The Fall 2022 Member's Portfolio

The change of seasons brings us closer to the harvest. Between now and then there will be much time spent worrying about storms, flocks of hungry birds, and hours bent over temperature and humidity graphs while the Weather Channel drones on in the background. Honestly, it’s all very exciting, but not for the faint of heart or risk averse. We love the vineyard work, and we can control a lot of things with smart techniques and elbow grease. However the things we can’t control make this job truly exhilarating. This moment is a great time to commemorate the end of the summer, and to reflect on new memories and new friends. The fall member’s portfolio offers three wines worthy of any celebration. All three of these are ageworthy, perhaps most notably the 2019 Gabby’s Cabernet Franc, which will continue to improve through at least 2029 to 2035. If you’re not thinking that far ahead, enjoy it tonight, because it’s fabulous right now. We’re hoping you’ll join us for the 2022 harvest in October, and that the experience will make your wines that much more enjoyable. As always, we’d like to thank you for being a Roanoke member.

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2019 Roanoke Vineyards Gabby’s Cabernet Franc  

This wine is a celebration of a truly remarkable vintage, and absolutely worthy of the Gabby’s name. Most of our members will recall that the Twelve Rows block of Cabernet Franc was developed and farmed by Vineyard Master Gabby Pisacano through the 2015 vintage. Gabby produced ten Cabernet Francs beginning in 2006, that redefined the varietal and exceeded all expectations on Long Island. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 2019 was the hottest summer on record (only just surpassed by 2020), which combined with a hurricane-free autumn, and remarkably low rainfall during the growing season, made for perfect conditions. The 2019 Gabby’s Cabernet Franc is awash with riotous cherry flavors that linger long into the mile-long finish. There is remarkable poise and balance despite the intensity, and these qualities make this wine the perfect pairing for adventurous menus. Don’t imagine this wine will fade from your memory any time soon; it is as tenacious as its namesake. 93.5% Cabernet Franc from the Twelve Rows block, 5.5% Merlot, and 1% Cabernet Sauvignon.

 

2020 Roanoke Vineyards > (Greater Than)  

2020 was an excellent vintage for all three varietals in this quintessential North Fork blend, and we think you’ll agree after tasting it. Perfect at home with an elegant risotto on a chilly night, or on the deck with your friends in the summer. This wine will remind you of a fresh Briermere cherry tart, with a hint of high altitude Colombian espresso on the finish. 67% Cabernet Franc, 19% Merlot, and 14% Cabernet Sauvignon.

 

2021 Roanoke Vineyards Site Specific™ Rosé

There are lots of rosés out there, but if you want to make one that’s different you’ll need pristine fruit, and you’ll want to put the wine in French oak to give it additional complexity and depth. We bled our open-top vats of estate Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, then moved the wine directly to barrels for a long winter nap. This is a wine you can age, assuming you have the patience, or enjoy right now with just about any menu you can think of. 

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The Summer 2022 Member's Portfolio

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The season has finally changed. The farm stands are open, the fish are running, and there’s the opportunity to once again be outside (without your coat!). We’ve assembled the summer member’s portfolio to suit the al fresco dinners you’ll have with friends, the times you’ll spend on the beach, and the celebration of your skills grilling fresh fish, steak, and the first asparagus of the season.

 

The 2021 Roanoke Vineyards Rosé will be the talk of many dinners on the beach. This vintage the blend includes Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and some Sauvignon Blanc that will keep your attention. This is a Provencal-inspired wine, with beautifully balanced flavors and acidity; perfect for heirloom tomato toast, with burrata, fresh basil, and spring garlic.

 

Our 2021 Roanoke Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc is exactly what you’ll want with Peconic Bay oysters or soft shell crab from Mecox Bay. Balance is key in any wine, but in a Sauvignon Blanc acidity needs to find equilibrium with flavor. It’s true that we’re going to be the vineyard that goes for saturation in this varietal (think: apricot, summer melon, and gooseberry), but this is a complete and well tailored wine.

 

Chardonnay comes in a lot of styles these days, however The Wild! for 2021 remains a crisp, stainless steel-fermented, wild yeast beauty. Indigenous yeast can mean some residual sugar, however this wine is dry as a bone and refreshing as ever. The unusual Muscat clone we use suggests notes of toasted pine nuts that harmonize with ripe melon and citrus flavors. Grilled Monkfish with poached lobster would make an excellent pairing.

 

Chances are good that at some point over the summer you’ll fire up the grill on a cool evening. Whether you’re grilling leeks, zucchini, or steak, the 2019 Roanoke Vineyards Single Acre Merlot will make the evening. With just one acre of planted Merlot, there’s only enough for the wine club, and it’s a real treat. The silky 2019 vintage is awash in Bing cherry, plum, and Madagascar vanilla, but that’s just now. Here’s a wine that will continue to improve for ten years or more (assuming you have patience and self discipline!). Drink now, or any time before 2053.

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