Maker: Mackinaw Trail, Petoskey, Michigan, USA
Grape: Riesling (at least 75%)
Place of origin: Michigan (at least 75%)
Style: Late harvest Riesling
Vintage: 2013
Note: 24 brix at harvest
ABV: 10%
Purchased for $14 (forgotten liquor store)
Appearance: Light gold.
Nose: Peach, pear.
Palate: Medium bodied. Mandarin oranges, ripe peach, gravel.
Finish: Peach then canned pear.
Parting words: This is the first bottle from Mackinaw Trail I have purchased in the last five years at least. Why? Well, several years ago, my friends and I visited the Mackinaw Trail tasting room in Petoskey and had a very pleasant time. Liz and I both liked the Merlot, so we bought a bottle and took it home.
When I opened it a few months later, it tasted terrible and was fizzy. I don’t mean Vinho Verde or Beaujolais Nouveau fizzy, I mean Vernor’s Ginger Ale fizzy. I dumped it out and vowed never to buy another bottle from them. I should have contacted someone, I know, but it was so disgusting that I didn’t want to have anything to do with them again.
A few months ago, I was killing time in a local liquor store and came across this bottle. I love late harvest Riesling (almost any Riesling, really) and this bottle was pretty mature so I thought I’d give Mackinaw Trail another chance. I’m glad I did.
This wine is not complex, and not as good as LHRs produced by some of the larger Michigan wineries like St. Julian, Black Star Farms and Chateau Grand Traverse, but it’s good enough for the price and it held up well for sitting on the shelf of a party store for five years. I’m glad I gave Mackinaw Trail another try. Makinaw Trail’s 2013 Late Harvest Riesling is recommended.
Sipology 