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Paumanok Vineyards 2017 Riesling Dry. (Credit: Lenn Thomson)

Here in New York, if you’re looking for great riesling, you are mostly better off looking to the Finger Lakes, a region that consistently produces some of the best riesling in the United States.

But the Finger Lakes don’t have a monopoly on delicious New York riesling, in part because of what winemaker Kareem Massoud is doing with the grape at Paumanok Vineyards. That includes this week’s Wine of the Week: Paumanok Vineyards 2017 Riesling Dry ($22).

It shouldn’t be a surprise that Massoud has a way with a grape variety that many think shines brightest in Germany (his mother Ursula was born and raised there, in the Pfalz region). Massoud’s riesling doesn’t taste German or even like it’s from the Finger Lakes, but, of course, it shouldn’t. This is Long Island at a high level.

It starts with clean pear and lime aromas with a subtle note of perfectly ripe peach.

Nervy with a beam of acidity that runs from start to finish, the bone-dry palate is a bit more peachy with more lime and then some lime zest on the finish, which isn’t long, but is dry and begs another sip.

On a hot summer day, this is exactly what you want to drink as a refresher or with lighter foods.

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