Bry’s Sauvignon Blanc 2010: Review

Bry’s Estate Vineyards & Winery

Old Mission Peninsula

Traverse City, Michigan, USA

Brysestate.com

14% abv

100% Sauvignon Blanc

No Vintage Date on the Bottle

Release Date: 7-22-11

$18.00

Here is what they say on their web site:

“…perfect summer wine.  Bold grapefruit flavors give crisp acidity while gooseberry and grassy notes bring depth and delicacy to this wine with a luscious mid-palate.”

Interesting that they have gooseberry as a tasting note for during the summer I picked up some gooseberry at the Port Austin Farmers Market to see what it tastes like.  When I told the vendor what I was doing with them she said, “I didn’t know anybody made wine with gooseberry.”  I tried to explain how tasting notes work but, she was stuck on making fruit wine.  

All I remember is it was kind of plain.  The skin and stem made it hard to eat for it was chewy. 

Appearance: crystal straw

Aroma: a mild-medium pineapple note this is softened by fresh pear and maintained by a note of the meat of red grapefruit.

Flavors: the meat of red grapefruit dominates the taste while the pear and honeydew melon notes help soften the flavor. 

Mouthfeel: while there is a mild-medium tart bite from the red grapefruit note there is a touch of sweetness underneath from the other fresh fruit notes.  There is a lingering warmth probably from the alcohol.  The long aftertaste of fresh red grapefruit and pear is pleasing. 

This will be interesting how this wine ages over the next couple of years.  The alcohol is a little more involved than I would like.  It feels like it is raising my body temperature.   

My Strength Rating: 4.5 – I added .5 for the alcohol warmth

To the Point: a tasty Blanc.  I’ll bet is will settle in the next couple of months.   For it was just released on 7-11.  I would buy another bottle or two. 

Rib Eye Steak vs. Filet Mignon

My friend always says to me, “Why do you eat a filet? A rib eye would be cheaper.” 

And, I always say, “A rib eye or other quality steak is the same price.”

Here are the results from my Rib Eye Experiment.

I bought this $13.00 a pound rib eye on sale for $8.99 pound. 

After cooking this rib eye on the grill it weighed in at 16 ounces or one pound.

After cutting away all the fat and bone



all waste
fat and bone

It weighed in at 8 ounces or a half a pound.

So, I paid $9.00 for 8 ounces of meat or $18.00 a pound if I truly want 16 ounces.  If I paid full price it would have been $26.00 a pound.

I pay 16 to 18 dollars a pound for my filets and I do not have any fat to cut away and of course no bone.  The flavor is better if you grill it right.  Medium-rare.  And, it is better for you than those fatty steaks. 

So, Tim buys his 16oz rib eye for $9.00 a pound and I buy my 8oz filet for $17.00 a pound.  I pay $8.50 for 8 ounces of pure meat.  He pays $9.00 for 16 ounces but, only gets 8 ounces of meat (if he is lucky).  He has to wrestle with cutting his steak and I just cut through my filet like butter.  I have no waste and he has a pile of crap on his plate. 

Buy Filet Mignon it is so much better!

Come to my house and we’ll prove it. 

Bry’s Estate Cab/Merlot: Review

Bry’s Estate Vineyard & Winery

Traverse City, Michigan, USA

Old Mission Peninsula

Brysestate.com

13.5% abv

$20.90 with discount

$22.00

50% Cabernet Sauvignon and 50% Merlot

Aged 5 months in French Oak

On their web site they call it 2009 but, there is no vintage date on the two bottles I bought. 

Appearance: deep crimson

Aroma: ripe dark berries with the right touch of spice box. 

Flavors: tasty dark berry notes of blackberry, black current, mulberry, and blueberry – ok you get the picture.  You can play the game ‘what berry do you taste?’ with this wine.  Delicate spice box with a dash of pink and white peppercorn. 

