Forge Cellars, Willow Dry Riesling, Seneca Lake

This is actually really good. I have never had a Finger Lakes Riesling before and was very excited to find this at just $19. And well, it did not disappoint. The wine is balanced, complex, and impressively long. The colour is strange deep golden. The wine smells of wax, flowers, and clover honey. White pepper. Seems like there is a little bit of cottage cheese, so maybe some lees contact? Most strangely, there is quince, kumquat, and a little linseed …

Prior bottle was 11 months ago and this wine has evolved along the lines I'd expected. Pear, lemon, lime and other softer citrus notes along with mineral and white apple on the nose. Now, this wine is nearly as aromatic as the 2020. Between light and medium bodied with soft pear and brighter pear upfront, adding white apple through the middle and even a touch of white peach through the back. Acidity on the back still has a nice touch …

Starting to get a little yellow. Lots of honey on the nose; on the palate, lemon and saline and a little curd, with plenty of minerality. Takes on a deliciously peachy note on the finish with more time open. 1.5g/L RS, with well balanced acidity.

Previously tasted at the winery a bit over three months ago, this was my first from bottle. Pear, lemon and mineral notes on the nose and not quite as aromatic as the 2020. Between light and medium bodied with pear upfront, adding some white apple through the middle. Backside helps this wine out a lot as the acidity, lemon and tart white orchard fruits works well with the mid-body fruit and the mineral notes on the finish. The result is …

Tasted at the winery. previously tasted at the winery 7 months ago and the wine has started to open up as I'd hoped. Mixed, tart white orchard fruits on the nose along with a touch of minerals. Between light and medium bodied with varied white orchard fruit notes upfront and through the middle, showing a bit more depth and openness through the middle now. Tart citrus and acidity provide positive tension on the backside and work well with the developing …

It is a pleasant wine, but not very distinctive.

Tasted at the winery. Pear and mineral notes on the nose and a bit more aromatic than the Sunrise Hill it was tasted alongside. Between light and medium bodied with very clean, white orchard fruits the dominant fruit notes. Has a touch more depth through the middle than prior vintages from this vineyard site, which is impressive, considering the vintage. There's good definition through the middle, aided by the acidity and citrus notes on the backside. Very rounded yet expressive …

Cirtus, mineral, some stone fruit.