By Lenn Thompson, Editor-in-Chief
The first time I tasted this wine was at TasteCamp EAST 2009 and it was poured into my empty glass by our Niagara Escarpment editor, Bryan at some point during the wine-soaked weekend.
I came away impressed with the effort and enjoyed a bottle that he gave me a few days later with some friends. Again, I liked it, enough to make this the first Niagara Escarpment wine to be a the New York Cork Club selection.
Bryan reminded me a few weeks ago that I still hadn't given it a formal review, so I pulled one of my last few bottles and put it in my tasting over the weekend.
Compared to the other rieslings in the tasting, the nose was a bit understated and led by a burn matchstick aroma that blew off after a few minutes. Once it did, aromas of pineapple, peach and pear were accented by a lightly floral note.
On the medium-bodied palate, clean pineapple and papaya fruit flavors are framed by firm, crunchy acdity that makes the 1% residual sugar barely noticeable. The finish is medium-length, dry and absolutely mouthwatering with a lingering pear note at the very end.
In some ways, this riesling is a bit Austrian in it's heft, acidity and austere qualities. This is Freedom Run Winery's first estate riesling and while few talk about riesling from the Niagara Escarpment, there is clear potential. Just a bit more fruit would really elevate this wine.
Producer: Freedom Run Winery
AVA: Niagara Escarpment
ABV: 11%
RS: 1%
Cases Produced: 220
Closure: Synthetic
Price: $16
Rating: 
(2.5 out of 5 | Average-to-Very Good)