The Ravines Riesling is estate-grown in two vineyards, one on each side of Seneca Lake. The soils are a jumble of limestone, clay, loam, and shale. The grapes were hand harvested and whole-cluster pressed, and some lots saw some skin contact. The wine fermented in stainless steel and aged on fine lees until bottling in early spring.
The result is a moony yellow color with the scent of wet rocks, lamp oil, orange blossom, and citrus. Firm acidity carries flavors of lemon and barely ripe stone fruit, and at the finish the wine glows like a lemony candle. The modest three grams per liter of residual sugar amiably offset the tartness.
Youthful, fruit-driven, and refreshing, this is a good wine for new and bloomy-rind goat cheese, salads with a vinaigrette, or fish or poultry drizzled with lemon-citrus butter.
2017 Ravines Dry Riesling Finger Lakes
12.5% ABV | $20 (sample)