Sparkling Wine, "Cuvée Brut," Hermann J. Wiemer, Finger Lakes, New York, 2013 - Try w/ Fried Chicken

Vital Signs: Inasmuch as Wiemer is known for its Rieslings, winemaker Fred Merwath also turns out some of the region's best sparkling wine. The 2013 Cuvée Brut is a 65/35 blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, bottled in August 2014 and disgorged in December 2017 for a grand total of 40 months on the lees.

Uncle Bill's Take: The Finger Lakes region gets ample credit for its world class Rieslings but comparatively little attention for its remarkable sparkling wines. I hope that changes with wines like the Cuvée Brut showing enough potential to rank the FLX alongside the world's most storied sources of fizz. This is racier than Champagne but dense and palate coating after years on the lees and every bit as complex as the genuine article.