We were away for a little trip and my Bride got an email that a package was coming to the house that would require an adult signature.  She was perplexed, trying to figure out what was coming, since most deliveries are just dropped off on the porch, she wasn’t sure what she had ordered.  I said that it was probably wine, and since it was on her email, I was sure that it was from Black Star Farms.  When we were at the Inn at Bay Harbor, one night we had a chance to try a couple of glasses of wine from Black Star Farms, that we were so impressed with the wines, that we decided to make a detour on the way home to buy some of the wines that we tried.  Black Star Farms has facilities on both sides of Traverse City, one on Old Mission Peninsula and the other on Suttons Bay on the Leelanau Peninsula.  We experienced such exceptional service and attention from our attendant that we bought a club membership for four wines to be delivered quarterly.  The winery has three series; the premium Arcturos, A Capella and the Leorie Vineyard labels for sparkling and fruit wines.

The first bottle that I pulled out of the carton was the Black Star Farm Arcturos Sauvignon Blanc Capella Vineyard 2017.  The Capella Vineyard is on Old Mission Peninsula and it is acclaimed for its mineral rich soil.  Sauvignon Blanc should be a nice crisp wine that evokes grapefruit and lemon zest, and the best deliver refreshing acidity and a mineral terroir.  There were no production notes, so I will presume that this wine was aged in Stainless Steel.  The cooler climate of Michigan should produce a nice dry Sauvignon Blanc that should be enjoyed for about two years. 

The second wine that I pulled out, will make my Bride very happy, as it has become her favorite grape.  I know that she will get excited about the Black Star Farms Arcturos Cabernet Franc 2017.  This wine carries a Michigan AVA, because the fruit was harvested on both peninsulas and was first bottled by Black Star Farms in 1998 when the varietal was not as known or popular as it is now.  The best of the Cabernet Franc wines will deliver dark red fruits and spice, depending on the aging period and if it was new oak.  I think that they have enough experience producing Cabernet Franc that I think this wine could easily be cellared for five to ten years.  There will be further reports, since there two bottles of each wine shipped.