'06 Wiemer Semi-Dry Riesling

[Innkeeper]

2006 Hermann J. Wiemer, Semi-Dry, Finger Lakes, Riesling ($18). Alcohol level: 12.1%. One of the last wines that Hermann had a hand in before selling the winery this year. There was no R.S. on the label, but it seems dryer than normal in this vintage. It is now more like an MSR Spatlese than one from the Rheingau. This is verified by the supertaster I sleep with.

It is still both a very good example of a Finger Lakes Riesling and very Germanic one. It gives citrus, apple, and pear on the nose and upfront. A concentration on the fruits in the complexity on the palate, and a wonderfully lingering finish for a SW.

We matched it with more turkey, stuffing, and gravy from Thanksgiving and green peas. A very nice Monday night.

We will be drinking a lot more wine before they start the radiation next week.

[Innkeeper]

Popped another one yesterday afternoon. Our eldest daughter and grandson were here for a luncheon dinner. We had baked ham, sweet potatoes, Italian green beans, and bisquits. All enjoyed the wine and it matched very well with the food.

[TheEngineer]

Great match indeed! Love Ham and Riesling together.

[Innkeeper]

We popped an '07 last night. We paid $19.99 each for two at Bremer's in Utica in June. The alcohol is down to 11.5%.

Like the '06 the sweetness in this one was barely detectable. Never-the-less it is a very rich wine with the usual Wiemer notes of apple, pear, and citrus on the nose and upfront. The fruit concentrated in the complex middle, and the finish was divine.

We matched it with well seasoned pork chops grilled over charcoal and hickory chips, cous cous, cole slaw, and sliced tomatoes. A very nice Labor Day repast.

[Innkeeper]

Ever open what seems to be the perfect bottle of wine? Well we did last night with the last of our Wiemer '07s. The timing, temperature, ambiance, et al came together for that moment. The wine was simply absolutely delightful.

We enjoyed it with sauteed pork chops, rolls, and our first sliced Brandywine tomato of the year!

Very nice Tuesday night.

[TheEngineer]

Its rare for me as I've not that much experience still but when it doesn (like a recent bottle of the 02 Clos Rougeard), you want to cry its so beautiful! Nice night indeed

[Thomas]

First sliced Brandywine? It must have been a worse summer your way than here. We are done with our tomatoes--have the final 12 San Marsano waiting for sauce processing and all edible tomatoes are history.

And yes, hitting the right wine at the right moment is a joy trip.

[Kcwhippet]

I was thinking the same thing, Foodie. Our tomatoes have pretty much already given up almost all their fruits. We had our first Brandywines back in August. Then again, IK is up in the frozen north where you can miss summer altogether if you take too long a nap.

[Innkeeper]

We had a very wet spring and early summer. The problem was wet blossoms. Once the plants dried out, the bees got busy, and we had a fairly good, but late crop. We sliced up a 2 lb Brandywine last night and enjoyed it with sliced Mozzarella, basil leaves, and vinaigrette.

We still have a few more various fruits on the vines, and about ten lbs finishing up rippening inside.

Incidentally we are heading to Utica again on Monday, but can only stay one night and won't be getting over to the Finger Lakes. We will stock up again at Bremer's.