February 2003 SELECTIONS

Excerpted from Who Makes the Best Riesling? New York, Baby! by Rod Smith, Los Angeles Times, March 28, 2001 "In the last 10 years or so has the Finger Lakes wine community begun to attract worldwide attention with Riesling, Pinot Noir and sparkling wines that can stand with the world's best. Especially Riesling. Not surprisingly, the Finger Lakes region is quite similar to the best viticultural areas of Germany's Mosel, Saar-Ruwer, Nahe and Rhine river valleys. The combination of deep, narrow lakes and steep bordering ridges particularly resembles the mid-Mosel district, site of some of the world's greatest Riesling vineyards. The ridges provide meager, well-drained soils, angled exposure to the sun and frost-preventing air drainage. The lakes regulate the local climate by tempering the seasonal extremes: The water is warmer than the ambient temperature during winter and cooler during summer, setting up circulation patterns that keep the slopes directly above the lakes suitable for Vitis vinifera, the classic European wine grape. "

In short, New York Riesling is awesome! Here are selections of three different styles.

MAIN SELECTION

2001 Chateau Lafayette Reneau Dry Riesling
Seneca Lake
An appealing peach nose and flavor, perfectly structured to enhance any meal. Dry with elegant melon fruit and notable citrus character. A slight surprising spritz is what makes Chateau Lafayette Reneau's Riesling unique.

2001 Lamoreaux Landing Dry Riesling
Seneca Lake
A classic Riesling with peach aromas and flavors layered with pear and melon. Beautifully balanced, full-bodied and lush with a long crisp finish.

2000 Rivendell Dry Riesling
Finger Lakes
Citrus and peach fruitiness, with floral and mineral highlights. Firm acid structure. The grapes for this wine came from the Wagner Vineyards on the East Side of Seneca Lake.

CWS Member Price: $ 34.99 plus shipping and tax

ALTERNATE SELECTION #1

Off-Dry Riesling

2000 Glenora Vintner's Select Riesling
Seneca Lake
A striking wine with all the right elements of flavor, balance, and mouthfeel. This is a rich and satisfying Riesling that will go well at any table. Made from a special block of grapes that are handpicked on the Glenora Farm.

2001 Red Newt Reserve Riesling
Seneca Lake
This wine is complex with tangerine, apricot and citrus overtones. Crisp, supple and aromatic, this wine is a classically structured Finger Lakes Riesling. Riesling can be an exceptionally versatile wine with a wide variety of foods. This "Reserve" bottling has captured the quintessential personality of Finger Lakes Riesling.

2001 Dr. Konstantin Frank Reserve Riesling
Keuka Lake
A classic, auslese-style Riesling with a lovely balance of peach, nectarine and mineral flavors. Well balanced, produced from some of the oldest plantings in the Finger Lakes.

CWS Member Price: $ 54.99 plus shipping and tax

ALTERNATE SELECTION #2

Alternate Selection #2

2000 Wagner Vineyards Riesling Ice Wine
Seneca Lake
Lush concentrated flavors and aromas fill the palate with a complex blend of apricots, honey and delicate Riesling fruit. An excellent accompaniment to a dessert of bittersweet valentine's chocolate or blue veined cheese or pears.

2000 Pugliese Late Harvest Riesling
Long Island
A dessert wine with rich tropical fruit flavors that go wonderfully with fruit and cheese

2001 Bedell Late Harvest Riesling
Long Island
The grapes for this wine were picked at the peak of perfection and then quickly frozen. Fermentation took place over several months. The resulting wine is a thick, high sugar juice with exotic flavors of ginger, peaches, pears and mango. It's best served alone or with no-too- sweet treats like biscotti or foie gras.

CWS Member Price: $ 64.99 plus shipping and tax