Finger Lakes 2010 Riesling tasting notes

For my article about the 2010 Riesling vintage of the Finger Lakes I tasted close to 40 Rieslings. Some of the wines were tasted blind at a trade tasting of the Finger Lakes Wine Allianca (FLWA) in September 2011. The ones tasted at home were, as usual, tasted over the course of two days both with and without food. Following are tasting notes of those Rieslings that stood out.

Hermann J. Wiemer 2010 Riesling Late Harvest

Fred Merwarth's late picked 2010 Riesling is an aromatic opus dei. Pronounced intensity of peach, tangerine and honey aromas, distinctly spicy and herbal. Sweet on the palate, medium(+) acidity. Balanced. Pronounced flavor intensity of tangerine, honey and minerals. Slightly spicy. Medium(+) length. Deep and concentrated Riesling with excellent balance of sweetness and acidity. Very good - excellent | $23

Sheldrake Point 2010 Riesling Icewine

Although technically an icewine from the 2009 vintage the grapes were hand-picked in January 2010. Hence, by law, it has to be labeled as a 2010 wine. As confusing as that may be Sheldrake Point's grapes breathed a few weeks of 2010. It certainly has enough acidity to handle the 283 grams of residual sugar. In fact, one of this icewine's striking character traits is its playful balance of acidity and sweetness. It has a youthful aroma with a pronounced intensity of honey and crushed berries. Very fresh and appetizing it is also lusciously sweet and is a wine to keep for years to come. Very good - excellent | $50

Hermann J. Wiemer 2010 Riesling Dry

This spontaneously fermented Riesling is the most expressive dry estate Rieslings of Wiemer I have tasted. The warm growing season of the 2010 vintage shows well in the moist ripeness of the fruit and sufficient acidity balances its ornate style. It is very perfumed and floral on the nose, the fruit aroma is luscious and accentuated by spices, so concentrated that they are almost reminiscent of a Gewürztraminer. Hints of sweet citrus fruit round up a complex aroma. Concentrated flavors of bitter grapefruit and apricot, spicy and positively baroque. Very good | $18

Red Newt Cellars 2010 Riesling Dry

Refreshingly youthful nose with a medium intensity of pear fruit and stone aromas. Dry on the palate, medium acidity and alcohol. Medium intensity of citrus fruit and mineral flavors. Medium length with a mineral finish. Although this Riesling is bone-dry it does have a pleasant soft mouthfeel, which may be attributed to the extended lees contact after fermentation. Good - very good | $17

Dr. Frank's Vinifera Wine Cellars 2010 Riesling Dry

Perfumed on the nose, bruised apple aroma, but somewhat muted. More pronounced on the palate, concentrated, ripe apple flavors with a touch or minerality. Very soft mouthfeel with well balanced alcohol and medium length. Good - very good | $15 | (FLWA tasting)

Ravines Wine Cellars 2010 RieslingDry

Very refreshing citrus aroma with a nice touch of spices. Dry, medium alcohol and acidity. Citrus and mineral, slightly smokey flavors. Medium length with mineral finish. Good - very good | $16 | (FLWA tasting)

Lakewood Vineyards 2010 Riesling

Nose is very earthy, yet with a fresh citrus and mineral aroma. Sweet on the palate, nicely balanced by medium acidity. Peach flavor with minerality of subtle vigor during a medium(+) length. Good - very good. | $13 | (FLWA tasting)

Hosmer Winery 2010 Riesling "Vintner's Reserve"

Pale lemon color. Very appealing floral nose with juicy pear aroma. Dry, medium acidity and body. Apple flavors with a hint of spice. Medium length. Good - very good. | $25 | (FLWA tasting)

Rooster Hill Vineyards 2010 Riesling Dry

Nice spicy aroma of ripe stone fruit. Not sure why this is labeled dry as it tasted almost sweet. Creamy mouthfeel of sombre stone fruit flavors, with a very nice vibrancy. Medium(+) length. Good - very good. | $16 | (FLWA tasting)

