The sisters that made this tasting trip to Boathouse Vineyards up on Leelanau Peninsula were having a grand time.  They were doing their own tastings, as I am sure that my tasting sessions are not as fun, as just tasting the wine.  After all, I photograph and take some notes and tend to ask a lot of questions.  Of course, some of the sisters went sightseeing and shopping, but the ones here really had a good time.

My Bride and I were ready to taste some red wines, and she was totally ready.  We started with Boathouse Vineyards “Overboard” Leelanau Peninsula 2021.  This was a blend of Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Regent and was aged for three months in French Oak barrels.  A nice deep ruby-red color wine that offered notes of blackberries.  On the palate this was a medium-bodied wine that showed tones of blackberries with a decent finish, this was a nice dry wine that would be easy to understand and to enjoy by people just starting out, or who don’t want a big tannin dry wine.  The other blended wine that we tried and it is one of their best sellers, year after year, is their signature “Boathouse Red” Leelanau Peninsula 2019.  This is their proprietary red wine, which is another way of saying it is a red blend and harvested for fourteen months in French Oak barrels.  A nice garnet red wine that offered notes of red fruits.  This was a bigger wine that offered tones of blackberry and raspberry and a nice medium finish.

Then we did two classic Vinifera red wines, which years ago, would never have been thought of in Michigan, but it has been done.   We did the Boathouse Vineyards Merlot Leelanau Peninsula 2018.  Merlot is one of the classic reds that grows very well in cool climates and can truly appreciate the climate afforded by being along the bay.  Their Merlot is made from four different clones and grown on their Amore Road Vineyard.  This wine is aged for twenty-four months in French Oak barrels.  A soft garnet red wine that offered notes of blackberry.  On the palate there were tones of blackberry and some spice, along with soft tannins that did not overpower the fruit and a medium count finish offering more of the dry fruit flavor.  We then had their Cabernet Franc Leelanau Peninsula 2019 and this is the wine that beckoned my Bride like a Siren’s calling ever since we had finished the bottles of the 2012 vintage.  This wine is also made from four different clones and the fruit is hand-harvested.  The wine is aged for twenty-four months in French Oak barrels.  A dark ruby-red wine and this wine offered notes of black fruits.  On the palate this wine offered notes of black cherry, and blackberry, some spice, and very harmonious with the oak and tannins and a good medium count finish of fruit and a tinge of terroir.  My Bride and I both agreed that it was not as big as the ’12, it was still worthy of our return visit.