Long Island Wine Tasting - Long Island Vineyard Trip Review

Well it has been a while since I have been out to Long Island Wine Country. I live on Long Island and it is less than an hour from my house. There are some very beautiful vineyards and properties out there.

Our trip was one full day and an overnight. We were with 2 other couples and driving so we visited less than 6 wineries. That is something you want to keep in mind when wine tasting on Long Island or any area where there are many wineries but there is driving involved. I usually don't recommend these bus tours as they can get out of hand pretty quick with drunk 60 year olds lol. You also lose control on the Long Island Vineyards you may want to visit. I prefer to map out places myself when I take a trip out there and I only like to go during the week. It makes a HUGE difference out there. Traffic, hotel rates, restaurants and attention given when wine tasting. All are better when not fighting thousands of weekenders...

I titled this post with the word "review" but our trip really was pure pleasure and my review and notes is a very small sampling of what is out there. The weather was also outstanding for us. Still, the wine quality overall - was very mixed. If

Our tasting started at our bed and breakfast - which is also a Long Island Winery. We then mapped out our visits near where we were. Our place was so nice, I'm glad we saved time to just hang out there.

Shinn Estate Farmhouse and Vineyard

Accommodations

I hesitate to write a review for the farmhouse and that is only because it was just so perfect and I want to keep it a secret for myself. The owners provide a magnificent presentation of 3-4 beautiful bed rooms and just a stunningly classy and "vineyard perfect" atmosphere. The wine tastings were free since we stayed there and it included a Class A breakfast served right from there own kitchen. The views and relaxness given at this place was almost like a great Long Island Trip Massage. So, the Shinn Estate house was A+

Wines

I have never tasted Shinn Estate Wines and I'm pretty familiar with Long Island. It was our first stop after we arrived, since we were right there. It was the place where we tasted the most wine. I think we tried 9 or 10 wines at Shinn. They set us up on a nice porch and a friendly girl had menus with tasting notes and bottle prices.

As with the majority of Long Island Wines IMO, the whites are far more competitive than the reds vs. other wine regions. This was reinforced at Shinn and throughout the places we visited.

The first wine we tasted was their Champagne (sparkling white). It was pretty clear in color with decent spritz that I thought was semi dry and light.

Next up was the 2007 Chardonnay which was pleasant but on the light side with some brown sugar aroma. Little vanilla and no oak.

We then had a White Pinot varietal. Not my cup of tea

2008 Coalescence was the most spice and herb filled aroma I had from a wine all weekend. The taste didn't have the same complexity as the nose. Light and refreshing.

2008 Rose was light and carried many basic Rose characteristics.

We also had a cab franc, merlot, bordeaux style blend and a few other reds. While some were interesting, the reds were just not on the quality level as the whites imo

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Macari Vineyards

This was my personal favorite that combined a big spacious tasting room, outside tables, views and some very solid wines. They were doing some construction, but it wasn't bothersome or loud to us.

We only went for there whites. A 2008 Sauvignon Blanc which was the single best wine I had on this trip. It had nice lime, lemon, grassy taste with good crisp acidity and lively.

We also had their estate chardonnay and the reserve chardonnay. Each distinctive and while I thought the reserve had more texture and complexity, the estate worked well with the rest sitting outside on a sunny day. I enjoyed Macari. They also sold these very nice assorted cheese plates that you could take outside.

Castello di Borghese - Cutchogue Long Island NY

I went for the white wines here too. They served a Chardonette, a Chardonnay, a Sauvignon Blanc and a Riesling. I found the Chardonnay was enjoyable. The Riesling showed more sour and citrus than I like usually. The Sauvignon Blanc was crisp but the fruit was light and the wine was a little out of balance.

My ONE issue here was one of the red wines that was being poured. A 2003 Merlot. It was old and tasted old. When I asked if there was a more recent vintage of the wine, I was told there was not. ??? I normally would have let it go but unless they stopped production on the varietal (which she did not say), I did not understand why they were pouring that. I hope it was not because there is a lot in stock. I was there with people who know wine.

Still, she was a very nice server at Borghese. We enjoyed the place and the grounds a great deal.

Pugliese Vineyards - Cutchogue, Long Island, New York

I have very little written on the wine here. I had their Blanc to Blanc Sparkler which was light from and weak. The Pinot Grigio was better with good acidity and bright fruit. I also had their Riesling. I have no notes on that.

I hope to do another round of different vineyards next time as this was only a brief trip. Still, the challenge of Red Wine and especially affordable good Red Wine continues for most Long Island Wineries.

2008 Saint-Cosme Cotes du Rhone

The 2008 Saint Cosme Cotes du Rhone wine had lots of rich flavor. The aromas started with some metal and cherries with a rich palate of chocolate and cherries.

The chocolate was almost overwhelming as the primary characterisitic taste. This was a nice wine and great for the price but I found it a little too simple and heavy for the varietal.

For $20 or less, the Saint Cosme is a winner for a quality French red wine but I will probably not stock up here given the flood of other quality wines around the world at this price point.

87 Points

Wine Values - Bottle Value

Ok, so making a post about wine values and lower pricing in the middle of a recession isn't exactly a new topic, but as the pinch is felt by more and more of my fellow wine lovers and fellow human beings, the time feels right to post some of what I'm seeing and hearing.

With the glut of global production and producers all over the world entering the market every month and year, the values are even starker now and will continue imo.

When I think or write "value", I am doing so with the understanding of a certain quality level to go along with it. What's the use of a $5 wine that tastes awful? I also don't want to get into specific bottles here - I'd like to leave that to people who may want to reply with their own and we can have some comment discussion. I also want to keep my red values to around $10 and up.

California Wine Values

Speaking on a pure red varietal basis, there are some wines that just give more for less. "less" meaning lower California pricing than Napa Cabernet, Russian River Valley Pinot Noir and high end Syrah from many of the cult or single vineyard producers.

California has dozens and dozens of lower priced - high value great varietals. My favorites are probably:

Petite Sirah - This wine varietal at it's best (there are always losers of any kind of wine) is full flavored, fruit driven with depth and since it can be produced in fairly large quantities, Petite Sirah is generally less expensive and it really can deliver. If I had to mention one specific value producer and bottle, I would choose Bogle. This is due to the consistent value and quality that it delivers and the availability and large production. It is normally $10 or less and is widely available. Petite Sirah wines can be easy pleasing tasty wines for very little money and California offers many great bottles. Good recession values, but I'll drink them regardless of where the Dow is!

Zinfandel - Red Zinfandels are high flavor, higher alcohol (normally) and provide excellent pricing value - given the characteristics they provide. There are many wonderful Zinfandel offerings along with many styles. Some leaner than others. There are lower end value Zinfandels like Cline, Ravenswood and some others. Up the value ladder a little and you can enjoy Seghesio and others. If you consistently want a 90 point or better wine (Wine Spectator Point System) for $15 and less, Seghesio delivers every year.

Malbec, Chianti and Merlot are probably my other top go-to reds if I have $15 in my pocket but I want some real flavor and wines that don't drink like their price tag.

Values and bottle prices are a very personal thing. Someones $20 value is another one's "too expensive"

If you have any favorite red wines that fall in the lower price category, please post a reply. I'd love to hear more out there.

Enjoy!

Nick