by Patrick Ogle
Chateau Grand Traverse, in Michigan, makes some excellent wines. Really. I am not kidding. People living in the area or who have traveled through may know this but this maybe isn't common knowledge. Ive had their gamay which was outstanding and a cab franc that I liked. I didn't write about either though and felt I was neglecting these fine Midwestern winemakers.
When I saw a bottle of their dry riesling I grabbed it.
The wine doesn't have the pronounced "petrol" scent most rieslings have but you won't mistake for another varietal. I've never gotten this scent as really being "petrol" but I also have no other scent to use din describing riesling.
This wine seemed fruitier than some rieslings Ive had recently. However, the most recent rieslings Ive ingested have cost twice as much (or more) and been from Germany or Austria. This wine has different qualities. It is a different creature. It is also, mercifully different from the cheap West Coast rieslings you find in the super market too. This is dry with some viscosity and the high acidity you associate with riesling. It has some citrus and definite hints of pear. Good rieslings are excellent wines to pair with food and I kept thinking of all the things that would be delicious with this wine: seafood, Thai food, Indian food and even with your Thanksgiving dinner.
For $15 this is an excellent purchase. And this wine positively kills most of the other rieslings in its price range. It is a different style from the European versions and less cloying than some of the West Coast American versions.
Do not fear the Michigan wines! There are some bad ones but if you see "Chateau Grand Traverse"? Buy with confidence. I haven't had a bad wine from them yet.
Chateau Grand Traverse, in Michigan, makes some excellent wines. Really. I am not kidding. People living in the area or who have traveled through may know this but this maybe isn't common knowledge. Ive had their gamay which was outstanding and a cab franc that I liked. I didn't write about either though and felt I was neglecting these fine Midwestern winemakers.
When I saw a bottle of their dry riesling I grabbed it.
The wine doesn't have the pronounced "petrol" scent most rieslings have but you won't mistake for another varietal. I've never gotten this scent as really being "petrol" but I also have no other scent to use din describing riesling.
This wine seemed fruitier than some rieslings Ive had recently. However, the most recent rieslings Ive ingested have cost twice as much (or more) and been from Germany or Austria. This wine has different qualities. It is a different creature. It is also, mercifully different from the cheap West Coast rieslings you find in the super market too. This is dry with some viscosity and the high acidity you associate with riesling. It has some citrus and definite hints of pear. Good rieslings are excellent wines to pair with food and I kept thinking of all the things that would be delicious with this wine: seafood, Thai food, Indian food and even with your Thanksgiving dinner.
For $15 this is an excellent purchase. And this wine positively kills most of the other rieslings in its price range. It is a different style from the European versions and less cloying than some of the West Coast American versions.
Do not fear the Michigan wines! There are some bad ones but if you see "Chateau Grand Traverse"? Buy with confidence. I haven't had a bad wine from them yet.
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