McGregor Vineyard 2010 Riesling Semi-Dry

Very interesting aroma of ripe peach and a distinctly earthy scent of barnyard and smoke. Sweet on the palate, medium(+) acidity, nicely balanced. Flavors of apple and bread crust with a slightly spicy finish. Good - very good. | $14 | (FLWA tasting)

Anthony Road Wine Company 2010 Riesling Dry

Clean citrus aroma of medium intensity. Slightly off-dry on the palate, warm and round fruit flavors and a hint of spice. Medium(+) length. Elegant and well-balanced Riesling. Good | $17 | (FLWA tasting)

Seneca Shore Wine Cellars 2010 Riesling Dry

Pronounced perfumed apple aroma, warm and elegant. Dry on the palate. Somber, concentrated apple flavors. Relatively high alcohol of 13.1% is well integrated. Medium(+) length. Good - very good. | $12 | (FLWA tasting)

Silver Thread 2010 Riesling Semi-Dry

Pale straw color. Medium intensity of pear and tarragon aromas. Sweet on the palate with medium acidity and medium alcohol. Ripe, soft fruit flavors with a touch of spices and herbs. Elegant soft and balanced Riesling with a medium length. Good | $17

Red Newt Wine Cellars 2010 Riesling "Circle"

The aroma can be summed up by one word: piercing. Very refreshing peach and mineral aroma. The Riesling is sweet and savory with a medium intensity of apple, peach and a spicy finish. Good | $13

Heron Hill 2010 Riesling Semi-Dry

Heron Hill's 2010 Semi-Dry is very similar in style to its 2010 Semi-Sweet Riesling. Medium intensity of tropical fruit and sweet tarragon aromas. Sweet on the palate, but the acidity is quite lively and balances the residual sugar well. Medium(+) intensity of peach flavors with a touch of spice towards the finish. Good | $14

Keuka Lake Vineyards 2010 Semi-Dry

Quite complex aroma of slightly oxidized stone fruit, fresh grapefruit, bees wax and perfume. Off-dry on the palate. Appetizing bitter grapefruit flavor with a nice spicy finish. Medium length. Good | $18 | (FLWA tasting)

Thirsty Owl Wine Company 2010 Riesling

Pure citrus aroma. Sweet, medium(+) acidity. Soft, jammy fruit flavors. Medium(+) length with a nice herbal and leafy finish. Good | $14 | (FLWA tasting)

Fulkerson Winery 2010 Dry Riesling

Nice, slightly perfumed aroma of grapefruit and stones. Dry on the palate, medium acidity. Medium alcohol and body. Medium(+) intensity of apple and bitter grapefruit, quite spicy. Medium length with a slightly hot finish. Fulkerson's dry Riesling underwent full malo-lactic fermentation and spent 5 months on its lees, which is rather unusual for Riesling, but it gives a nice roundness to balance the dryness in this wine.
Good | $13

Atwater Estate Vineyards 2010 Riesling Dry

Pale, almost watery lemon color. Medium intensity of citrus fruit, hay and candied pear aroma. Dry on the palate with a very crisp acidity. Medium alcohol and body. Medium intensity of citrus flavors, pear and a dash of minerality. Medium length with a peppery finish. Very lively Riesling, fruit-forward, linear. And just when you think that's it comes that nice spicy touch towards the end. Good | $16

Wagner Vineyards 2010 Riesling Dry

Youthful and refreshing aroma of citrus and green pear, with a hint of minerals and florals. It is quite dry on the palate, with medium(+) acidity and medium alcohol and body. Medium intensity of grapefruit, pear and mineral flavors. Medium length with a nice perfumed and slightly peppery finish. Good | $13

Standing Stone Vineyards 2010 Riesling

Medium lemon color and a medium intensity of citrus aroma, stones, bees wax and - after some time in the glass - a nice whiff of hay. Slightly off-dry on the palate. The acidity is medium(+), but at this point still a bit unfocused. Medium alcohol and body. Medium intensity of apple and juicy yellow pear flavors. Medium length with a spicy, mineral finish. Good | $14

Read the first part: Finger Lakes 2010 Riesling vintage