Maker: Chateau Aeronautique, Jackson, Michigan, USA
Grapes: 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Cabernet Franc, 15% Syrah, 10% Merlot (acc. to website)
Place of origin: Michigan, USA
Style: Left bank-ish red Bordeaux blend
ABV: Unknown (14%-ish)
Price: $35 (Michigan by the Bottle)
Appearance: Dark burgundy with a brownish hue.
Nose: Black currant jam, blueberry, wild blackberry, vanilla.
Palate: Understated. Blueberry juice, black cherry, wine cap mushrooms, vanilla.
Finish: Oaky, then fades into chewy berries. Slight tang at the end.
Parting words: I was very impressed with this wine. I expected a smoky beast like its cousin and successor, Aviatrix Crimson, but what I got was a multifaceted gem of a wine. The fruit, oak, earthy and other elements are in perfect harmony here. Rereading my notes, they seem to give the impression that this is a very fruity, sweet wine. It’s not. The fruit notes are all fairly muted and balanced out with flavors I can’t quite name.
$35 is hell of a lot of money for a Michigan red. I think this one lives up to the price tag, though. Paired great with a steak and with pork roast. Drinking great now (especially after breathing for a while) but will probably be as good or better for the next two to three years or longer. Aviatrix Rouge 2010 is recommended.
[…] aggressive, alcohol-heavy style can work well with bold reds like Cab Franc and the wines of their Aviatrix series but is not well suited to wines like the last ChA wine I reviewed, the 2012 Riesling or this […]