the terroir of the North Fork reminds him of Western Australia, with its cool maritime setting. They aim to make all their wines food-friendly, and we can see that. This is a medium-bodied red, not a big fruity syrah-style wine. It smells to me like purple plums, and has some fruit tastes. It is the kind of red, like a Beaujolais, that could go with roast chicken or pizza. She says it would also be good for Thanksgiving. We decide to get a bottle, and not just because one of our tastings will be free.
6. 2017 T’Jara Cabernet Franc $25
This and the next two reds are aged in Hungarian oak, while the Shiraz is aged in American oak. I suppose some day, with enough education, I could tell the difference…Anyway, cab franc has become the second most popular grape on the North Fork, after merlot, and though at first it was primarily used in blends, it is now often featured on its own. The aroma is lovely, with notes of nutmeg and minerals as well as dark fruits. It tastes good, too, like purple plums. Again, not a big red, but one with enough acidity that it could go with something like the yummy short ribs and mashed potatoes I had at Jamesport Manor during Restaurant Week.

One side of the tasting room.

7. 2015 T’Jara Merlot $25
Cherry taste and aroma, as typical of merlots around here, but not very fruity. Minerality. Not bad, just not exciting.
8. 2013 Suhru Ember $20
Why Ember, I ask? Susan explains that they just called this “red,” and their wine club members objected that it was too good a wine to have such a meh name, so they had a contest to name it, and ember won. She feels like it captures the warmth of sitting around a fire and sipping this Bordeaux blend. It is 49% merlot, 25% cabernet sauvignon, 18% cabernet franc, and 4% each petit verdot and malbec, though they may vary the proportions from year to year, depending on the qualities of each grape’s juice. Again, we get a slightly funky, forest floor aroma, plus tobacco. She says it has a long finish, but we don’t find that. I taste blackberries. We think this either needs more or less time to age—not sure which!

This little patio abuts the rather large parking lot, and there is a back entrance to the winery off to the side.

Reasons to visit: pleasant intimate setting, where you can talk to the owner and learn about the winemaking; you can take your tastes to a table, all at once on a carefully labeled tray in nice round-bottomed glasses; snacks from Touch of Venice, a restaurant whose food we like; a cute little outdoor patio area for warm weather; we liked almost all the wines, but especially the shiraz, the sauvignon blanc, and the dry riesling.

Del Vino Vineyards: First Stop? October 25, 2019

Posted by nofowineaux in Tasting and tagged with Alto, artichoke formaggio, Bobina, cabernet, chardonnay, cheese and charcuterie board, Del Vino Vineyards, Grande, no outside food, North Fork, Northport, pinot grigio, sauvignon blanc, Super Tuscan, Suprema, Ultimo, Ventola, wine tasting October 27, 2019

https://www.delvinovineyards.com/

My friend’s friend described Del Vino as “pretentious.”

Del Vino, in Northport, bills itself as the “first vineyard on the North Fork wine trail.” That statement involves a rather loose interpretation of North Fork, since it is almost an hour away from any next stop. However, it turned out to be a pleasant place for my friend and me to share some snacks and a tasting, especially since it was such a mild afternoon that we were able to sit out on the patio.

The vineyard and tasting room are located on a hilly street in a very nice residential area, so I can see why the local residents had reservations about a business selling alcohol in their neighborhood. I have been curious about the place since I first read about their struggles to get the necessary permits. I wonder whether the surroundings influenced the style of the tasting room, which my friend told me a friend of hers had labeled “pretentious.” Well, it is somewhat glitzier than many of the more rustic rooms on the North Fork, but the service was perfectly friendly and efficient.

The tasting room is dominated by this large bar.

When we entered, we saw a rather shiny tiled bar surrounded by bar stools and tables. At that moment, around 12:30, it was mostly empty, but by the time we left, around 2 (We had a lot to talk about!), it was rather full, as was the patio. A hostess immediately greeted us and offered us the option of sitting outside, which we took.

The patio overlooks their vineyard, where they grow the white wine grapes, and is adjacent to the building where they make all their wines. The red wine grapes are imported from California.

