Posts Tagged“reds”

Roanoke Vineyards: The North Fork’s Boutique Winery

Of late, it seems as if "boutique" has overtaken "award-winning" as the most overused way to describe a winery. There are other annoying, overused wine words too, but let’s focus on "boutique" today. Dictionary.com defines "boutique" as an adjective meaning "of, designating, or characteristic of a small, exclusive producer or business." Of course, even in the wine world, this definition means little without proper context. There are some California wineries that consider themselves boutique that dwarf even Long Island’s biggest producers. While exclusivity is a crux of the official definition, it doesn’t really mean much either. If a winery only…

WTNs: Pellegrini Vineyards’ New and Upcoming Releases (North Fork of Long Island)

I tell anyone who will listen that they should try new wines whenever possible. That’s how we learn about new regions, grapes and winemakers. It’s how we expand our wine knowledge and grow as wine drinkers. But, that doesn’t mean that we can’t — and shouldn’t — come back to long-time favorites as well. Pellegrini Vineyards — and its Vinter’s Pride Encore — are just the kind of favorites worth coming back to. It was one of the first red blends I tasted on Long Island and remains one that I enjoy every time I taste it, regardless of vintage.…

Tasting Reds from Long Island’s 1995 Vintage This Sunday

I mentioned it earlier in the week, but I thought you might be interested in hearing a bit more about the tasting I’m co-hosting this Sunday evening. Basically, I’ve gathered samples of 1995 reds wines from several Long Island wineries (I think we’ll have 11 wines total). It’s a well-regarded vintage and because these wines are over a decade old, I think they will offer a peek into the potential longevity of local wines. Originally, I was going to do this tasting on my own at home, but for such special wines, I wanted to do something more formal (but…

WTNs: Vineyard 48 Current Red Releases (North Fork of Long Island)

Vineyard 48 (formerly Bidwell Vineyards) might be a winery on the rise. In general, I’ve found their white wines to be their best, particularly the sauvignon blanc and riesling, which are actually better than some local bottlings priced much higher. But, the reds have been somewhat more inconsistent. A nice cabernet franc here. A soft, but integrated meritage there. And some others with somewhat coarse tannins. 2005, a soon-to-be-class vintage, provided an opportunity for complete grape ripeness and winemaker Matthew Berenz, formerly of Pindar, took full advantage. He’s made the neophyte winery’s best reds yet. The Vineyard 48 2005 Vignetta…