TN: 2005 Hermann J. Wiemer Riesling Dry Reserve (Finger Lakes)

WINE TALK
1

2005 Hermann J. Wiemer Riesling Dry Reserve - USA, New York, Finger Lakes (6/23/2009)
This is the best dry Riesling I have ever had from New York State. My wife opened this a few days ago and I just tried it tonight. Beautiful nose of slate, green apples and peaches. Intensely flavorful in the mouth. One of the most intense dry Rieslings I have had from anywhere. This is terrific. The flavors of peach, lemon custard, and wet stones are enhanced by BBQ’ed pork chops. What a pleasure-giving wine! I would think it would drink well for at least 5 years. (93 pts.)

Posted from CellarTracker

2

Sounds great Ken, I havent had one of these in a year or so…and im out!

i was at wiemer last sunday and their current line up is very nice. 07 was a very kind year for the finger lakes. drank an 07 anthony road martini-reinhardt cab franc last night that was delicious.

i got a bottle of the 07 hjw riesling from thier oldest vines on the estate (i think mid 70s) i cant wait to open it!

3

I have a friend that send me this wine annually. The “dry” riesling has quite a bit of residual sugar…

4

the “dry” gewurz has 1.7!

i pointed this out last weekend to the lady, she didnt have a real good answer for me. oh well, the wines are still damn tasty!

5

Yes, it’s probably typical Kabinet level sweetness. Otherwise it probably would not have gone with the pork chops, since there was some sweetness there.

6

I looked on Wine Searcher. It shows the 06 only in NJ and the 07. No 05 left anywhere!

7

I remember enjoying this YEARS ago, pretty cool that you had the chance to try one with a little bottle age.

8

I think I still have one of the 02s left. I should try it soon.

9

The only issue with aging these, besides the constant temptation to open them, is that they seem to follow the German tradition of using really shitty corks. Let us know how the '02 is!

10

Wiemer is great QPR!

11

Love Wiemer. I have never had one with that much age on it. Thanks.

12

I love Hermann Wiemer, the man and the wine. He is such a great character, and I believe he has set the path for the Finger Lakes (following Dr. Frank, of course). California’s model is Mondavi, make everything from Sauvignon Blanc to Cab. But the Finger Lakes can’t sustain that IMO. They should become the Germany of the US and just promote Riesling and Gewurz. Find a way to get Americans to feel comfortable with drinking off-dry and semi-sweet wines that have some class.

Loren, I’m not sure what you mean by age, the 05 or the 02? I still have several bottles of his 95 semi-dry. As Keith said, there are cork problems with some, but the ones that don’t have cork problems are excellent.

Last year, I opened a couple of his trockenbeerenauslese-style wines from 1983 and 1984. They were glorious.

I looked up the notes. It was 4 years ago. Time flies!

1983 Hermann J. Wiemer Individual Bunch Selected Late Harvest Finger Lakes (5/26/05) (2 half bottles)
I had bought several bottles of this wine on closeout at less than $10 back in the late 80’s. I once mentioned to Herman at an event that I still had a few bottles of this. He immediately offered to buy them from me. Now I know why!

First bottle: Dark amber color. Caramel, honey, botrytis nose. Exquisite, complex botrytis flavors in the mouth with great balance and length. Ranks with the best Beerenausleses I’ve ever had! Wow! Wow! Wow! 97 points. My WOTN with 2.2.

Second bottle: Same color. Similar nose and palate, but not as sweet, a hint of sour and a touch bitter. Very similar, but not as good.

Group 2nd WOTN by a clear margin, based on 7 people who had from the first bottle, 5 who had from the second. I was the only one who had from both bottles.

13

Careful !, lest the Dictator of Riesling might flame you. [gen_fro.gif]