As we perused the menu, we were a little baffled to see there was no price listed for a tasting, but our waitress assured us that we could do a tasting, and that a white tasting consisted of the first three whites on the menu, and a red the first three reds. Figuring backwards from my credit card receipt (subtracting what the snacks cost), each tasting was about $14. Though we liked the wines, we agreed they were all a bit pricey, and so didn’t buy any of them.

For lunch, we decided to share a cheese and charcuterie platter, which cost $28 for a bountiful selection of hard cheeses and slices of sausages and prosciutto, plus nice little extras like almonds, olives, fig jam, and pickled peppers; and then added Artichoke Formaggio, which was a delicious warm dish of a whole cooked artichoke under a blanket of melted cheese.

Would I take the time to travel there if I were doing a North Fork tasting trip? Nope, but I would go there if I was in the neighborhood for something else.

Alto $35

The wines all have names, rather than being labeled by their varietal, but our waitress could shed no light on the reasons behind the names. This is their chardonnay, which is described on the menu as “lightly oaked.” I was glad it was lightly, since I tend not to like heavily oaked chards. This has a fruity flowery aroma, and tastes distinctly of pineapple.

Ventola $43

We liked this the best of the three whites, and agreed it would be a good oyster accompaniment. It has a delicate aroma, with some notes of minerals, and tastes very like a typical North Fork sauvignon blanc, with some dry lemon flavor. It is a bit petillant on the tongue.

Bobina $39

My friend and I agreed that pinot grigio is a wine we both often get when confronted with a list of “by the glass” wines, as it is a fairly dependable grape. This is a light, dry version, with some citrus taste. My friend’s assessment was that it “doesn’t bite but it’s not like drinking fruit juice.”

The cheese and charcuterie board was more than enough food for the two of us.

Suprema $39

The menu describes this as their “red blend,” but gives no further details as to what is blended. I wouldn’t be surprised if the blend included a fair amount of merlot, as it has that typical merlot cherry smell and taste. It is dry, with some tannins, and would make a good pizza or pasta wine.

Ultimo $43

I really would like to know why this name! In any event, once again the menu vaguely describes this as a “cabernet blend,” with no further details. It is our favorite of the reds, with some interesting layers of flavor of dark fruits plus chocolate. The wine has some tobacco and chocolate aromas as well as fruit.

Grande $47

The winery calls this a “Super Tuscan.” I guess that means it is another blend. When I say that it has a funky aroma, my friend, who has a way with words, elaborates: “a combination of old socks and grandpa’s breath.” Fortunately, it doesn’t taste like that! However, we are less than impressed by the taste, which is rather light, with not much fruit or depth. My friend says, “It doesn’t hit any notes, it just hums—off key.”

Reasons to visit: you are in the Northport/Huntington area and are in the mood for a wine tasting; you want to go to a winery but there’s too much traffic on the LIE, so you decide to bail out at exit 53; the Ventola and the Ultimo, though we liked all the wines except the Grande; the Artichoke Formaggio.

Channing Daughters: Just Some New Releases August 27 2019

Posted by nofowineaux in Tasting and tagged with Blaufrankish, cabernet sauvignon, channing daughters, dornfelder, ferry, MashashimuetPark, muscat ottonel, Petillant Naturel, Pinot Bianco, pinot grigio, Sag Harbor, sauvignon blanc, South Fork, Sylvanus, Vermouth, wine tasting September 7, 2019

https://www.channingdaughters.com/

The last time we went to Channing, it was with the intent to resign our wine club membership. We were persuaded to stay in the club when we learned we could switch from home delivery to pick-up at the winery, and go whenever we had time, even if it meant getting several selections at once.

We only had one installment to pick up, but we had decided to take some guests on the ferries from Greenport to Sag Harbor, and make a day of it. The ferries are not cheap, so it would not be cost-effective to go that route every time we needed to pick up wine (since we can drive around, through Riverhead), but on the other hand there was no way we were going to brave the traffic on Route 27 in the summer. Been there, sat there.

On the ferry!

