Just so you know - I wrote here on Sunday, 9/20, about NY Rieslings and how great the 2006 vintage was and how the 2007 was as good. Since then this breaking news:
STRONG SHOWING FOR 2007 RIESLINGS IN WINE SPECTATOR
The Just-Released 2007 Finger Lakes Rieslings Garner High Praise
Finger Lakes Wine Country, NY (September 22, 2008) - The wineries of Finger Lakes Wine Country have become internationally recognized for their world-class Rieslings and Wine Spectator is just one of the latest magazines to agree. In the 2007 Finger Lakes Riesling Tasting Report and in the wine ratings database available online at www.winespectator.com, nineteen 2007 Finger Lakes Rieslings received reviews that are considered by the magazine to be very good to good. The 2007 vintage was one of the best in recent history for the Finger Lakes. The warm, dry season created excellent growing conditions for many varietals including Riesling.
How do I know what NY Rieslings to buy, you ask?
Here's the list of the best for 2007:
RAVINES Riesling Finger Lakes Dry Argetsinger Vineyard 2007 Score: 89 | $25
ANTHONY ROAD Riesling Finger Lakes Dry 2007 Score: 88 | $15
ANTHONY ROAD Riesling Finger Lakes Semi-Dry 2007 Score: 88 | $16
ANTHONY ROAD Riesling Finger Lakes Semi-Sweet 2007 Score: 88 | $14
ATWATER ESTATE Riesling Finger Lakes Dry 2007 Score: 88 | $18
DR. KONSTANTIN FRANK Riesling Finger Lakes Dry 2007 Score: 88 | $17
STANDING STONE Riesling Finger Lakes 2007 Score: 88 | $14
BELHURST ESTATE Riesling Seneca Lake Semi-Dry 2007 Score: 87 | $18
KING FERRY Riesling Cayuga Lake Treleaven Dry 2007 Score: 87 | $15
KNAPP Riesling Finger Lakes Dry 2007 Score: 87 | $15
LAKEWOOD Riesling Finger Lakes 2007 Score: 87 | $13
SHELDRAKE POINT Riesling Finger Lakes 2007 Score: 87 | $16
SHELDRAKE POINT Riesling Finger Lakes Dry 2007 Score: 87 | $16
ROOSTER HILL Riesling Finger Lakes Dry 2007 Score: 87 | $14
FOX RUN Riesling Finger Lakes 2007 Score: 86 | $14
DR. KONSTANTIN FRANK Riesling Finger Lakes Semi-Dry 2007 Score: 86 | $15
SWEDISH HILL Riesling Finger Lakes 2007 Score: 86 | $15
HAZLITT 1852 Riesling Finger Homestead Reserve 2007 Score: 86 | $18
SHELDRAKE POINT Riesling Finger Lakes Ice Wine 2007 Score: 86 | $75 (375ml.)
NOTES on Sweet TasteFinger Lakes Wine Country, in upstate New York, is home to the largest concentration of wineries east of California, with more than 100 wineries producing world-class wines including Riesling, Pinot Gris, Vidal Blanc, Chardonnay, Gewurztraminer, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Lemberger, and Pinot Noir on over 9000 acres. For more information about Finger Lakes Wine Country and its wineries visit: www.fingerlakeswinecountry.com.
Unlike Champagne, where Dry means sweet, with white wines such as Riesling, Dry means Dry, and Semi-Dry is sweeter, with a higher RS or Residual Sugar content. Dry wines may have little residual sugar (0.1 to 0.2 percent) while semi-dry wines are higher in residual sugar (usually 1 to 3 percent.) Just to add to the confusion, some wines, especially "big" reds, may have a high RS but not taste sweet because a high amount of acidity, fruitiness and/or tannins will balance it.
Richard Frisbie, FOOD Correspondent:
RICHARD FRISBIE is published twice a month to Gather Essentials: Food. It is a food junkie's take on growing, raising, preparing and - above all else - eating food. Together we’ll explore the trends, addictions, equipment and regional specialties that make up the sometimes mundane and sometimes sublime cooking and dining experience. You can keep up with my other postings and Gather activity by joining my Gather network -- I look forward to hearing from you.
You can read all of my articles http://rfrisbie.gather.com/
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Comments: 16
I'm more of a Chardonnay fan, but I just like to say Gewurztraminer. It's one of those fun words.
Thanks Robyn - the sweetness is the key. I'm a dry fan myself - but I tasted all the above wines just 2 weeks ago - it is a fantastic selection of wines.
The gathering of Gatherers in the Finger Lakes didn't hapen last year. It was this year, and at my house in Mayberry. Next year we're aiming at the Finger Lakes, but I'd be happy to have everyone here again.
(I still think the Gatherers event mentioned previously should be here at the shore, but what do I know?)
And what fun I had. I had the sense to go from booth to booth and say - "I'm just tasting the Rieslings this year" After last year's "I'm only tasting Ice Wines" comment they knew who I was. Great wines!
Ina, now I know how to spell "Gewürztraminer" - just cut and paste it - SMART! (see the umlaut?) The Finger Lakes sound like fun. Make sure to tour NYS's Food and Wine Center!
Hello Dorine! David - our wine expert here on Gather - needs this list too. He said he wanted to learn more about Rieslings.
David Schildknecht of the Wine Advocate just rated four Finger Lakes wines from the 2007 vintage.
Herman J Wiemer 2007 Finger Lakes Riesling Late Harvest score: 88 / $25
Lamoreaux Landing 2007 Finger Lakes Cabernet Franc T 23 score: 88 / $18
Herman J Wiemer 2007 Finger Lakes Johannisberg Riesling Dry score: 87 / $19
Anthony Road 2007 Finger Lakes Riesling Semi Dry score: 86 / $15
The 2007 vintage was one of the best in recent history for the Finger Lakes. The warm, dry season created excellent growing conditions for many varietals including Riesling and Cabernet Franc. With this year’s harvest already underway, the 2008 holds promise as being as another excellent year for white varietals, especially Riesling, the region’s flagship grape.
Unfortunately, there seems to be a glass ceiling where a wine from the region has a slim chance to rate 90 or above. IMHO, I have compared many German and Alsatian Riesling that were rated in the 90's and in many cases didn't understand how they would have been considered so much better than say a Chateau LaFayette Reneau Johannesburg Riesling or a Dr. Frank's Riesling Finger Lakes Reserve. The same could be said for the comparative ratings from Washington State.