Mouthfeel: the tannins seem in line and the acidity level is in check for a good medium-full mouthfeel.  Coats the palate without being overwhelming while leaving a flavorful aftertaste. 

Toward the end of my second glass the acidity on the finish seemed to be getting a tad strong and on a sip here and there the wine seemed thin.  I did not notice this on the first glass. 

I’ll be saving this bottle to finish off tomorrow.  I’ll add any updates. 

My Strength Rating: 6 – very flavorful with a pleasing aftertaste.

To the Point: a tasty blend.  With just being released on 7-15-11 this should be a good one to pick-up over the next couple of years.  I am going to plan to buy more and follow its aging here on this blog.    

Next Day: yesterday the wine had the big dark berries on the nose and the palate and the spice was on the delicate side of town.  Today, I really like the spice on the nose it has a peppery quality to it.  The overall bouquet is more involved than the first day.  The mouthfeel is a bit fuller and the spice note adds some character to the aftertaste.  I think the blackberry bite is more dominate today.  I’ll give it a 7 on my strength rating. 

This wine has been different with every glass.  My first glass, yesterday, I really liked the multi-berry blend on the taste.  The second glass was wishy washy.  One moment it was dark berry like with little spice box and a touch thin and then on the next few sips too thin and where did the taste go.  But, the acidity seemed to attack the back of the palate and aftertaste.  The third glass, today, I really like its style.  I don’t get the multi-berry taste but, the blackberry note is tasty and the spice profile is more involved like I said. 

So, when I open the next bottle of this wine (I bought two) I am going to decant it (properly) for 30 minutes before my first glass.  I  am going to give this next bottle six more months in the bottle to help it balance. 

I do like this bottle of wine.  I believe it is young in the bottle and has some good potential over the next couple of years. 

Preparing the Palate: Tropical and Summer Fruits

Get yourself out to the store and pick up a variety of different fruits to prepare your palate for tasting notes on those ales and white wines. 

My sampling today consists of





Kiwi, white peach, peach, nectarine, apricot, papaya, and mango. 



Papaya



Spending some time tasting these fruits should help to identify them in your beverage tastings.



Kiwi



Peninsula Cellars 2008 Pinot Gris: Review

Old Mission Peninsula

Traverse City, Michigan, USA

Peninsulacellars.com

12.5% abv

$15.00 a bottle

Here is what they have to say on the back of the bottle:

“Are you in the mood for Pinot Gris or Pinot Grigio? Pinot Gris is like sliding into warm flannel sheets on a cold winter night, while Pinot Grigio is like diving into a brisk lake on a hot July afternoon. To Gris or not to Gris, that is the question. This Pinot Grist is full-bodied, off-dry, with rich aromas and flavors that engulf the senses in warm, pleasant satisfaction.”

There is a slight difference between Gris and Grigio but let’s start with origin – Pinot Gris is from France and Grigio from Italy. 

Appearance: crystal peach

Aroma: stone fruit, clean, fresh (on the second day: I pick up a passion punch note)

Flavors: peach, white peach, with a squirt of pear, hint of floral, touch of mineral, and it is one delicious white wine.  (on the second day: gone were the white peach, pear, floral and mineral notes. Today, to me, it seems like a peach swirled with a tropical passion fruit.  Still very tasty.)

Mouthfeel: nice acidic finish on the back of the palate and just enough to make me think there is a twing of citrus and this is set up by a slight tingling on the mid-palate.

My Strength Rating: 4/4.5 – nice overall medium-mild feel.  This white is full of flavor. 

To the Point: the time for this bottle is right now.  Not much time left being 2011 but, boy it is tasty.  I would order a few bottles if I were you.  This wine would be tasty in the fall. 

On day two I finished the bottle with a Partagas S Series Cigar.  I think a good mild-medium Cameroon wrapped cigar would go perfect with this Pinot Gris.   

