Finger Lakes Riesling Roundup - Round Two!
This year I once again had the opportunity to taste a number of Rieslings from the Finger Lakes as part of the Finger Lakes Wine Alliance Riesling Hour. Riesling is huge in the Finger Lakes. As I noted in last year's post there are over 1,000 acres of Riesling being grown in this area that result in over 100,000 of cases of Riesling annually from 200 different brands. But the thing that impressed me even more this year was the quality of the four wines I tasted, all priced at under $15!
With that, let's move right into the reviews! Up first is the 2011 Fulkerson Winery Semi-Dry Riesling with an SRP of $13 and available for as low as $10.
From the bottle:
"The noble grape that superbly in our shale soil shows off in another style. Our semi-dry has a flowery nose backed up by tropical fruit. The nice mouth feel expresses tastes of crisp apple and peach that will excite your taste buds. Enjoy with roast pork, ham, glazed ribs and chicken with cream sauces.
11.0% Alcohol"
The 2011 Fulkerson Winery Semi-Dry Riesling begins with very pleasant aromas of apple, honey, peach and a little pineapple. The wine tastes sweet and light (delicate even) with lemon, apple and nectarine flavors. Quite good although the finish is a bit short.
See a listing of local retailers selling this wine here.
Next up was my favorite of the night, the 2011 Red Newt Cellars Semi-Dry Riesling with an SRP of $14 and available for as low as $12.
From the bottle:
"Riesling is the flagship wine grape variety of the Finger Lakes and truly shines when balanced with a touch of sweetness. Crisp and aromatic in the glass, Red Newt Semi-Dry is the ultimate expression of the Finger Lakes style. Bursting with layers of ripe pineapple, starfruit, kiwi, and mango, the palate is an expression of the perfect climate for Riesling. Subtle sweetness up front is delicately balanced for a clean, fresh finish, and is ideal for flavorful, spicy cuisine.
10.1% Alcohol"
The 2011 Red Newt Cellars Semi-Dry Riesling begins with aromas of pear, honey and even some mineral notes. The wine has good balance and tastes excellent with lots of sweet pear and honey along with some spicy white pepper. It finishes clean with good length.
See a listing of local retailers selling this wine here.
Third is the 2011 Three Brothers Zero Degree Dry Riesling with an SRP of $14 and available for as low as $12.
From the bottle:
"Designed to showcase the versatility of the Finger Lakes Riesling grape, and the wine's unique ability to be finished either dry or sweet. You decide...which degree do you prefer?
11.0% Alcohol"
The 2011 Three Brothers Zero Degree Dry Riesling begins with a bit subdued aroma of apple and peach. It tastes great with a whole lot of fruit flavor covering up the wine's dryness. It's actually quite nice to have a wine with so much fruit that is not overly sweet. The finish is medium-long and features more apple flavors.
See a listing of local retailers selling this wine here.
Last up is the 2011 Wagner Vineyards Dry Riesling, with an SRP of $13 and available for as low as $9.
From the winery:
"Wagner Vineyards is an estate bottled winery, currently farming over 200 acres of grapes, including more than 50 acres of Riesling. We ferment our Riesling at cool temperatures to preserve the delicate fruit character and bottle early, allowing it to gain complexity in the bottle. Our experience has shown that, given proper storage conditions, Riesling from Wagner Vineyards will continue to improve and develop for 5-7 years.
11.6% Alcohol"
The 2011 Wagner Vineyards Dry Riesling begins with nice light aromas of tropical fruit and apple. The wine tastes lightly sweet with citrus, nectarine, pineapple and honey flavors but also has some good minerality. Those flavors turn a bit tart on the finish.
See a listing of local retailers selling this wine here.
