Maker: Domaine Berrien, Berrien Springs, Michigan, USA
Place of origin: Domaine Berrien estate, Lake Michigan Shore AVA, Michigan, USA
ABV:
Price: Forgotten (around $20)
Appearance: Dark ruby.
Nose: Black currant jelly, oak, clove.
Palate: Medium bodied, juicy, tart cherry, then moving to bitter oak.
Finish: Chewy and drying but with a squirt of blackberry juice.
Parting words: Syrah/Shiraz is a grape most closely associated with the Northern Rhone Valley and Australia. Southwest Michigan’s climate is closer to the Northern Rhone’s but the temperature is more extreme on the top and bottom ends, like that of the rest of the northeastern of the US. Domaine Berrien’s Syrah is in the cool climate category, but the high end temps push it toward the fruitier warm climate style.
This is one of the wines that I brought over from old Sipology HQ’s “cellar” in the corner of the laundry room to my current cellar. I’m glad I let it sit as long as I did, because it’s blossomed into a wonderful wine (although it had a good head start). It’s fruity but spicy and structured and goes well with food (like turkey) but just as good without. Syrah isn’t one of Michigan’s marquee grapes, but DB does a wonderful job with it. This is a wine worth seeking out. 2011 Domaine Berrien Syrah is recommended.
Sipology 