M Lawrence Sandpiper: Review

Sparkling Wine

Extra Dry

Batch #30

12% abv

$11.00 a bottle

L. Mawby

Suttons Bay, Michigan, USA

Lmawby.com

If you get a chance to visit this winery you will be greeted with a complimentary glass of bubbly.  The first glass is Sandpiper.  This is, let’s say, the middle of the road from very dry to sweet bubbly.  After this glass they will ask you if you want to go drier or sweeter and they offer you a second glass.  From there you head to the tasting bar and sample some more for a little tasting fee. 

There are two different line-ups.  The M. Lawrence and the L. Mawby lines.  On their web site it says, “Our M. Lawrence sparkling wines are produced in the cuve close method, are given less aging, and are less costly than the method champenoise sparkling wines.”  The L. Mawby line uses the ‘method champenoise’ and are aged longer. 

When I visited this winery I bought four different sparkling wines.  I’ll start with the Sandpiper just like they do.  I’ll also be reviewing SEX, Consort, and Detroit.  I am looking forward to trying all of their sparkling wines – they have 15 different ones. 

Let’s get to the review:

Appearance: fizzy straw

Aroma: fruity nose that is very pleasing.  Apricot and pear is the best I can come up with. 

Flavors: ripe pear, fresh apple and tart apple, with the oak hitting the back of the palate.  On the Lmawby web site they call it ‘sweet/tart’ and I can see (taste) why. 

Mouthfeel: wonderful fizz, dry on the finish, the fizz continues to tingle the palate on the aftertaste. 

Overall: I really like this bubbly.  Nice taste, good effervescence and what a price! Only $11.00 

SEX is next

JT Red Wine: Review

Vineyards at Bowers Harbor

Old Mission

Near Bad Dog Deli

Traverse City, Michigan, USA

Bowersharbor.com

Facebook.com/bowersharborvineyards

12% abv

$22.00 a bottle

Appearance: deep garnet with rich ruby highlights

Aroma: blackberry, dark chocolate, spice (peppery), smoky

On the second day the blackberry note dominates the nose.

Flavors: bold dark berries, blackberry, black currant and black raspberry then throw in tart cherry and plum skin; tobacco, spice box,

On the second day the blackberry and black raspberry notes seem to dominate the palate, the spice box is present but more on the finish today. 

Mouthfeel: medium-full, tart bite on mid and finish, nice medium weight on the tongue.  On day two there is a thicker, almost jammy, feel on the tongue.

My Strength Rating: 6.5/ on day two 7

To the Point: Yes, I like this wine.  I’ll be ordering this one soon. 

This is a very interesting blend.  50% Merlot from Bowers Vineyards and 50% Petite Verdot from Washingtons Horse Heaven Hills.  Horse Heaven Hills has been making some wines that I have really come to like over the last couple of years.  Bombing Range Red is one of them. 

Arctutos 2008 Pinot Noir: Review

Old Mission Peninsula

Black Star Farms

Suttons Bay, Michigan, USA

12% abv

$27.00 a bottle from Hiller’s

Blackstarfarms.com

Did this review before I left for Traverse City.

I don’t like to get wine from a grocery store but, I had to pick this one up to give it a try.  Most grocery stores have wines sitting on shelves (up-right) with lights blasting right on the bottles (adds warmth).  If turnover is quick it should not be a big deal.  If not; the warmth ages the wine and the cork goes dry and you may end up with a corked bottle after you store it properly.

Appearance: light semi-transparent ruby-amber color with a clear crystal edge on the rim. 

Aroma: spicy on the nose with tart fruit

Flavors: the tart and spicy profile is on the palate as well.  Tart sour cherry and cranberry.  The spice reminds me of pink and white peppercorn, a little sweet (pink) peppery note and a little mustiness (white). Then there seems to be a ginger and oak taste on the back of the palate. 

Mouthfeel: medium body coming from the spice profile and tart bite.  Plenty of spice playing on the palate.  A little empty after the short aftertaste. 

My Strength Rating: 4.5 – medium. 

