When I visited the Finger Lakes for the first time last year as part of the second annual TasteCamp, Wiemer Vineyards was certainly one of my favorite stops. Fred Merwarth, the talented winemaker who took over from the founder a few years ago, produces a highly consistent and delicious range of rieslings, using a natural and well-reasoned approach that gives the wines a clear and crisp expression, faithful to the German style that has characterized the winery since the beginning. This 2009 Dry Riesling is the new release (you may recall I reviewed their 2006 in Palate Press a short time back) from a vintage that produced structured, high-acid wines. It is another successful cuvée, with a beautiful citrusy and slightly floral nose, great freshness and yet a lot of substance, mineral character and weight. Hard to resist now, it will develop well over many years. Highly recommended.
WHO: Hermann J. Wiemer Vineyard
WHAT: Riesling
WHERE: Finger Lakes, NY
WHEN: 2009
HOW MUCH: $17.50
