If you love crisp whites, there are few places better than the Finger Lakes.  With a cool climate, Rieslings from the regions are particularly good, loaded with fruit.  While there are many great producers in the areas, Wagner is one of the best.  While I’ve talked in the past about how good Wagner’s offerings are, their Wagner Caywood East Vineyard Riesling is exceptional and deserves a place at your holiday table.

Sight:  A shimmering straw color

Smell:  Nectarines and apricots come together with a crisp crack of lime and wet stone. Beautiful nuances of honey and clover run throughout the nose.  Fresh golden delicious apples and hints of poached pear join to complete the mix of warm and cold climates. Simultaneously, the fruit and floral work together to build each other up.

Sip:  The brightness is sky high, and as it almost shimmers across your palate.  Perfumed nectarines are met with ripe limes, and flavors of honeysuckle, jasmine, and apricot all burst forth in a competition for room to plead their case.  Notes of wet stone, and a little spice add complexity.

Savor:  The finish is crisp, with a lot of lime and nectarine left over. The finish carries an unbelievable distance, lacing in more floral notes, and touches of spice.

Wagner Caywood East Vineyard Riesling is nothing short of phenomenal.  The crispness of the body is unbelievable but doesn’t wash out the palate or create bitterness.  The flavors of fruit are well defined, and the complexity of the floral elements is perfectly layered.  Wagner Caywood East Vineyard Riesling is nothing short of a show-stopper and deserves a place under any Riesling lover’s tree.

Verdict: Nectarine, Lime, Crisp, Honeysuckle
Rating: 94
Price: $18
Finger Lakes, New York

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