To the Point: Blind tasting this wine I would not guess Pinot Noir.  A Syrah or Franc or some kind of blend.  I can think of two Cab Franc’s that I had last winter that were nice and spicy.  For a Pinot it is just okay.  As a wine – I like the spicy style of this wine.  I just don’t think I like it overall.  I just have a problem with the appearance, the overall taste and the $27 price tag.

Hopefully, I can sample this when I get to their winery to see if it was just this bottle.

(They did not have this one for sampling – and I was not going to spend 27 to see if it was any better) 

Traverse City Wine Tour

Planning to Visit

After tasting a couple of white wines from the Traverse City area this summer I had to make a visit to the area to do a little wine tasting.  I am a red wine slappy and Michigan Red Wines don’t have the best reputation (the vines where young then).  Michigan White Wines have been very good for quite a while.  I have heard here and there that Michigan Reds are better now.  The few that I have had over the last few years have been okay at best.  But, that is buying them from the grocery store or party store down state Michigan.  I think I need to get to the wineries to find out for myself. 

I am going on this journey to see firsthand how Michigan Red Wines are doing.  Small wineries usually have their best stuff in house.  And some of these small Michigan wineries we don’t know anything about because they don’t sell their wines out to the big market.  I have to admit that I do not know what I am getting myself into on this visit. 

On my first day I am planning to visit the ‘East Arm’ peninsula (Old Mission) and then go to the ‘West Arm” peninsula (Leelanau) on the second day. 

The Visit

Here are the wineries that I visited on Old Mission Peninsula

Black Star Farms – they have three locations Traverse City (the Commons), Old Mission, and Leelanau. 

Bowers Harbor Vineyards

Bry’s Estate

Peninsula Cellars

Didn’t have time to make it to

Two Lads Winery – I did have a glass of their wine at Stella’s Restaurant

Chateau Grand Traverse

Chateau Chantal

Here are the wineries that I visited on Leelanau Peninsula

Black Star Farms (you need to visit this location)

This is where they have the Inn, the Market Restaurant, petting farm, and tasting room of course.  It is one beautiful location. 

L. Mawby

Shady Lanes

It looks like they have close to 18 wineries on this route. 

The Aftermath of the Visit

I bought 40 bottles of wine during this trip and I plan to do some reviews on these babies.  28 Michigan wines to be reviewed in the coming months right here at WinePostings. (the 12 other bottles were doubles or triples of what I liked)  

I have to say I was impressed.  I had low expectations for the red wines and I was really surprised.  And, my expectation for the whites was met – there are some nice white wines coming from these wineries.  I did not sample any fruity wines and I only sampled one Hard Cider (at Left Foot Charles) and it was excellent.  I am going to have to check out some of the Hard Ciders on my next visit.  Anybody what to go? 

I’ll post a complete list of wines to be reviewed.

Traverse City Wine List

L. Mawby's Bubbly Wines
I just might become a Bubble Head

Here is the list of Traverse City wines I picked up on my trip, which I will be reviewing in the coming months.  I’ll add the link when they get posted. 

Old Mission Peninsula

Black Star Farms

       

        2009 Be Dazzled Bubbly

        Sirius Red Dessert Wine

        2008 Arcturos Cab Franc

        2010 Pinot Gris Arcturos

        2008 Merlot / Franc

       

 Bry’s Estate

        2010 Pinot Grigio

        NV Sauvignon Blanc

        NV Pinot Noir Riesling blush

        2008 Cab Franc  

        NV Cab S / Merlot

       

Peninsula Cellars

   