The ferries were fun for our visitors, especially two little ones who were excited to get out of their car seats and stand in the car while it floated across Peconic Bay. We also enjoyed strolling through Sag Harbor, visiting old favorites like the Wharf Shop and Blooming Shells. After a picnic lunch at the beautifully re-done Mashashimuet Park playground, we headed to Channing, intending to just pick up our shipment. But we hadn’t reckoned with the blandishments of the hospitable tasting room servers, who suggested that we “just try the new releases.”

The small members of the party admired Walter Channing’s huge wood sculptures and read their books while we did a quick tasting.

My notes are skimpy, because we hadn’t intended to do a tasting, plus, as the designated driver I only took a sip of each wine. But I think you can get a sense of what we love about Channing: the great variety of their wines and their brave spirit of experimentation.

1. 2018 Sauvignon Blanc $23

With its lovely lemon grass flavor, this is a perfect oyster go-with.

This has a slight pink tinge, and is best served icy cold.

2. 2018 Rosato Petillant Naturel Cabernet Sauvignon $28

Delicious! A fizzy, fruity, yeasty, dry sparkler, we agreed we could drink this as a toast or an aperitif or with food. Charcuterie, perhaps?

3. 2018 Sylvanus Petillant Naturel $28

A blend of 50% pinot grigio, 40% muscat-ottonel, and 10% pinot bianco, this is a great illustration of the Channing experimentalism. It has a nice aroma of pineapple, but I did not particularly like it.

The Blau has a lovely dark color.

4. 2016 Blaufrankish $28

Another unusual blend, this is 75% blaufrankish and 25% dornfelder. It is dry, with tastes of blackberry and other dark fruits. Channing suggest you can age this 6-8 years. By the way, it is great fun to read the descriptions of their wines on their web site, which goes into intricate detail on the wines.

5. Vermouths $28 (most of them)

I didn’t taste the vermouths, but those who did said they would be great to drink on ice or in a cocktail.

Reasons to visit: still the greatest variety of wines anyone makes on the East End; best winery on the South Fork (though Wölffer is also quite good, it is a much more formal setting); vermouths, petillant naturels (they make ten in all, though not all are available at all times); beautiful sculptures made by Walter Channing.

Channing Daughters: SoFo, So Good September 14, 2018

Posted by nofowineaux in Tasting and tagged with cabernet franc, channing daughters, chardonnay, Croteaux, dornfelder, gewurztraminer, L'Enfant Sauvage, lagrein, Mattebella, Meditazione, merlot, muscat, no dogs allowed, One Woman, pellegrini, Petillant Natural Rosato, pinot grigio, pinot noir, Rosato di Sculpture Garden, Rosso Fresco, sauvignon blanc, Sherwood House, South Fork, syrah, teroldego, Tocai Friulano, VerVino Vermouth, Vino Bianco, wine tasting September 16, 2018

https://www.channingdaughters.com/

Friends often ask me, “What’s your favorite winery?” I have various answers—rosés at Croteaux, whites at One Woman, reds at Pellegrini, Mattebella for sitting outside, Sherwood for the fireplace in the winter, etc.—but really, Channing Daughters is my favorite. Unfortunately, it is on the South Fork, so we don’t get there as often as we like. However, we had an errand that could only be done in Southampton, so off we went. The errand finished, we took a walk around Sag Harbor, got a bite of lunch at the Golden Pear (really good sandwich), and headed to Channing Daughters.

This line-up of bottles shows just some of the wines Channing Daughters makes.

So why do we like this winery so much? It is the most creative, interesting winery on Long Island, growing about two dozen different grapes and mixing and matching them in unusual ways. And we like almost all their wines. That’s why we joined their wine club, despite the inconvenience of having to be home to sign for the UPS delivery.

Part of the outside area.

The tasting room is small, with a bar along one side and a few barrels on which to rest your tastes, plus some outside tables in the summer. They carry a small selection of wine-related gifts, and offer some plain crackers as palate cleansers. However, we’ve never been there without having interesting conversations with both the people at the bar and the servers, who are very well versed in the wines and eager to share what they know. For really complete analyses of the wines, check out their web site.

A tasting consists of six wines for $18, and though the wines in the tasting are listed on a chalkboard, we overheard the servers customize tastings for people based on what they like or don’t like. As wine club members, we could have tasted any wines, but I wanted to taste the two wines which had just come in our shipment. So we did the standard tasting plus those two. Although we each could have had our own tasting, we decided to share in the interests of sobriety.

