Highlights: Standing Stone Teinturier Saperavi 2018
This is unexpected: a Saperavi from the Finger Lakes. Standing Stone – now owned by Hermann J. Wiemer – first planted it in 1994, and now have 6 acres of this ‘teinturier’ (red fleshed) variety. They say it’s the largest planting outside of Georgia. The wine itself is lovely: light and drinkable and perfumed. Hand picked, wild ferment with 15% whole cluster, and agedin in 225 and 500 litre neutral Hungarian barrels and stainless steel (30%). Retail is US$25.
Standing Stone Vineyards Teinturier Saperavi 2018 Seneca Lake, Finger Lakes, New York State
12.5% alcohol. Standing Stone is a new acquisition by the Hermann J. Wiemer winery. Saperavi has a reputation for being tannic and tough, but this is beautifully managed: it’s a superbly drinkable expression of this variety with sweet, supple raspberry and cherry fruit with some nice sappy green hints. There’s a nice purity with a really appealing silky mouthfeel: fruit-driven and utterly drinkable. Really nice green notes integrate beautifully with the fruit. 92/100
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