Bellwether Wine Cellars, A&D Vineyard Wild Ferment Riesling 2013, Finger Lakes, New York

Tasting Note: A clear golden-colored riesling.

Unlike Bellwether’s other riesling options, this riesling does not have the tiny bubbles that are a signature part of their other white wine offerings.

On the nose there is white grape, caramel and chalky vanilla with just a touch of fall pear.

On the palate, the white grape and pear flavors spring to the front, and the caramel and vanilla flavors recede with the chalkiness remaining solid in the front-seat armrest.

Overall this riesling is medium-minus in flavor intensity, acidity and body. The complexity in flavor that is present in Bellwether’s other riseling offerings is absent here.

Given there were no bubbles, I suspect this bottle may be an anomaly, but if you were trying this riesling for the first time and had spent your money to acquire it as did I, you would have to evaluate based on your available information.

I encourage you to try this yourself. I’ll try to visit the winery again and re-taste as this does seem anomalous for the producer.

Bottle Note: Bellwether Wine Cellars produces single vineyard riesling and pinot noir, allowing for the true expression of Finger Lakes terroir. Our wild ferment riesling is spontaneously fermented with no fining or filtering for a pure demonstration of riesling. TA: 7.5, pH 3.14, RS 0.6%.