Maker: Verterra, Leland, Michigan, USA
Place of origin: Leelanau Peninsula AVA, Michigan, USA
Vintage: 2012
Price: $20 (website)
ABV: Unknown (not listed on label or received from producer by press time)
Appearance: Medium gold with some necklacing.
Nose: Butter, toasted oak, plum, white peach, mineral water.
Palate: Golden delicious apple, lychee, oak, white pepper.
Finish: Chewy oak, canned pear, brown butter.
Parting words: Verterra is one of the best producers on Leelanau and it shows in this wine. They make two Chards, an unoaked (a popular style in these parts) and this one that spent several months in french oak before being bottled, also undergoing malolactic fermentation. It tastes pretty Californian to me, which isn’t a bad thing if you like that style like I do (usually).
As the wine sat and warmed in the glass, some of the fruit seemed to disappear, which was disappointing. It was still tasty, just not quite so well balanced as it was when the cork first came off. Unfortunately, due to poor meal planning, I was unable to taste it with food, but based on experience with similar wines I think it would pair well with chicken, swordfish, shark and the like. The price is very nice for a quality Michigan wine. The 2012 Verterra Reserve Chardonnay is recommended.
Sipology 