Before I begin, there is no more of this wine at Shinn Estate Vineyards tasting room.  But if you look around your local wine shop or search on-line, you maybe able to get your hands on some.

Shinn Estate Vineyards in Mattituck grows and bottles their own Sauvignon Blanc.  Sauvignon Blanc is the quintessential summer wine on Long Island and at Shinn Vineyards they make Sauvignon Blanc well.  I know that the summer is over, but this is one wine that I cellar and have occasional throughout the fall and winter.

In years past you may have seen some Semillon blended into their First Fruit wine.  But not this 2009 vintage.  Shinn Estate vineyards calls it First Fruit because it is the first fruit harvested at Shinn Estate Vineyards.

Shinn Estate vineyards 2009 “First Fruit” Sauvignon Blanc ($23) is one of the best Sauvignon Blanc’s on Long Island.  Consistency is what brings people back year after year, and Shinn Estate Vineyards has been producing consistently great “First Fruit” for as long as I can recall.

On the nose I was picking up some tropical fruit aroma like kiwi, melon and some grapefruit.  There was a touch of some fresh sage as the wine sat in my glass for a while along with a hint of ripe pear.

On the palate the Sauvignon Blanc brought this deliciousl herbal note that I have grown to love in Sauvignon Blanc.  Grapefruit dominated with hints of citrus and mint.  It was clean and refreshing with a grassy, beach rock minerality.

The finish was nice with a hint of the tropics but fresh-cut herbs seemed to linger on the palate.

I love this wine with roasted chicken on my rotisserie with herb roasted potatoes, or pasta with homemade creamy goat cheese and herb sauce.  This “First Fruit” screams summer and fish, but enjoy it by itself with friends no matter what the time of year it is.  In fact, if you can get your hands on some of this wine, have it with raw,  just from the shell, right out of the bay, local Peconic Bay Scallops, they happen to be in season now.  Hungry? Thirsty?  I know I am.