Macari Vineyards, located on both Sound Avenue and Route 25.  The Sound Avenue location is in Mattituck and the Route 25 is located in Cutchogue.  Macari was established as a vineyard back in 1995, by the Macari family.  The location in Mattituck has been in the Macari family for well over 50 years.  Macari Vineyards is set on 500 acres land which covers the area from Sound Avenue all the way to Long Island Sound.  180 acres are dedicated to grapes.  There are fields on the property that are dedicated to compost, farmland, home to many animals including cows, ducks, goats and Sicilian donkeys.

According to their website, “Macari is on the cutting edge of viticulture and is dedicated to a more natural approach to winemaking. Joseph Macari, Jr. is recognized as a pioneer in the movement towards organic and sustainable farming on Long Island, employing principles of biodynamic farming since the vineyard’s first plantings. Extensive soil preparation, rich composts, careful cover cropping and a consideration to wildlife and terrain makes Macari’s 180 planted acres stand out from the rest. Taking into account the health of the environment as a whole, and moving away from the harmful effects of pesticides to a more natural and meticulous caretaking of the soil and plants, ultimately yields premium wines.”

The bottle that I picked up in my local wine shop was $14.99.  A very nice value.  This is a non vintage bottle, meaning that there is no designated year that the grapes in the bottle come from.  But it is a blend of 50% Merlot and 50% Cabernet Franc.  Two of the best from Long Island.

On the nose I was picking up some cherry, raspberry, plum and some dried herbs.

The taste was a little red currant and cherry.  There was also some roasted coffee bean and some element of ocean water and beach rocks. 

On the finish I was picking up some fresh mint leaves and some cedar and tobacco, just a little at the end. 

In conclusion, I would pick this bottle up at the tasting room.  It does retail there for about $17.  This wine could become a table wine at any dinner party.  It may just fine a place in my cellar for those easy drinking wine nights.