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Forge Cellars Riesling Classique 2014

Forge Cellars Riesling Classique 2014

Forge Cellars Classic Dry Riesling 2014 hasn’t lost its agile edge, though perhaps, there has been a little softening with the passage of time. Lemon yellow in the glass, exhibiting quite tones of lemon drop, yellow peach, waxy yellow apple skin, lemon blossom, chalkboard dust. There’s quite a lot of body, but that signature burst […]

Forge Cellars Les Alliés Finger Lakes Riesling 2014

Forge Cellars Les Alliés Finger Lakes Riesling 2014

Another taught and racy Riesling from Forge Cellars. This time, the grapes are sourced from Les Alliés vineyard, which lies on the east side of Lake Seneca. The vines are planted in shale and gravelly loam, as such, the profile is lean and citrusy, with hints of lemon zest and pear, layered under wet shell […]

Forge Cellars Sunrise Hill Vineyard Finger Lakes Riesling 2014

Forge Cellars Sunrise Hill Vineyard Finger Lakes Riesling 2014

As with the other Forge Rieslings I’ve tried, the 2014 Sunrise Hill Vineyard is lithe and electric. it possesses tactile, nervy tension. The nose is somewhat reserved, though swirling reveals white flowers, lime zest, mint and a pinch of granulated honey. It feels very pure—at the core, a bracing, linear expression is accented by lemon […]

Forge Cellars Harvest Ridge Vineyard Finger Lakes Riesling 2014

Forge Cellars Harvest Ridge Vineyard Finger Lakes Riesling 2014

The first impression is one of petrol and rubber ball on the nose, accented by d’Anjou pear, lemon drop and early spring blossoms. It’s as lean and wiry as I’ve come to expect from Riesling grown in the Finger Lakes region—perhaps even a shade more so—clearly Forge is pushing the envelop in terms of acidity […]

Forge Cellars Finger Lakes ‘Classique’ Pinot Noir 2014

Forge Cellars Finger Lakes 'Classique' Pinot Noir 2014

Forge Cellars is an intriguing collaboration between Louis Barruol, proprietor of St. Cosme in Gigondas, wine grower Rick Rainey, and vintner Justin Boyette. Their 2014 ‘Classique’ Pinot Noir is fine-boned and poised with floral, woodsy aromatics of decaying rose petals, hibiscus, underbrush, and sous bois. It’s translucent quinacridone violet with lean, elegant curves underpinned by […]

Ravines Wine Cellars Dry Riesling 2013

Ravines Wine Cellars Dry Riesling 2013

The 2013 Ravines Dry Riesling boasts a sweet nose of acacia honey, lemon budino pudding, and golden delicious apples—a bit deceptive given the palate, which is lean and nervy, a shock of electric acidity. Lightening-like step leaders dance across the tongue, branching and splitting into lemongrass, petrol and briny oyster shell, all of which neatly […]

Finger Lakes Riesling: A Portrait in Minerality

Hermann J. Wiemer Vineyard

Mid-August marked my first trip to New York, I arrived a day ahead of the Wine Bloggers Conference, granting myself time to acclimate to balmy Upstate New York and perhaps more importantly, time to do a bit of exploring. My friend and fellow wine writer, Thomas Riley was in town ahead of schedule too, and the […]

Finger Lakes Riesling: A Portrait in Minerality

Hermann J. Wiemer Vineyard

Mid-August marked my first trip to New York, I arrived a day ahead of the Wine Bloggers Conference, granting myself time to acclimate to balmy Upstate New York and perhaps more importantly, time to do a bit of exploring. My friend and fellow wine writer, Thomas Riley was in town ahead of schedule too, and the […]

Knapp Dry Rosé 2014

Knapp Dry Rosé 2014

The 2014 Knapp Dry Rosé is a piquant blend of 85% Cabernet Franc 15% and Pinot Noir with delicate aromas of alpine strawberries and cherry blossoms with top note of breezy line-dried linen. It’s equally light and on the palate with supple softness tinged with pomelo and chalk. It’s worth noting that Knapp has too, […]

Hermann J. Wiemer Josef Vineyard Riesling 2013

Hermann J. Wiemer Josef Vineyard Riesling 2013

Another great wine from my recent trip to the Finger Lakes. The Hermann Wiemer Josef Vineyard Riesling 2013 was poured alongside of two other single vineyard designate Rieslings to showcase micro-terroir. True to form, Josef Vineyard is a warmer, more protected site, and the wine is perceptibly lusher than its siblings, with showy notes of […]

CHRISTINE HAVENS
McMinnville, OR

christine@christine-havens.com