During our MID-MARCH PICK-UP EXPEDITION, we added in a new winery for a full tasting. Jo is the driver today, so I was able to explore a large selection of the SUHRU WINES portfolio, two flights, a total of 8 wines in all. The Tasting Room is located in a small building that you quickly drive by, so be on the lookout for the roadside sign (Figure 1). The main entrance is a reminiscence of a professional office (Figure 2). The team greeted us, walked us through our choices, and provided details on each tasting wine. The wine tasting menu has many options for flights, wine by the glass, and the ability to curate a tasting flight (Figure 3). In addition, there is a Small Bites Menu (Figure 4) to pair with the wines.. One red and one white flight were needed to explore the portfolio fully. Each flight was four different wines, (Figure 5). The two flights arrive tableside on color code trays with descriptive liners naming each of the wines. First up was a four-glass White/Rosé flight, including 2019 Sauvignon Blanc, 2019 Dry Riesling, 2020 Pinot Grigio, and 2020 Rosé (Figure 6). Sauvignon Blanc is one of our favorite wines, and the SUHRU WINES 2019 SAUVIGNON BLANC (Figure 7) lived up to the our expectations. Crisp acidity, nose rich in orchard fruit, a touch of herbaceous notes, and a minerally finish combine for a wine destined to pair with Long Island Oysters. The SUHRU WINES 2020 PINOT GRIGIO (Figure 8) is a clean, crisp, light orchard note on the nose, finishing with tart apple notes. SUHRU WINES 2019 DRY RIESLING (Figure 9) is a classic New York state Dry Riesling showing on the nose floral notes of Honeysuckle, stone fruit (Apricot), and Petrol. There is a slight hint of residual sugar on the palate that complements the bright acidity perfectly. Lastly in the white flight is the SUHRU WINES 2020 ROSÉ (Figure 10). Light fun, easy-going wine with floral notes of Roses and Zucchini flowers on the nose. The taste is bright with notes of Bramble and Raspberry from the Merlot and a hit of cherry from the Cabernet Franc. The Rosé is a refined everyday wine perfect for a backyard pool party. After a brief pause, it was time to explore the red flight, consisting of four wines (Figure 11). The SUHRU WINES 2020 TEROLDEGO (Figure 12) was the first of the reds, and it did not disappoint. The Teroldego grape is new to us as we have only come across it at Channing Daughters when blended in with other varietals. The nose contains fruity notes of Raspberry and a hit of Vanilla. Taste is notable: Raspberry, cherry, and a hint of orange peel with light, well-structured tannins reflecting it being the parent of Syrah. SUHRU WINES 2019 SHIRAZ (Figure 13) is an Australian name for the old French grape Syrah and is a dominant wine from the land down under. The Long Island Shiraz is far less typical but still a fine boutique wine. The nose has good fruit notes, including blueberry and plum. The palate opened with cherry tobacco notes and a bit of pepper. The tannins are present and might benefit from a year or two more in the cellar, but the Shiraz is a fine wine pairing well with spiced meat dishes now. Being a Long Island boy Cabernet Franc runs through the veins, and the SUHRU WINES 2019 CABERNET FRANC (Figure 14) is a welcome addition to the home cellar. Rich notes of Bramble, strawberry, and Raspberry greet the nose with a herbaceous hint. The palate is bathed in cherry, well-structured tannins, old leather, and a hint of Vanilla. This Cabernet Franc is a keeper. The SUHRU WINES 2019 EMBER (Figure 15) is a Long Island version of the classic right bank Bordeaux blend with Merlot leading the Penta-mélange. Black cherry, currents, and Bramble tickle the nose appealingly. Plums, currants, and cherry notes come to the forefront on the palate. The tannins are already smooth and the finish long with notes of Herbs and chocolate. The Ember is a keeper for the cellar to be shared with close friends. All the wines in the tasting flights were excellent, and the team made the experience...
   Read moreThis is not your typical Long Island vineyard! Having worked in the wine industry for several years, I've been lucky enough to have been exposed to great wines from all over the world (I'm spoiled), and I can honestly say that Suhru & Lieb Vineyards has top notch, quality wines at very reasonable prices. I used to stop in once or twice per year but took a hiatus during the pandemic. After visiting just few weeks ago, I was reminded as to what I was missing. Since then I've already become a wine club member, been back three times and can't get enough.
In terms of variety, there is something for everyone and also some very unique items on the menu for us "wine geeks." They also do a great job with some excellent food pairing choices that fit perfectly with the wines and I can tell they're constantly tweaking to bring in new options and variety.
The staff is genuinely friendly, knowledgeable and attentive, which made us feel right at home, and they definitely know their wine. There is also an exceptional level of detail when it comes to consistency and cleanliness, which I think says a lot about how dedicated they are to their craft. Skip the other vineyards and just come to Suhru. &...
   Read moreMy wife and I had a very delightful experience enjoying wines that were bursting with fruit flavors and pleasant aftertastes. Having visited many other North Fork vineyards over the years, we consider Suhru a notch above the others for consistently flavorful wines across their offerings.
We chose to make a reservation from the website because there are only 5=6 tables inside, although there are 2-3x as many tables outside with a pleasant view of the surroundings. Three flight offerings were available; I chose the Red Flight (Shiraz, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Ember), there was a White Flight, and my wife opted to "choose her own", selecting Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc, Teroldigo, and Cab. Franc. All samples were full bodied and worth savoring. A very nice selection of small plates was offered to compliment the wines, we paired ours with a baguette from a local North Fork provider. Our experience was enriched by a pleasant and very knowledgeable wine specialist. We purchased a bottle of Cabernet Franc, an Ember and a Pinot Grigio to enjoy leisurely at home.
Because we felt these wines were superior, we will be considering joining the Suhru wine club. A unique and...
   Read more