The upside down tree is their logo, and references one of Walter Channing”s skills, which is carving.

2015 Vino Bianco $20

A blend of 36% Pinot Grigio, 26% Sauvignon Blanc, 15% Tocai Friulano and 23% Chardonnay, this is a basic good white wine. Dry and refreshing, it has, observed my husband, “lots of taste.” Citrus, flowers, spice, fruit—I agree. They age some of the wine in steel, some in old oak, some in new oak, then blend it all together. As I said, they are creative! We buy two bottles, and think about having some the next time we buy oysters.

2016 Rosato di Sculpture Garden $25

This is one of the rosés they make. A number of years ago, they had seven, the result of late heavy rains which made them reluctant to use the red wine grapes for reds, as the flavor would be too diluted. So instead they made rosé. Good move. The rosés were so popular, they now make a bunch every year. This one is a field blend, of 91% merlot, 6% teroldego, and 3% blaufrankisch. Really nice. The aroma is somewhat earthy and minerally, and it has the strawberry taste you expect plus a really nice minerality and maybe some nutmeg. Good.

Orange wine!

2014 Meditazione $40

Pronouncing the name with Italian verve, our server explained all about orange wine. This is a white wine made using the red wine method of fermenting the juice with the skins, hence the orange color. A blend of 36% Pinot Grigio, 21% Muscat Ottonel, 14% Chardonnay, 13% Tocai Friulano, 7% Sauvignon Blanc, 5% Pinot Bianco and 4% Gewurztraminer, this is not an easy wine to drink on its own. We have it with a couple of crackers, which improves the experience. It smells like baked oranges and tastes like apples and spices. They suggest pairing it with game birds or sausages, and that makes sense to me.

2017 Rosso Fresco $22

Fresh red? Yes, because this is a light, bright red, more along the lines of a Beaujolais. I could see serving on the deck with hot dogs. It’s another blend, of 76% Merlot, 11% Syrah, 8% Blaufrankisch, 4% Cabernet Franc, 1% Teroldego, and is barely aged. They even suggest serving it slightly chilled. It would make a great summer red.

2017 Petillant Naturel Rosato $28

I usually eschew sparkling pink wines. Fortunately, I did not skip this one. Wow, is it good! Mouthwatering, bubbly, dry, with some strawberry aroma and flavor, this wines makes a good case for never dismissing any type of wine before you taste the iteration in front of you. The servers were going into great detail on the methods used to create this wine, which included freezing the tank at one point and fermenting it in the bottle. Just another Channing Daughter original.

VerVino Vermouth (500 ml) $28

Yes, the tasting ends with one of the vermouths they make. This is a somewhat sweet one, and would make a fine aperitif or dessert wine. There’s a somewhat chemical aroma—maybe petroleum? —but fortunately the vermouth doesn’t taste like gasoline. I get sweet apples, pears, and other fruit flavors. Vermouth is made by adding various herbs and other ingredients to wine, and at Channing they vary them by season. This one includes such fall produce as apples, Asian pears, pumpkin, butternut squash, calendula, sage, borage etc.

The “wild child” name references the use of wild yeast.

2015 L’Enfant Sauvage $38

This is one of the wines in our current shipment, so I added it to the tasting. A chardonnay made with wild yeasts, this wine has varied over the years. Sometimes it’s my favorite, and other times…not so much. This iteration is yummy. Although it spends fifteen months in French oak, it doesn’t have that buttery taste I dislike in oaked chards. I do detect a bit of that woody flavor, which reminds me of when I was a kid and I would sometimes bite my pencils, but I also get lime and baked pear. You could have it with very assertive dishes, like spicy Chinese food, or even as an aperitif. We buy a bottle to add to the one we already have, aging in our cellar.

2016 Dornfelder

I wonder if this is a wine which would improve with age, since of all the wines we tried today this is my least favorite. But they do suggest aging it in the bottle, so we will see. A blend of 85% dornfelder and 15% pinot noir, it has red fruit aromas and flavors, but is not a really deep big red.

Lots of choices!

