Bloomer Creek Vineyards 2009 Auten Vineyard First Harvest Riesling
By Lenn Thompson, Executive Editor
When my colleague Evan Dawson first introduced us to Bloomer Creek, I only knew Bloomer Creek Vineyard as the winery that shared a parking lot with one of my favorite places to eat in the Finger Lakes, Stonecat Cafe. But, after speaking with Evan further about them, I knew that I had to get my hands on some of Kim Engle's wines.
Evan and I have similar-but-different palates and tastes when it comes to wine, but I think we agree on Bloomer Creek's rieslings — these are some of the most uniquely expressive, genuine rieslings in the region.
Bloomer Creek 2009 Tanzen Dame Auten Vineyard First Harvest Riesling ($16) oozes with ripe yellow apple aromas accented by a crushed fennel and caraway seeds, honey and a subtle biscuit-y, Champagne-like yeastiness.
Fuller bodied and almost rich on the palate, it offers a melange of tree fruit — assorted apples, pears and apricot — with more that honey-fennel character. There is gentle sweetness here, but a burst of acidity ushers in a long, apple-dried apricot-flavored finish.
You've never had a Finger Lakes riesling like this — and I think that's the point.
Producer: Bloomer Creek
AVA: Finger Lakes
ABV: 10%
Production: 173 cases
Price: $16*
(4 out of 5 | Outstanding and Delicious, Highly Recommended)
I am amazed it’s taken you so long to try what is arguably the best winery on Seneca Lake. Yeah, other places are more polished - but Kim makes truly great wines; the kind that can be cellared for years and makes those tasting it stop for a second to wonder if it really came from the Finger Lakes.
He deserves a lot more attention than the wine community has given him.
Scott — It’s fair to say that no winery has gotten more buzz in the region this calendar year. From the NYCR, to the Spectator, to the NY Times last week. I took a bottle of this wine to the BYOB bottle at the European Wine Bloggers Conference this past weekend, and it was a massive hit. Kim and Debra are getting the attention their wines merit, no doubt!