2023 Forge Cellars - Dry Riesling Seneca Lake Freese Vineyard (750ml) SHELF
2023 Forge Cellars Dry Riesling — Freese Vineyard, Seneca Lake
Forge Cellars’ 2023 Dry Riesling from Freese Vineyard captures a cool-climate profile that shows what this Finger Lakes subregion does best: bright clarity, precise structure, and a poised, age-worthy finish. The wine comes from vines on the east side of Seneca Lake near Lodi, planted in loam and shale soils at about 768 feet elevation, with vines dating back to the mid-1990s.
The house style is distinctly hands-on. The vintage was wild-fermented in neutral puncheon oak casks and matured on the lees for 10 months, with unusually low sulfur use and bone-dry fermentation. The result is a wine that expresses vineyard character with energy and restraint—an almost tactile sense of place bottled in a dry Riesling.
Winemaking and Terroir
The Freese Vineyard parcel provides a warmhearted expression of the eastern shore of Seneca Lake, delivering generous stone fruit aromas woven through a mineral-inflected backbone. The 2023 bottling showcases Forge’s commitment to small-lot, spontaneous fermentation that keeps each vineyard's character distinct while preserving the hallmark polish of their Riesling.
- Vineyard: Freese Vineyard, Seneca Lake (east side, near Lodi)
- Elevation: 768 feet
- Soils: loam and shale
- Vines planted: mid-1990s
- Fermentation: wild (spontaneous) in neutral puncheon oak
- Aging: 10 months on the lees
- Sulfur: very low
- Style: bone-dry Riesling
Tasting Profile
- Aroma: generous stone fruit scents with hints of apple, peach, citrus, and dried spice
- Palate: medium-bodied with a silky texture, while the wine presents a sometimes full-bodied impression for its style
- Structure: saline minerality paired with ample fine tannins gives length and poise
- Finish: elongated and nuanced, reflecting the wine’s precise, age-worthy nature
Why this wine stands out
Among Forge Cellars’ single-vineyard offerings, Freese Vineyard embodies a classically Finger Lakes-typical profile—clear, expressive fruit, a refined mineral spine, and a clean, graceful finish. This is a dry, precise Riesling designed to develop with bottle age while remaining accessible in its youth.
Food Pairings
This dry Riesling is well suited to a range of dishes, including fresh oysters, roast pork, and spicy Asian cuisine, making it a versatile choice for seafood-forward menus or spice-friendly fare.