Our trip around Long Island carries on this week with a visit to Peconic, home to Rapahel wines and where I could swear I once saw Steely Dan's Donald Fagen in a grey tracksuit having a solid coughing fit and farmer sneeze. I've been to and enjoyed my visit to this winery, one of many in the small area, and a previous bottle of this did not let me down. Let's see if the 2020 keeps that reputation up.
Nose: Leads with blueberry with plum coming up from below. Some vanilla on second sniff along with faint balsamic. Not much sign of red fruit to be had here. As it sits there's a fair bit of plum finally making its way upward, but there's not much else.
Palate: As advertised on the nose with faint savory notes as I swallow. Bright acidity and supple tannins. Quite approachable with a nice texture, but there's very little complexity on first sip. More plum on second sip with mild tobacco and a faint trace of orange peel.
Finish: Long and lingering. The plum subsides here and some minerality emerges.
There was much more sweetness and blueberry than I had anticipated, and wonder if this could have stood another year before opening.
$25