Maker: Nathaniel Rose, Suttons Bay, Michigan, USA
Grape: Traminette
Place of origin: Lake Michigan Shore AVA, Michigan, USA
Vintage: 2013 (harvested October 6)
ABV: 20%
Purchased for $18 (Winery, received media discount)
Appearance: Pale lemon.
Nose: Funk, lychee, fresh Bartlett pear.
Palate: Full-bodied and dry. Limestone dust, bitter apple, pinch of ginger, cardamom.
Finish: Lychee. Fades fairly quickly.
Parting words: It would be weird to call this an Alsace-style Traminette, since Traminette is a hybrid, but that’s kind of what this is. Gewurztraminer is one of parents of Traminette, so it’s not really too much of a stretch. It has the body, funk and dryness one expects from Alsatian Gewurz. I was taken aback by those characteristics when I first opened the bottle but they grew on me quickly.
This wine comes from a batch of “wild fruit” Nathaniel was able to obtain and bottle. Its label is obviously inspired by the greatest educational DOS game of all time (sorry Number Munchers), Oregon Trail. Nathaniel always thought that finding wild fruit was the most interesting thing that happened on that game, so when he came accross some Traminette, he thought this label would be the perfect tribute to one of his favorite gaming moments.
This is a great wine from a great winemaker at a fair price. Find Wild Fruit Traminette is highly recommended. For more on Nathaniel’s operation see my visit to him here.
Sipology 