Reasons to visit: some of the best and most creative wines on Long Island; the Vino Bianco, the Rosato, the Petillant Naturel Rosato, L’Enfant Sauvage, and more; there’s always something new to try; one of the few wineries on the South Fork, so well worth a visit if you find yourself in Sag Harbor.

Mr. Channing’s sculptures decorate the tasting room and the grounds.

Suhru Tasting House: New(ish) Kid on the Block June 10, 2018

Posted by nofowineaux in Tasting and tagged with Australia, cabernet franc, cabernet sauvignon, Ember, gewurztraminer, Malbec, merlot, New Zealand, North Fork, petit verdot, pinot grigio, riesling, rose, Russell Hearn, sauvignon blanc, Shiraz, SuHru, Susan Hearn, T'Jara, Touch of Venice, wine tasting June 13, 2018

https://www.suhruwines.com/

We arrived in time for the grand opening!

Although Suhru wines have been around for a while (We first tasted them at The Winemaker’s Studio.), they didn’t have their own tasting room—until now. They have opened up their own place in the small building in Cutchogue which briefly housed Waters Crest’s tasting room. As soon as we walked in, we noticed that they had done a very nice job of renovating the space, expanding the room and decorating it in a breezy, beachy style. Our server informed us that they soon hope to be able to display work by local artists. They also have a small outdoor area in the back, which faces their parking lot.

The back yard

We happened to enter during the Grand Opening, so a table in the rear of the room held cheese and bread and sausages from Touch of Venice, which we were urged to sample. In the future, they hope to have a menu of snacks from that restaurant, which is right across the street. Good idea!

Suhru—the name is an amalgam of Susan, Russell, and Hearn, for Susan the owner, Russell the winemaker, and Hearn, their last name—joins the club of wineries which are the personal products of winemakers who work for large wineries, like Coffee Pot Cellars and Anthony Nappa. They also have another label, T’Jara, which they own with another couple. That name is a nod to where they are from, which is Australia, and literally means “place where I’m from” in the aboriginal language. By the way, they are careful to emphasize the “h” in the winery’s name, since Suru is the name of a Japanese saki company! We were given all this information by our cheery and friendly server—who also happens to be Susan and Russell’s daughter. She was helped at the bar by her mother, so this is quite a family affair.

In future iterations of the label, the H (which now looks like a football goalpost) will be in white, to emphasize that it is part of the name.

The menu offers several options: a tasting of three Suhru wines for $9, a tasting of two whites and a rosé from both labels for $8, or a red wine tasting of three, again combining both labels, for $11. But, we said, we want to try all eight varieties on offer (two wines are not available for tasting, only by the bottle). No problem, Ms. Hearn replied, and carefully set us up with two tastings of three each, plus one extra of each, which would cost less than buying eight individual tastes. Wines are also available by the glass. She also delineated the order in which to taste the wines and made useful comments on each.

We liked the calm, beachy décor. The other end of the tasting room has some comfortable couches.

2016 Pinot Grigio $24

“This is the wine which started it all,” said Ms. Hearn. I can see why. It is a light, bright, dry white with tastes of citrus and green apple and a pleasantly flowery aroma. I felt it needed food, and a bite of bread and cheese showed me that I was right. It would also be good with charcuterie.

We were so deep in conversation, I forgot to take a picture until we had drunk everything except the rose. The reds are served the same way.

2017 Sauvignon Blanc $26

Her parents met while hiking in New Zealand, so this is a nod to the New Zealand style of sauvignon blanc, noted Ms. Hearn, though it is not exactly like them. After all, the climate and terroir here are different. The aroma has a whiff of chemicals, but the wine itself is quite nice, dry, with some citrus, though my husband finds it a bit too fruity for him. Again, it benefits by being tasted along with a bite of bread and cheese.

2014 Dry Riesling $25

The grapes for the riesling come from the Finger Lakes region, she tells us, and we get into a discussion of the relative merits of grapes from the two areas. Susan Hearn joins in, and I tell them how last fall we were in Beacon and went to a winery which used some grapes from Long Island! This riesling also includes some gewürztraminer. It is very dry, not at all sweet, and tastes of ripe pear and minerals. Cat pee aroma, I note!