        2007 Cab F / Merlot

        2007 Merlot / Cab F

        2008 Pinot Gris

        2010 Dry Riesling

Bowers Harbor Vineyards

        2010 Riesling Block II

        2010 Riesling Langley

        2007 2896 Langley
            2009 JT Red Wine

Leelanau Peninsula

Black Star Farms

        2009 Blanc de Noir Sparkling

        2008 Brut Sparkling Wine

        2008 Vintners Select

Shady Lane

        Coop de Blanc 2009

        Riesling

        2006 Pinot Noir

        2008 Cab Franc

L. Mawby

        Detroit

        Sandpiper

        Consort

        SEX

My Selection from Bowers Harbor

Pouilly-Fuisse 2009

Joseph Drouhin

100% Chardonnay

Aging: steel and oak barrels

13% abv

$40.00 at the Bank Restaurant

Beaune, France

Drouhin.com

Dreyfusashby.com

Appearance:  light golden wheat

Aroma: fresh fruit, pear, apple, tart apple

Flavors: the taste really follows the nose.  There is a floral or grassy note swirling around.  I also get a hint of oak on the taste and on the aftertaste.

Along with that tart apple I’ll say there is a touch of red grapefruit. 

Mouthfeel: good acidic structure with a dry yet refreshing finish – very nice on this 85 degree day here in Grindstone City Michigan. 

My Strength Rating: 4/4.5 - very nice medium bodied Chardonnay.

A very agreeable Chardonnay and if it retails for around 20 bucks I would buy it. 

Paired well with the Pork Saigon dish that I just enjoyed at the Bank Restaurant in Port Austin Michigan. 

Arcturos 2010 Sur Lie Chardonnay

Old Mission Peninsula

Capella Vineyards

Black Star Farms

12% abv

$18.00 Hillers

$15.50 on BSF web-site

Traverse City, Michigan, USA

Blackstarfarms.com

Appearance: straw

Aroma: pear and apple seem to be the main profile with a touch of tropical to keep things interesting.

Flavors: stunning display of pear, fresh apple, with a squirt of tart apple, and I am going to throw in almond.  Oh, I have a touch of tropical on the nose so; let me see what is going on with that in the taste.  Yes, let me describe it this way; a squirt of red grapefruit with a squirt of pineapple (vodka optionalJ) blend them together and you get this tropical acidic touch that is not dominate but is a good role player. 

Mouthfeel: nice acidic structure but, still has a good hint of sweet fruit.  The mouthfeel has a moderate tingle from the tart fruit notes but, still has a semi-creamy butter almond feel.  The finish is dry and pleasing on this 80 degree day here in the Tip of the Thumb of Michigan. 

My Strength Rating: 5 – very good character; nice complexity for a simple Chardonnay.

When I had their Riesling the other week I wanted to get over to their winery – Now, that I have had their Chardonnay, I am really itching to get over to their winery. 

I have to admit that doing these wine reviews have opened my eyes to wines that I would not even look at or if I did try them I would discount them right away – just because of my pure subjective perception. 

This wine is case n’ point.  I am not a big white wine drinker but, when I use to have one it would ‘have to be’ an oaked chardonnay.  Now, when I am doing my wine and beer reviews, I try to put my subjectivity on the sideline and play the game of ‘reviewer’ with an objective pair of spectacles.  Now, I have a better understanding of other wines beyond ‘what I like’.  The down side: I like more wines! 

Main Street Chardonnay 2009

Santa Barbara County

Main Street Winery

St. Helena, California, USA

Mainstwinery.com

I have seen prices of $10 to 13 (retail)

I paid $31 at the Bank Restaurant in Port Austin Michigan

Appearance: light golden straw

Aroma: tropical and sweet fruit on the nose reminding me a little of papaya juice and a splash of pineapple.

Flavors: the sweet and tropical nose follows to the taste.  White peach, throw in that splash of pineapple, fuji apple, and there seems to be a touch of oak on the back. 

My Strength Rating: 4

This wine did pair well with my Chicken Wellington.  I was planning to have this with the Pork Saigon but, they were out of that dish. 



Stop by the Bank Restaurant in Port Austin, Michigan



On the second day this wine has a bit of a tart bite that appears – like citrus peel. 

Visit CigarPostings for the cigar pairing