Winemaker Notes
Aromas of citrus, candied lemon, pear, apple and wet stones. On the palate there are hints of apple, lime zest and kiwi. A lovely breadth and length in the wine. Crisp and bright with a pleasant mouthfeel.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
Old school opulence in the form of kerosene, raw honey and melted wax dominates here, with the yellow stone fruit and citrus taking a back seat. The palate is equally rich and textural with a lovely lift of tangy acidity. Unmistakably of its place and variety, this will deliver in spades if paired well, perhaps with a salty cheese.
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James Suckling
For just 11.3% alcohol, this is a surprisingly generous and juicy riesling with stacks of white tree fruit and a touch of gooseberry. Everything fits nicely on the palate and the finish is solid without being tart.
Riesling possesses a remarkable ability to reflect the character of wherever it is grown while still maintaining its identity. A regal variety of incredible purity and precision, this versatile grape can be just as enjoyable dry or sweet, young or old, still or sparkling and can age longer than nearly any other white variety. Somm Secret—Given how difficult it is to discern the level of sweetness in a Riesling from the label, here are some clues to find the dry ones. First, look for the world “trocken.” (“Halbtrocken” or “feinherb” mean off-dry.) Also a higher abv usually indicates a drier Riesling.
Increasingly garnering widespread and well-deserved attention, New York ranks third in wine production in the United States (after California and Washington). Divided into six AVAs—the Finger Lakes, Lake Erie, Hudson River, Long Island, Champlain Valley of New York and the Niagara Escarpment, which crosses over into Michigan as well as Ontario, Canada—the state experiences varied climates, but in general summers are warm and humid while winters are very cold and can carry the risk of frost well into the growing season.
The Finger Lakes region has long been responsible for some of the country’s finest Riesling, and is gaining traction with elegant, light-bodied Pinot Noir and Cabernet Franc. Experimentation with cold-hardy European varieties is common, and recent years have seen the successful planting of grapes like Grüner Veltliner and Saperavi (from the Eastern European country of Georgia). Long Island, on the other hand, has a more maritime climate influenced by the Atlantic Ocean, and shares some viticultural characteristics with Bordeaux. Accordingly, the best wines here are made from Merlot and Cabernet Franc. The Niagara Escarpment is responsible for excellent ice wines, usually made from the hybrid variety, Vidal.