AUGUST 21; Updated AUGUST 26 -- The entries and winemakers came from all over the state. But the trophy and medals went back to Old Mission Peninsula.
And in a clean sweep for Old Mission wineries, the six-judge panel awarded second and third place medals to the just-bottled 2 Lads Reserve Cab Franc and Brys's own regular release.
Twenty-two wines entered the Challenge, almost evenly split between the state's northern and southern wine regions. The event was organized and sponsored by Kalamazoo-based Harding's Markets and took place at that city's Park Club.
William Harrison, Chairman of the Michigan Grape and Wine Council's Research Committee and one of the judges, termed 11 of the wines "excellent quality that could be comparable to any similar red wines anywhere in the world."
Master Sommelier Claudia Tyagi, another judge, called them, "an exceptional array of well made wines from a stunning Michigan vintage."
Only wines from 100% Cabernet Franc in the 2007 vintage were eligible to enter, according to Terry Stingley, wine director for Harding's."This is a clear victory for vinifera grapes and the notion of terroir in Michigan," said Stingley.
Harrison was unsurprised by the showing of Old Mission's two reserve bottlings. {xtypo_quote_left}"An exceptional array of well made wines from a stunning Michigan vintage." --Claudia Tyagi MS{/xtypo_quote_left}
"Wines like the Brys Estate Artisan and the Two Lads Reserve benefit tremendously from their wineries' commitment to very small crop size in the vineyard and special handling throughout the winemaking process," he noted. "These wines are made in very limited quantities, even by Michigan standards, and command a very high price."
Aside from the Brys Artisan Series at $50, the Brys regular Cab Franc sells for $30. 2 Lads Reserve, bottled just two days before the Challenge, is scheduled for October release; its price isn't set.
Harrison had several other observations on the wines:
Following the tasting, Tyagi expressed a clear stylistic preference among the wines.
"It was not inappropriate to compare these wines to a classic French Chinon... Our best wines demonstrate the class, structure, and nuance of the finest old world, terroir driven wines," she said. "We should not expect anything from Michigan to be successful in the zaftig, high alcohol styles of California or Australia, and I strongly feel that our winemakers should not try to produce wines in this style."
Tyagi singled out seven favorites from the judging: Black Star Farms Arcturos, Bowers Harbor, Brys Artisan, Raftshol, Shady Lane, and both wines from 2 Lads.
More than a dozen winemakers attended the Challenge and awards reception. They included Brys's Coenraad Stassen, 2 Lads' Cornel Olivier, Shady Lane's Adam Satchwell, and Domaine Berrien's Wally Maurer.
Other judges were Sommelier Michael Cregar, owner of Wines of Distinction, Patrick Fegan, head of the Chicago Wine School, Jean-Jacques Fertal of Eagle Eye Imports, and Dean Rondy from Oxford Wine and Beverage.
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CORRECTION: William Harrison's affiliation with the Michigan Grape and Wine Council was previously misidentified. He is Chairman of its Research Committee. It's been corrected in the text and is noted here.{xtypo_alert}MichWine live-blogged from the event; read the feed here{/xtypo_alert}
CH. MARGAUX: SCREWCAPS BETTER THAN CORK?
Early results from an experiment by Chateau Margaux's Paul Pontallier indicate that screwcaps may age red wine better than natural cork -- plus eliminate any risk of corked bottles, as reported in The Drinks Business.
ROUGH YEAR FOR MICHIGAN ICE WINE
The 2011-2 mild weather was healthy for Michigan's vineyards, but it's played havoc with state winemakers who leave grapes on the vine in hopes that they'll freeze for the production of icewine, reports AP writer John Flesher.
Recently-deceased Korean dictator Kim Jong Il was a wine geek (and reputed alcoholic) with a 10,000-bottle cellar, according to ex-Slate wine columnist Mike Steinberger. Kim earlier gave up Hennessy Cognac on doctor's orders.
RISING TEMPS IMPACT WINE REGIONS
Warming climate may help cooler grape-growing regions -- like England -- but could damage places like Napa, writes jounalist John McQuaid in Yale's environmental magazine.
HOW COLD CLIMATE WINE REGIONS SUCCEED
Western Farm Press reports that Cornell Prof Miguel Gomez is studying how smaller wineries can jointly create a successful cool-climate wine region. He'll look at emerging areas in Michigan, New York and Missouri.
Here's one for some Michigan entrepreneur to try! A just-opened Long Island outlet mall store will sell nothing but New York State wines. Starting inventory at Empire State Cellars: 400 labels from 150 wineries.
Want a refresher about Michigan wine history and potential? Get a quick two page cheat-sheet by Layne Cameron in Western Farm Press, and make some allowances for the MSU-centricity (the author's employer).
Links to wine news from Michigan and elsewhere. Use the Contact Form to let us know what should be here.
| Berrien Springs |  |
64°F |
| Fennville |  |
64°F |
| Grass Lake |  |
73°F |
| Suttons Bay |  |
59°F |
| Old Mission | |
59°F |
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