Apollo’s Praise Finger Lakes Scheurebe – 2024

Description

Apollo’s Praise Finger Lakes Scheurebe – 2024

This vibrant white wine is a single-varietal expression, comprised of 100% Scheurebe. Notably, it is sourced exclusively from the Lahoma Vineyard on the western shores of Seneca Lake, representing the very first planting of this aromatic German grape variety in New York State history. The vines are rooted in a distinct terroir of shale, gravel, and sandstone, which imparts a signature mineral backbone to the fruit.

The 2024 growing season in the Finger Lakes was a "Goldilocks" vintage—warm, dry, and remarkably stress-free ("chill") for growers. An early bud break combined with a sunny, rain-free autumn allowed for optimal physiological ripeness while the region's characteristic cool nights preserved vital acidity. This balance of warmth and freshness is perfectly captured in the glass.

In the glass, the wine presents a pristine, pale straw color with energetic flashes of green, indicating its freshness. The nose is highly aromatic and expressive, offering a complex bouquet of mandarin orange, vibrant pink grapefruit, and passionfruit, layered with floral notes of honeysuckle and a distinct, savory flintiness reminiscent of wet stone. On the palate, this is a light-to-medium-bodied wine with a dry sweetness profile (approx. 2g/L residual sugar). The attack is zippy and crisp, driven by electric, lime-like acidity, yet the mid-palate reveals a silky, polished texture—a result of the lees aging—that rounds out the intense exotic fruit flavors. The finish is persistent and refreshing, trailing off with a sophisticated note of grapefruit pith and saline minerality.

Proprietors Kelby James Russell and Julia Rose Hoyle employ sustainable farming practices to maintain the health of their ecosystem. For this vintage, the grapes were hand-harvested and crushed with a cold soak to extract maximum aromatics. The juice was then fermented in neutral French oak barriques using native Austrian yeast strains. Following fermentation, the wine aged on its fine lees for four months to build mouthfeel and stability before a final resting period in stainless steel to lock in its bright, primary fruit character.

This aromatic powerhouse pairs exceptionally well with bold, flavorful American cuisine. Try it with blackened catfish tacos topped with a spicy slaw; the wine's fruit intensity will stand up to the cajun spices while the acidity cuts through the richness of the fish. Alternatively, it is a brilliant match for Carolina-style pulled pork, where the vinegar-based sauce echoes the wine's zesty profile. For a vegetarian option, pair it with a summer corn and lima bean succotash, as the wine's herbal undertones will complement the fresh vegetables beautifully.

While the 2024 release is fresh to the market, Apollo’s Praise has quickly garnered critical acclaim. Previous vintages of their Scheurebe have received 91 points from critics like James Suckling, and their Rieslings have scored in the mid-90s with Vinous and Decanter. Given this pedigree, this bottle represents exceptional value, offering world-class, groundbreaking character at an accessible price point.