On Sept. 28, I was given the opportunity to participate in a live tasting of the new release Rieslings from the Finger Lakes region of New York State during their annual Riesling Hour.
The Finger Lakes region is characterized by the lakes retaining the summer heat and the winter cold. Due to this microclimate that’s created, the grapes are protected from the early first frosts and they have a moderate climate throughout the year to grow.
The wines I’ve experienced from the Finger Lakes region have always been beautiful, aromatic wines and the Riesling Hour wines didn’t disappoint. From wet stone minerality to muted peach & tropical fruit notes, these wines were amazing. All of the vintages were 2012.
The four I received were:
Dr. Konstantin Frank Dry Riesling
Rooster Hill Vineyards Riesling – Dry
Lamoreaux Landing Riesling
Red Newt Cellars “Circle” Riesling
By far, my favorite was the Dr. Konstantin Frank Dry Riesling. There was a nice wet stone minerality, with hints of citrus on the nose. The acidic quality also came through on the nose. The palate was full and lush with tart green apples, lemons and the wet stone again. I enjoyed this and paired it with maple-mustard glazed Salmon. The sweet/savory mix was HEAVENLY!!!
My other favorite from this tasting was the Lamoreaux Landing. I paired it with local chèvre and bagel chips. The citrus & minerality paired well with the tangy chèvre.
The other two, while tasty, just didn’t seem to hit a home run with me. The Red Newt “Circle” had an odd apple/pear combination that I couldn’t quite get into and the Rooster Hill just seemed like a run-of-the-mill (albeit run-of-the-mill that’s worth the attention) Riesling to me. Of course, your tastebuds will vary from mine, so I encourage you to try these when you get a chance.
Disclaimer: These wines were provided as media samples from the Finger Lakes Wine Alliance.
