2023 Forge Cellars - Dry Riesling Seneca Lake Freese Vineyard (750ml)
Forge Cellars' 2023 Dry Riesling from Freese Vineyard on Seneca Lake's southeastern shore delivers a precise, terroir-driven expression of American Riesling. This single-vineyard wine embodies the Finger Lakes' cool-climate character with an Old World sensibility, showcasing careful attention to site and craft.
Critics have celebrated the vintage, including a 95-point score from James Suckling, who praises generous stone-fruit aromas and a full, inviting body. Wine Advocate describes it as perhaps Forge's most Finger Lakes‑typical offering—silky on the palate with scents of apples, peaches, citrus, and dried spices, finishing with remarkable length.
The winemaking emphasizes texture and place: wild-fermented in neutral puncheon oak casks and matured on the lees for ten months. The result is a wine of textural depth and precision that remains bone-dry and age-worthy, making it essential for anyone curious about what the Finger Lakes can truly achieve with Riesling.
Tasting notes
- Aromas of stone fruits with hints of apples, peaches, and citrus
- Silky-textured palate with depth from lees aging and careful extraction
- Saline minerality that underscores the wine's saline-teeming terroir
- Long, refined finish supported by ample fine tannins
- Wild fermentation in neutral puncheon oak and ten months on the lees contribute depth and precision
- Bone-dry profile with age-worthy structure
Winemaking & terroir details
- Freese Vineyard, Seneca Lake — southeastern shore of the Finger Lakes
- Wild-fermented in neutral puncheon oak casks
- Aged on lees for ten months
- Described by critics as a standout expression of Forge's single-vineyard Riesling
Food pairings
- Seafood and shellfish dishes, such as seared scallops or crab preparations
- Citrus-glazed or herb-roasted poultry
- Pork dishes with apple or apricot glazes
- Spicy Asian cuisine, where bright acidity and fruitiness balance heat
- Soft cheeses that allow the wine’s mineral backbone to shine
Cellaring & service
- Bone-dry and age-worthy, with the potential to develop additional complexity in a cool, stable environment
- Best enjoyed with wine at a cool temperature to highlight its freshness and mineral notes