Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2020 Dry Riesling comes in with 4.7 grams per liter of residual sugar, seven grams of total acidity and 12.8% alcohol. Rich, ripe and fruity, this exuberant Dry Riesling lacks a bit of an edge on opening, but that is mostly about perception at the moment. That is, it seems lush, deep and luscious. It tastes great. The acidity is initially hidden, while this is more fruit driven at first. I suspect in time that perception will change a bit. As a test, I kept it open for another hour, and the acidity came through much more clearly. This is still very young and was only in bottle for about nine weeks when tasted. It looks like a winner. It is worth leaning up on this for the moment.
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Wine Enthusiast
Bright lemony fruit mixes with lime zest and white blossoms in this zesty, dry Riesling. It offers vibrancy and lift thanks to juicy acidity, with a crushed stone note trailing off on the finish. Best Buys
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.
As the most historic wine-producing region in New York state, winemaking in the Finger Lakes area dates back to the 1820s and today as a region, accounts for 90% of the state’s total wine production.
Its narrow and deep lakes created by the movement of Ice Age glaciers create an environment similar to the classic Riesling-loving regions of Europe, namely Germany and Austria. The Finger Lakes retain summer heat that incidentally warms up cold winter air, making it fall down from the lakes’ steep slopes. When spring comes, the lakes, already cooled by cold winter weather, stave off vine budding until the danger of frost has subsided. The main lakes of the zone, that is those big enough to moderate the climate in this way, are the focal points of prime vineyard areas. They include Canandaigua, Keuka, Seneca and Cayuga.
While Riesling has fueled most of the region’s success, today Pinot Noir and Cabernet Franc enjoy some attention.