Forge Cellars is an esteemed boutique winery located in New York’s Finger Lakes region. Managed by Rick Rainey, who handles vineyard operations and general management, the winery also benefits from the expertise of winemaker Léana Godard. Rainey is partnered with Louis Barruol of Château de Saint Cosme in Gigondas, which brings a unique perspective to their winemaking.
The winery sources grapes from 16 different vineyards, primarily focusing on those along Seneca Lake, the deepest of the Finger Lakes, where all but one of their vineyards are situated.
Below are highlights of some notable wines produced by Forge Cellars:
-
Forge Cellars Caywood East Riesling 2020: This wine hails from a vineyard on the southeast shore of Seneca Lake, at an elevation of 970 ft. Dry and textured, it showcases pear and white peach fruit with a remarkable depth and fine spices, earning a score of 93/100.
-
Forge Cellars Caywood Dry Riesling 2020: Sourced from older plantings nearer to the lake, it features an intense citrus profile with a mineral twist, reflecting good focus and depth. It scores 94/100.
-
Forge Cellars Peach Orchard Riesling 2020: This version boasts a lovely texture complemented by spicy mineral notes and flavors of lime, green apple, and pear, also earning a score of 94/100.
-
Forge Cellars Caywood Chardonnay 2021: This Chardonnay offers a creamy profile with notes of nuts, honey, and lime, balanced with good tension and a score of 92/100.
-
Forge Cellars Lower Caywood Dry Riesling 2016: It presents fine spices alongside lime and honey on the nose, with a textured palate featuring apple and pear, scoring 94/100.
-
Forge Cellars (Upper Caywood) Wagner Caywood East Dry Riesling 2016: Featuring nuts and honey complementing the apple and lemon fruit, this wine is noted for its finesse and mineral details, scoring 94/100.
-
Forge Cellars Classique Riesling 2014 (magnum): With a complex nose of lime and honey, it showcases lovely texture and depth on the palate, earning a score of 94/100.
-
Forge Cellars Willow Cabernet Franc 2021: Despite being from a challenging vintage, it stands out with juicy red fruit flavors like raspberry and cranberry, showcasing finesse and scoring 94/100.
For more information about Forge Cellars and their offerings, visit their official website.