Maker: Chateau Aeronautique, Jackson, Michigan, USA
Grape: Syrah (at least 75%)
Place of origin: Michigan (at least 75%)
ABV: Not listed (“Table wine”)
Purchased for $28 (Michigan by the Bottle Sipper Club selection)
Appearance: Brick red.
Nose: Cedar, pink peppercorn, cherry juice, mulberry.
Palate: Juicy and a little tannic. Red currant, wild blackberry, leather, white pepper.
Finish: Leathery, with a little acid and spice
Parting words: Chateau Aeronautique is the project of airplane pilot Lorenzo Lizzaralde. He’s been at it for quite some time now and the ChA empire has expanded to include a brew-pub and coffee shop in downtown Auburn Hills, Michigan, both joint operations with the Caseys of Michigan by the Bottle.
Lorenzo’s wines are, generally speaking, bold. I like spicy Syrah, but my favorites are balanced with fruit and acid. This wine may have started out a little brash, but ten years in a bottle has done it a lot of favors. The oak is a little heavier than I prefer, but everything else is nicely balanced and great for drinking with or without food. $28 is a fair price for a wine of this age. Chateau Aeronautique Syrah, 2010 is recommended.
Sipology 