Tasting Notes
Our Grand Cru Sauvignon Blanc is made from hand-harvested grapes from a single 4-acre vineyard block planted on our estate in 2004. The soil is a deep silt-loam which sustains a wild meadow of clover between the rows of vines. The grapes are hand-sorted and gently pressed in a wooden basket press and fermented in stainless steel to retain the intense aromatics of the fresh fruit and the unique essence of our terroir. Elegant and delicious, this wine offers thirst-quenching flavors of grapefruit, passion fruit, herbs and minerals. A perfect complement to seafood, poultry, fresh cheeses, and vegetarian cuisine. Only 00 cases produced.

Tasting Notes 
Naturale is produced using a natural winemaking philosophy. The grapes are handpicked, sorted and gently pressed using a wooden basket press, as well as traditional foot treading. The juice was allowed to ferment on its own using wild, indigenous yeasts. No refrigeration, sugar, enzymes, acids, fining or filtration was used in production, with only minimal amounts of sulfur added at bottling. The result is a completely pure expression of our vineyard terroir. The aromas are a complex mix of tropical fruit with hints of lemon balm, apples, honey and wild flowers.  Subtle flavors of toast and nuts surround a smooth and creamy texture with just enough acidity to make the fruit sing! Our Riesling makes its Raphael debut in this blend.Only 200 cases produced.

 Tasting Notes 
Our First Label Sauvignon Blanc is one of 2 separate vineyard-designated Sauvignon Blancs that showcase the distinct differences in the terroir of our vineyard. It’s made from hand-harvested grapes grown on our original, 3-acre founding vineyard block planted in 1998. Gravelly sandy loam soil predominates on this gently sloping, south-facing rise. The grapes are hand-sorted, gently pressed in a wooden basket press and kept entirely in stainless steel to retain the intense aromatics of the fresh fruit and the unique essence of our terroir. Elegant and delicious, this wine offers thirst-quenching flavors of grapefruit, passion fruit and herbs along with a unique saline minerality. A perfect compliment to seafood, poultry, fresh cheeses, and vegetarian cuisine.

Tasting Notes
Our Rosé of Merlot is made in the emerging Long Island style – dry, and thirst quenching with high levels of fruity aromatics. Crisp and refreshing with note of bramble, strawberries and grapefruit zest, our Rosé is produced from grapes picked sooner than those harvested for red wines. The early harvest results in higher levels of acid and elegance. Crushed and pressed immediately, it is fermented in stainless steel at 50 degrees F. to retain the bright fruit aromas and flavors of the Merlot grape. A moderate alcohol content along with the austere character of this dry rose make it the perfect compliment to summer cuisine.

Tasting Notes
Great, handcrafted wine at a great price marks the debut of Raphael’s 2007 La Tavola. Meaning “The Table” in Italian, this wine was made for everyday enjoyment and is a regular feature on our mealtime table. The wine is made from mostly younger vines and reflects a blend of the three of the most important red wine varieties on the North Fork. La Tavola is fruity and soft, and retains classic elegance reflecting the extreme ripeness of the vintage. The Merlot provides velvety ripe tannins and dense mouth feel while the Malbec adds an exotic and earthy touch. The Cabernet Franc rounds out the blend with its typical saline minerality and firm acidity which lifts the flavors, adding to a pleasant long finish. This wine outclasses most wines in its price category and is one of the North Fork’s great wine values from an outstanding vintage.

Tasting Notes 
The 2008 La Fontana is rich and jammy and retains classic elegance reflecting the extreme ripeness of the vintage.  Dark and ripe black fruit dominate with nuances of blackberries, cassis, tobacco and eucalyptus. The Merlot provides velvety ripe tannins and dense mouth feel while the Cabernet Sauvignon adds bramble an herbal aromatics as well as softness. Malbec and Petit Verdot round out the blend adding depth and an exotic undertone. The result is a sumptuous red wine that is fat and supple, yet quite age-worthy for at least the next 10 years. A red blend in the tradition of Pomerol – this wine outclasses most wines in its price category.

Tasting Notes 
Our 2008 Cabernet Franc is one of the finest we have produced to date. The exceptional conditions of 2008 allowed our Cabernet Franc fruit to get fully  ripe. The wine is produced in the emerging style of the North Fork – fermented in separate stainless steel vats at 60 and 80 degrees F. and blended late for complexity. Only older oak was used in the production of this wine, which allows it to retain the fresh, vibrant, aromas of the fruit. Dark black fruit flavors of cassis and black cherry coupled with aromas of violets, black pepper and herbs help make this Cabernet Franc a rich yet elegant red wine capable of complimenting any cuisine.

The 2007 vintage was one of the finest ever experienced on the North Fork. Hot sunny days and with clear blue skies seemed to be the norm for most days. Low levels of rainfall and humidity throughout the season made for almost perfect growing conditions.  The high levels of solar radiation along with cooler weather in the late summer and fall allowed for great concentration of flavor, color and extract along with wonderful retention of aromatics in the fruit. We believe the 2007 vintage will be recognized as one of Long Island’s finest for concentrated and powerful red wines, particularly for Merlot and Cabernet Franc.

 Tasting Notes

Our 2007 Estate Merlot is the finest we have produced, exhibiting the character of our unique terroir in an extraordinary year. As with all our wines it is produced using sustainable vineyard practices and natural winemaking techniques. Merlot is on its own in this wine, providing full flavors, velvety ripe tannins and a unique saline minerality in the classic North Fork style. With blackberries, cassis, tobacco and thyme swirling around funky layers of vanilla and smoke, this wine outclasses many in its price category. One of Long Island’s great wine values from an outstanding vintage.

Tasting Notes
The 2002 Merlot is earthy and sumptuous showing great complexity and exhibiting the strength and ripeness from an outstanding vintage. Dark fruit flavors like blackberry and cassis prevail with mint, eucalyptus, leather and tobacco aromas. Dense and jammy yet at the same time supple and harmonious, with layers of floral freshness integrated elegantly with toasty oak and vanilla. Malbec makes its first appearance in this blend complimenting the earthy plum and black current aromatics of the Merlot with hints of tropical fruit, violets and black pepper. Our most exciting First Label Merlot to date.