New York Cork Report

• By Lenn Thompson
  11/19/2009 (link) 4 out of 5 stars

  (Raphael Cabernet Sauvignon North Fork Long Island) I count this wine as one of those classics, and it solidifies Raphael on an extremely short list of dependable local cabernet sauvignon producers. Ripe but balanced and elegant, the nose shows black cherry and blackberry fruit with strong chickory-coffee presence, a minty-eucalyptus note and subtle spice. Firm but ripe and well-integrated tannins provide good structure for black fruit flavors with layers of dark-roast coffee, leaf tobacco, earthy dried leaves and herbs and a distinct minty-eucalyptus note. The finish is lengthy and shows more of that minty and spice character. I was still drinking this one 3 days after it was opened, so it seems well-suited to at least short-term aging. Get some if you can (it's flying out of the tasting room because of a recent high score in a glossy wine magazine) and feel confident holding it for at least 5-7 years. Or open it now and enjoy it. That's what wine is about.