2017 T’Jara Rosé $25

A combination of 80% merlot and 20% cabernet franc, this is a very light, almost watery rosé, not fruity or at all sweet. Though it is a refreshing summer drink, it would not replace Croteaux for us. (By the way, the Croteaux tasting room is closed, due to a problem with the town, though you can still buy their wines online or at local stores.)

2012 T’Jara Cabernet Franc $33

Now we move on to the reds, and a new tray of nice, round-bottomed glasses. The labels for T’Jara wines, by the way, feature designs inspired by aboriginal art. The vineyard for the reds is in Mattituck, where Bordeaux grapes are grown. This is a very drinkable red, with soft tannins and dark fruit tastes, dry, with very little aroma.

2012 Ember $27

This is their Bordeaux blend, predominantly merlot plus cabernet franc, cabernet sauvignon, malbec, and petit verdot. I really like this, and we buy a bottle. Again, very drinkable, food friendly as Ms. Hearn says, with red current aroma and some minerality as well as dark fruits. It would be good with a beef stew.

2012 Shiraz $30

Again, this name is a nod to their Australian roots, since the grape is called shiraz in Australia and syrah elsewhere, so in America winemakers can choose either. She tells us this is a “cool climate inspired” wine. It’s good, but fairly light for a shiraz. I wouldn’t pair it with a steak, but maybe with veal or pasta. Again, it has soft tannins and lots of fruit.

The array of reds. Note the aboriginal art-inspired designs on the T’Jara labels.

2015 T’Jara Merlot $33

Unlike most North Fork merlots, this one has no cherry taste. It is more like a cabernet franc, I would say. I think it might improve with age, but right now it is quite young and not particularly distinguished.

Lucky us, the grand opening included free snacks!

Reasons to visit: pretty little tasting room that so far is not crowded (We had started out to go to Shinn, but couldn’t even get into the parking lot!); the pinot grigio, the Ember, the sauvignon blanc, the cabernet franc; the chance to chat with the owners and get deeply into the wines; they serve your tastes on a tray, so if you are with a group you can take it to a table and sit and sip; snacks (at some point soon) from Touch of Venice.

Pugliese Vineyards: Crowd Pleaser March 10, 2018

Posted by nofowineaux in Tasting and tagged with 8 Hands, Blanc de Noir Nature, Braun's, cabernet franc, Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve, Chardonnay Gold, Cutchogue, gift baskets, Long Island, merlot, no food inside, no pets inside, North Fork, pinot grigio, Pugliese Vineyards, Sangiovese, Sunset Meritage, Veronica's Rose, wine tasting March 13, 2018

http://pugliesevineyards.com/

The pergola and pond make a pretty outdoor setting–but not in the winter!

We’ve driven past Pugliese many times in the summer, noting the crowds at the outdoor tables and the many limos (by appointment only) in the parking lot, and given it a pass. But we figured a March Saturday would be safe, and indeed, when we entered, there was only one other couple there. However, as we were leaving the first of what the servers told us would be several groups arrived, a bunch of bachelorettes in matching burgundy sweatshirts emblazoned with wine-related quips, with the bride-to-be in a matching white sweatshirt. “Rise and wine,” read the one on a cheery woman, who informed us that this was already (at 2 PM) their third winery.

The limos were starting to gather.

If we hadn’t been on our way out, I would have recommended that they start with the sparkling Blanc de Noir, which was one of the wines we did like, and would have been a suitably festive start to their tasting. But I would guess that many of the wines on the Pugliese menu are crowd-pleasers, as they are generally un-challenging and easy to drink, as well as moderately priced.

For $12 you can choose any four wines on their extensive menu of four sparkling wines, seven whites (including one rosé), seven reds, and five dessert wines. We decided to share two tastings, trying one sparkler, the rosé, two whites, and four reds. As we sipped we admired the view out the window of Pugliese’s pretty grounds, with a vine-covered pergola and a fountain-centered pond. It would be a nice place to bring a picnic in the summer, though they discourage food in the tasting room itself (and a sign on the door admonishes “No Pets”). (One server remembered a group that brought a huge cake with them, and left “crumbs everywhere.”)

One view of the tasting rooms.

