Josh G.
Yelp
I feel like my usual start to any winery/vineyard review is that I'm not a big wine guy...but maybe at this point I'm more of one? I mean I do like the occasional glass and I'll order other things (besides beer) so perhaps I've reached that point of libation balance...or perhaps it was Rose Hill that finally pushed me over the edge. Back in July my wife and I visited here and it was quite a tasty trip.
Located a little off the beaten path, Rose Hill has a very chill vibe, albeit with an Eastern Long Island/North Fork price tag. The items available are not the cheapest, but the quality was mostly there to warrant the cost. Before we get to what was ordered, I'll go back to saying the setup was lax with a handful of umbrella-covered tables nestled between the Rose Hill buildings and opposite the rows of vines. It gave off a feeling of not entirely being on Long Island which was a nice start.
What was also nice was the staff. Some younger people working, but they were relatively tentative and friendly. Our wine (her flight and my glass) came out quickly as did the olives and bread with ricotta spread. The food was delicious though it can be difficult to ruin such simple things. More importantly, the wine was quite good. My wife had a variety of flavors that I liked, but to be honest, I don't remember them.
This is not to say they weren't enjoyable, but my focus was more on one word: Mojo. Their Cabernet Franc wine was superb (with the Mojo name) and it hit me in a way that many wines just don't. There was some nice smokey and fruity notes which were so perfect I had to buy a bottle. Now I might sound cheap, but I don't usually purchase $30+ bottles of wine, so for me to grab this bottle meant something. Having said that, I don't know how often I would shell out the cash.
Overall, Rose Hill was a fine winery with a nice setup, good grub (for the small bites we got) and some hefty wines. I'm not a four dollar sign Yelp guy (or even three much of the time) yet Yelp has this spot listed as only two dollar marks. Hmm. Maybe I'm penny pinching in my older age? Regardless, I'd gladly return to Rose Hill if I was looking for a vineyard that I know will be enjoyable.