Pellegrini Winery, Long Island
Dateline: 06/20/00
| Pellegrini's winery is a gorgeous window-and-beam building overlooking their 28 acres of vines. With its open area and patio, they often hold weddings and special events on their grounds. In fact, they were setting up for a wedding as we arrived, and it looked like it was going to be a gorgeous evening for one. |
We moved over to the bar, with its open oak beams and high ceilings. A friendly server appeared promptly, and began pouring our wines. We began with the 1998 Pellegrini Vineyards Chardonnay ($12.99), which partially goes through a malolactic fermentation, and ages in french Oak. It had hints of lime, pear, and almond, with a lovely, creamy texture. Quite a steal at the price.
Next we tried the 1998 East End Select Chardonnay ($9), which was bright and crisp, with apple and pear flavors. The 1997 Vintner's Pride Chardonnay ($22.50) is aged a year, and comes from the oldest vines on site. This had a very full flavor, tasting of applesauce. This was a treat to drink.
The 1997 Pellegrini Vineyards Merlot ($16.99) was awarded a 90 by the Wine Spectator, and it's easy to see why. It was very smoth and even, with spice, plum, and fig flavors. It was slightly tannic and had a medium finish. Great with pork!
Next was the 1997 Pellegrini Cabernet Franc ($16.99) which is done with a blend of French and American oak. It had a great aroma, and flavors of berry and sage. It had medium tannins and a delicious flavor.
The 1997 Pellegrini Cabernet Sauvignon ($16.99) is a blend of french and American oak, with a great flavor. We found cedar, blackberry, some black cherry, and a gorgeous long finish. It's actually 91% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc.
The final wine we sampled was the 1997 Vintner's Pride Finale, a cryo-wine created by freezing 70% Gewurztraminer and 30% Sauvignon Blanc grapes after they've been picked. It's frozen and aged separately, then blended at the end. The wine was light and smooth, zesty with a tangy flavor of apricot and vanilla. Quite a treat for the end of any day!
We enjoyed visiting Pellegrini very much, and found the staff pleasant and the wines quite enjoyable. If you're visiting the Long Island region, be sure to swing by this winery!
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All content on the WineIntro website is personally written by author and wine enthusiast Lisa Shea. WineIntro explores the delicious variety and beautiful history which makes up our world of wine! Lisa loves supporting local wineries and encouraging people to drink whatever they like. We all have different taste buds, and that makes our world wonderful. Always drink responsibly.