The tasting room itself is not huge, but there is a side room with tables. That space is lined with tables laden with gift baskets, which feature the pretty flower-decorated bottles of Pugliese wines and hand-painted wine or champagne glasses, all wrapped up in cellophane. If you need to pick up a gift basket in a hurry, this is the place. They also have a selection of matted photographs, mostly of local nature scenes, for sale at reasonable prices.

Nice bubbles in the bubbly

2010 Blanc de Noir Nature $25.99

Made from 100% pinot noir grapes (all their grapes are grown on their estate, we were informed), this has the typical yeasty aroma of a champagne. It is a pleasant sparkler, not complicated, with nice bubbles and a bready flavor. It would work for a toast (no pun intended!).

We enjoyed the view as we sipped.

2014 Pinot Grigio $17.99

At first, I didn’t detect any aroma, but on a second sniff I decided it smelled like clover honey, plus minerals. It also tastes a bit like honey that has somehow had the sweetness removed from it, or like a tart dish that has been flavored with honey. My husband complained that it was “watery,” and I agreed that it was very light. Not a sipper, it needs to go with food, maybe charcuterie, though it has so little flavor most food would overwhelm it.

2015 Veronica’s Rosé $17.99

Why Veronica? “I wanted to name a wine after my niece,” said one server, who was most likely a member of the Pugliese family, since they are generally in the tasting room. This is another light, dry wine, with typical strawberry aroma and flavor, again not complex. It has a pretty pink color from the merlot grapes.

I commented on the pretty labels, and was thanked. On a previous visit I was told that Pat Pugliese painted the design.

2016 Chardonnay Gold $14.99

They have an oak-fermented chard, but we decided to go with the steel, since we tend to prefer those. I was also thinking if we liked it we’d buy a bottle, to go with the fish we planned to buy at Braun’s later. However, we cancelled the trip to Braun’s when we realized we’d be stuck in the Cutchogue St. Patrick’s Day parade, and, though we found the chardonnay pleasant, we didn’t like it enough to buy it. (Instead we stopped at 8 Hands Farm and picked up some of their delicious bratwurst.) Though the chard is a bit sweet, it is balanced by good fruit flavors of citrus, mango, and pineapple. My tasting buddy says it would have gone well with a dish I made a couple of days ago, called Chicken Veronique, chicken breasts cooked with grapes and mushrooms.

The grape is the one used to make chianti, but this is not a very chianti-like wine.

2012 Sangiovese $16.99

I was interested to taste this, as it is advertised on the menu as “Long Island’s only chianti.” I like chianti. I wouldn’t have necessarily identified this as a chianti, however, and, considering that 2012 was supposed to have been a good year for reds on the North Fork, this was a rather disappointing wine. However, it is drinkable, with no tannins, very light and dry. Not much fruit. My husband says it has “no oomph,” sort of a “generic wine.” It would be okay with pizza.

2014 Cabernet Franc $16.99

Their reds certainly are reasonably priced for the North Fork. This is another light, easy to drink wine, with no tannins. You get a bit of fruit with the first sip, but the taste soon evanesces. You could pair this with pasta with a not-powerful sauce.

2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve $16.99

Nice aroma of dark fruit and berries precedes a taste also of dark fruit and berries, with a touch of tannins. It’s the best red so far, but again has no depth and is rather light.

2013 Sunset Meritage $34.99

Why sunset? “It’s just a name.” You need a non-varietal name for a blend, which this is, a mixture of merlot, cabernet franc, and cabernet sauvignon. It’s the best red of the day, which is not saying much. Again, it is a relatively simple, light wine, “tame,” according to my drinking pal. It is pleasant, but not worth the price.

Entrance–the little signs say no food inside and no pets inside–which I assume means both are okay outside.

Reasons to visit: pretty setting for sitting outside; very crowd-friendly if you’re coming with a limo (which I actually did one time); lots of choices on the menu; the Blanc de Noir, the Chardonnay Gold, the Sunset Meritage; you prefer light, easy-to-drink wines with no complexity; lots of gift baskets and hand-painted glasses.

NoFo Wineaux

Wine notes from Long Island's North Fork

Tag Archives: pinot grigio