Ravines Dry Riesling Argetsinger Vineyard 2017

Decanter

According to Morten Hallgren, 2017 was neither as warm as '16 nor as cool as '18, and the combination of the moderate climate and the thin limestone soils of the Argetsinger vineyard have delivered a wine that is ripe but still very fresh, with aromas that span lemon peel, apricot, camomille and mineral on the very expressive nose, and a texture that is lively but shows a pleasantly plump feel despite the fact that it is perfectly dry. Lovely quality – should age for another decade or more.

Wine & Spirits Magazine

Wine & Spirits Magazine

Wine Review Online

Ravines may not have the storied history of Dr. Konstantin Frank, but they are making sensational Rieslings as well, as demonstrated by this single vineyard bottling and their “regular” one. Morten Hallgren, winemaker and owner with his wife, Lisa, identified the Argetsinger Vineyard as a top spot for Riesling shortly after establishing their winery in 2001 and have produced a single-vineyard bottling every year. This beautifully framed dry Riesling has uncommon depth with a cutting mineral component. Its refinement is evident in its graceful texture. Bright and bracing acidity in the finish and an extraordinary length amplifies its charms. This vibrant wine will make any skeptic take notice of the potential of Finger Lakes Riesling.

Wine Spectator

Nicely focused from the start, with mouthwatering acidity coursing beneath yellow apple, white peach and jasmine notes. Showing a serious snap of slate on the finish, this distinctive wine still has some evolution ahead of it. Drink now through 2026. 974 cases made.

GASTRO

Testens bedst bedømte Finger Lakes-Riesling: "Bragende flot riesling. Ja, den er tør i praksis, men en kemiker ville bide mærke i de 2-4 g restsukker, der reelt moderer det snærende syreniveau. Argetsinger vineyard ligger i den sydlige ende af Lake Seneca og består af forvitret kalksten. De 12,5 % giver en tilbageholdt, tør moselstil, frisk lime, røget og grillet citron med citrussukker, der karamelliserer. Meget intens, saltcitron, markant skarphed, meget længere end sin søster, let bitter, grapebitterheden er udtalt, I like! Det her er altså en milepæl. Kunsten for "nye" vinområder er at ramme samme parametre som konkurrenterne på samme druesort og alligevel bevare et diskindt newyorkerudtryk. Det sker her."

Robert Parker

The 2017 Riesling Argetsinger Vineyard, another late release, has just three grams of sugar (owner Morton Hallgren said, "Our sugar analysis is only accurate down to plus or minus one gram per liter, so it can be between two and four grams per liter") plus eight grams of total acidity. It comes in at 12.7% alcohol. Steely, deep and perhaps a touch reductive, this powerful Riesling is another classic from this vineyard. It's not for the shy, though, and winemaker Morton Hallgren has built this for the long haul. As it airs out and warms, this gripping Riesling becomes a little friendlier, but only a little. It's not entirely clear where the ceiling is for this wine just yet, but let's start here and see where it goes in time. It does need to come into better balance. If you like your Rieslings softer and sweeter, this isn't going to be for you. It definitely needs a food pairing—and perhaps a bit more cellar time.

Houlberg

6 Thumbs Up. Vinskribenten Eric Asimov på New York Times skrev om vinen, at det var den bedste amerikanske Riesling, som han nogensinde havde smagt ... og det øger jo lige forventningerne en del. Men allerede fra første snif spiller det ... igen æteriske dampe af petroleum, diesel og spildolie, men her langt mere raffineret, sagte og yndefuldt. Der er æbler, gule æbler, fersken, blomster, pollen, en klart stenet og mineralsk note, men det er som om, at alt bliver holdt af en blød hånd, som gør duftene fine, sarte og forsigtige, men bare kommer bulrende afsted og forstærkes sekund for sekund. I munden mærker man både en kæmpe, usædvanlig dybde og enorm smagskoncentration. Der er grønne æbler, citroner og lime ... masser af mineraler og sten, stringent, ren og alligevel med et venligt smil og sofistikeret elegance. Som i duften, så kommer smagen også bare rullende som en bølge, der hele tiden vokser i styrke. For satan - pardon my french - hvor det smager godt. (vurderet ved en tilbudspris på kr. 339,95)

Vivino

Wine Review Online

Superb. Its aroma shows pronounced apricot, peach, mandarin, lemon peel and floral notes along with a stony and slightly smoky minerality (a signature of Argetsinger Vineyard, Morten explains). In your mouth, the wine is truly dry but with a strong, fruity flavor profile. This wine verges on full-bodied for a Riesling but it is not at all heavy due to its very high, counterbalancing acidity. I consider this an authoritative Riesling — not to mention flavorful, concentrated and world-class.