Maker: Black Star Farms, Traverse City, Michigan, USA
Grape: Riesling
Ripeness: Late Harvest
Region: Old Mission Peninsula AVA
Vineyards: Capella & Montague Estate
Vintage: 2008
ABV: 8.5%
Appearance: Light straw
Nose: Peaches, apricots, Macintosh apples, tangerine
On the palate: Full-bodied. Lots of light, sweet fruit, with overripe peach, more Macintosh, tangerine and ruby-red grapefruit. A hint of coriander seed and green cardamom.
Finish: Long, strong finish of tart apples, more granny smith now than Macintosh.
Parting words: This is a classic Michigan Riesling from a winery that does it better than just about anybody else. The voluptuous body and sweetness calls to mind a traditional German spätlese but the Old Mission terroir puts its own delightful, unmistakable stamp on things. Complex, sensual, fruity and sweet but never cloying or flabby. Arcturos Late Harvest Riesling is all a Northern Michigan Riesling should be. This would probably still be as tasty as it is now in a year, but I had waited long enough on this one. Highly Recommended.
Sipology 