2013 Hermann J. Wiemer, Riesling, Dry, Estate, Seneca Lake, Finger Lakes, New York.
American Riesling is alive and well, with new and old faces making some terrific wines, like Tatomer in Santa Barbara, Stony Hill, Casa Nuestra and Tudor as well in California, there are some great wines coming out of the Pacific Northwest with Oregon and Washington making some real treats, but if you want to best and the most interesting American Riesling, there is just one place and that is Wiemer in the Finger Lakes region of New York that stands above the rest. The Weimer’s family came from Germany and the vines are Mosel clones from Bernkastel, but the talented Fred Merwarth has brought international frame to this estate since he took over the vineyard in 2007, in fact his wines convoked Johannes Selbach to team up with Paul Hobbs to start an American Riesling winery in the Finger Lakes. The 2013 Weimer Dry Riesling is vibrant and old world style white with an American touch, it shows lovely floral and savory elements, tension/vivid acidity and delicate fruitiness with white peach, grapefruit, lime and green apple notes along with soil (Shale) driven layers of mineral, flinty spice and chalky stones, it finishes crisp and lean, but with a lengthy aftertaste. It is a pure Riesling that takes it’s cues from Germany, but has interesting elements that highlight it’s own terroir, it is unlike Alsace (France), Clare Valley (Australia) or the Wachau (Austria), but has little touches that makes you think of all those places. The last few vintages have been majestic for Weimer, but I adore this 2013 and think it is the best yet, a great American wine story in a glass, perfect for the 4th of July and watching the World Cup!
($20 Est.) 92 Points, grapelive
