Hermann J. Wiemer Dry Riesling 2011

Photo by Shirley

When I shop for specific wines, either by producer or varietal, I like to at least bring home a half case or six bottles.  That was the case a few weeks ago when looking for 2011 Rieslings from the New York Finger Lakes.  The day did not start out on a positive note.  The first two shops I visited had zero 2011's in stock, but I found four different producers at Harbor View Wines and Liquors in Syracuse. I have already posted my reviews on three of them while saving the one I expected to be the best for last.  A Hermann J. Wiemer dry Riesling 2011($17)

*Hermann J. Wiemer is regarded as one of the pioneers of viticulture and winemaking in the Finger Lakes.  Hermann’s first Riesling and Chardonnay vintages won Gold in New York competitions. Over the last thirty years, Hermann’s consistency and quality have earned the winery a reputation for being one the nation’s best white wine producers. In the 90s Saveur Magazine declared that “Hermann J. Wiemer produces the finest American grown Riesling”.
In 2007, Hermann officially retired, handing  over the winery to Fred Merwarth, who partnered with his university friend, Swedish agronomist Oskar Bynke, to carry on Hermann’s legacy.
In the last 4 years, the young team has continued with Hermann’s goal of bringing the winery to the world stage. The result is that the highest quality hand-crafted wines are now made for lovers of Rieslings across the US, and in other select markets worldwide. The winery has been recognized for the last 3 years as one of the world’s Top 100 Estates by Wine & Spirits Magazine; Wine Spectator listed the winery on the top 100 Wines in the world in 2010; and critics and  connoisseurs such as Robert Parker, Eric Asimov, Stuart Piggott, consistently mention Hermann J. Wiemer Vineyard as the top Riesling producer in the US.  *(http://wiemer.com/winery/history/)

Surprisingly, I tasted my first Wiemer Riesling just about a year ago and again a few months ago I enjoyed a few glasses of the 2010 Dry Riesling, so I was very elated to find this one available so soon.
Aromas of orange zest, some citrus and a little grapefruit were very aromatic, but I failed to get any of the mineral aromas I have become accustomed to in Finger Lakes wines.  There was a hint of that mineral in the mouth with lots of grapefruit and some sugar plum and key lime pie.  A very soft mouth feel and an extraordinary long smooth finish. Not your typical Finger Lakes Riesling, but a World Class Riesling.
There have only been four 2011 Finger Lakes Rieslings so far, with many more to come, but the Hermann J. Wiemer 2011 Dry Riesling is a standard that will be hard to beat.  Very Highly Recommended