Maker: Bowers Harbor, Traverse City, Michigan, USA
Grapes: 60% Cabernet Franc, 39% Merlot, 1% Cabernet Sauvignon
Place of Origin: Langley Vineyard, Bower’s Harbor estate, Old Mission Peninsula AVA, Traverse City, Michigan, USA.
Style: Meritage
ABV: 13.5%
Price: $38 (original price on shelf. Purchased on sale with a discount from the owner)
Appearance: Inky dark purple.
Nose: Blueberry, cherry juice, oak.
Palate: Medium sweet. Cherry juice, blackberry, pepper, chewy leather on the back end.
Finish: Cherry and lightly fruity. Stays in the cheeks for a good bit of time.
Parting words: 2896 is Bowers Harbor’s big, flagship red. The 2013 vintage is currently selling on the BH website for $55 and the 2012 vintage (considered the best recent vintage for Michigan reds) for $100. I haven’t had either of those, so I don’t know if they’re worth the money, but they are both at the top end of red wine prices in this state.
As for this wine, it’s very good and worth the price that was on the shelf on which it sat. It is well balanced, but still has the laid back, fruity character of a cool season Bordeaux-style red. Enough oak and alcohol to keep it from becoming a fruit bomb but not aggressive or overly tannic. It goes well with beef and smoked or grilled meats. My only complaint is that the gold wax is very hard to get off and it looks corny. The bottle would be better off without it. At any rate, at around $40 or so, 2896 Langley 2010 is recommended.
Sipology 