PELLEGRINI VINEYARD PICK-UP AND TASTING 03 MAR 2022

By LONG ISLAND WINE DAD March 08, 2022

Time for the March pick-up at Pellegrini Vineyards, and this time we brought some lunch from Center Cuts Two and enjoyed a tasting. The tasting room is bright airy, with a cheery team working the floor (Figure 1). There were many tables to choose from for a Thursday, the end of the winter season, with good views. However, more folks were dropping by than expected. They have a tasting sheet with many wines on it, and you can choose four or have a glass (Figure 2). The four selected today were the 2019 Pellegrini Vineyards Gewüzrtraminer, 2019 Pellegrini Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc, 2015 Pellegrini Vineyards Merlot, and 2015 Vintner’s Pride Cabernet Sauvignon (Figure 3). Jo went for a glass of the 2019 Pellegrini Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc.

The 2019 Pellegrini Vineyards Gewüzrtraminer (Figure 4) presented as a glistening pale straw in the glass with Floral notes of Rose, Grapefruit, and a hint of Ginger. On the palate, Lychee, Grapefruit, and clove appeared. The Gewüzrtraminer is an off-dry, low acid medium body wine that, when served well chilled, will pair with Moroccan and Middle Eastern Cuisine.

The 2019 Pellegrini Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc (Figure 5) The color is amazingly pale, almost clear with just the slightest hit of gold sheen. The nose opens with Gooseberry and other tropical fruits, including the scent of lime peel. Then, the Acid burst forth in the mouth, with good minerality and a hint of grapefruit. The Pellegrini Vineyards is the perfect Long Island Sauvignon Blanc to pair with a dozen Blue Point Oysters on a leisurely day overlooking the Sound.

The 2015 Pellegrini Vineyards Merlot (Figure 6) Dark rich ruby color in the glass with vibrant violet fringe and some legs best describes the appearance of this Merlot. The nose explodes with the fruit of black cherry, plum, fig, and a hint of sweet tobacco. Medium to full mouthfeel, well-balanced Acid, structured tannins, and lots of black cherry notes create a wonderful experience with a lingering finish, including notes of Chocolate and a trace of Vanilla. The Merlot is a wine destined to join with a USDA Prime bone-in Rib Eye steak for a great dinner.

The 2015 Vintner’s Pride Cabernet Sauvignon (Figure 7) The color was slightly lighter than I expected with a Garnet body and light ruby fringe; this wine is pleasing to the eye. The nose opens with Bramble, Baking spice, Cedar, and Graphite. The wine is bold, full-bodied, and bone dry. Rich in tannins and moderate Acid, this is a well-balanced wine. The flavor of black Cherry dominates with notes of Black Currents and a bit of spice on the finish. The Cabernet Sauvignon will pair well with bolder foods such as Beef short ribs slow-cooked for hours in an aggressive Bar-B-Que sauce.

After a leisurely lunch from Center Cuts Two and a fine tasting, we picked up our club pack of 6 wines (Figure 8). The club pack includes a cover letter (Figure 9) discussing the wines and a fantastic Red Wine Braised Lamb Shanks recipe (Figure 10). Next, we headed north to Sannino Vineyards for the next pick-up of the day.