One of the best pleasures is when I get a chance to be with the winemaker, as my Bride and I had the chance, at Bos Wine in Elk Rapids, Michigan.  I had the pleasure of meeting David Bos; a couple of times and my Bride met him once at another tasting.  The problem was, is that David is a great raconteur and a proud steward of the lands.  He was so captivating that I literally forgot to take notes, it was the perfect one on one with the wines.  And if you are in the area, you must stop by at his tasting room, and even if David is not there, his staff is completely capable and knowledgeable and will make you totally comfortable.  Also, when you are there, you have to try his Charcuterie Board, one of the best that we have had and well worth the price.  There were crackers, cheeses, olives, two types of peppers, ham and salumi; the salumi is made locally for him and they use his wine in the production.

We continued our tasting with Wishflower Michigan 2021, a blending of Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc and Riesling; co-fermented with fruits harvested from Leelanau Peninsula and Old Mission Peninsula.  The Pinot Gris is from Brigadoon Vineyard on Leelanau Peninsula, while the Pinot Blanc and Riesling are from Ten Hands Vineyard on Old Mission Peninsula.   A very pretty yellow wine that offered notes of white fruits and white florals.  On the palate high acidity perks up the taste buds with tones of green apples, lemon, and ginger and with a touch of tartness with a nice finish.  Then we had a chance to try two different Riesling wines and both from Old Mission Peninsula.  The Bos Wine Riesling Old Mission Peninsula 2021 featured fruit harvested from two different vineyards that David consults for and were vinified together as one.  This was a straw-yellow colored wine that offered notes of citrus, and white florals.  On the palate this wine had good acidity, and offered tones of nectarines, balance, and a touch of spice.  The “All that is Gold” Riesling Old Mission Peninsula 2021 also is made from fruit harvested from Ten Hands Vineyard.  The fruit was allowed to ripen a bit longer, and the wine also enjoyed extended lees contact.  The pale-golden-yellow wine offered noted of citrus and honeysuckle.  On the palate a richer texture and body with tones of apples and a tinge of orange and some terroir. 

Then we enjoyed a couple of reds, and David has said that he enjoys getting people that are hesitant about trying red wines from Michigan, and these are his first two Michigan reds, as I have also had some of his reds from California.  The first was Bos Wine Blaufrankisch Old Mission Peninsula 2021.  Blaufrankisch, also known as Lemberger and Kekrankos is grown widely in Austria and Hungary, as well as some of the Eastern European countries; it is also found in the Mid-west of America and the Finger Lakes of New York state.  This fruit is from Vineyard 15 on the north-end of Old Mission Peninsula and is owned by Vinnie Johnson who was on the Detroit Pistons basketball team and his number was “15.” One third of the fruit was whole-cluster crushed, and the balance was destemmed, but not crushed, as the berries were allowed to break down naturally during punch-downs.  The wine was pressed and aged for fifteen months in used oak barrels.  A bright garnet colored wine that offered notes of black cherries and spice.  On the palate, good medium bodied wine with structure showing tones of fresh fruit, and some pepper.  The last red wine and wine of the tasting was Bos Wine “Interlochen” Michigan 2022.  This wine is a blend of Marquette, Blaufrankisch and Pinot Noir.  Marquette is crossed hybrid in 1989 from the University of Minnesota and introduced in 2006.  It is a “cold-hardy” grape developed for the northern states.  This garnet-colored wine offered notes of black fruit, leather, and spices.  On the palate a well-balanced easy drinking wine that offered tones of cherries, currants, blackberries, and pepper.  It was sad to finish the session, but we were on the road again.  The wines can’t taste themselves.