Sixth Reunion

Posted on August 9, 2016 by thewineraconteur

It is rather difficult to explain the group phenomenon that I am a part of, a fond passion for Woodrow Wilson Junior High School. We just celebrated the sixth get-together and it was great to see old friends and fondly miss those that could not attend for a myriad of reasons. The reunion is for any graduate or past student that went there. I am among a very small group that has attended every one of the reunions and I am pleased with that fact. I also created my own nametag for the reunion with my graduation picture and my name, because as I like to say “no one knew me in school, and no one knows me now,” as I say that with a sparkle in my voice. The first reunion was a rather impromptu gathering that took place at a bar with several tables cordoned off for our group. The second reunion was kindled by Social Media and then the third reunion was almost in a state of inertia. Perhaps I had too much wine, but when a group of us got together to discuss the third reunion and while everyone agreed that they wanted to continue with the concept, somehow I became the chair, with adept assistance by others and that format was been repeated ever since.

Carmel Road Chardonnay 2011

Most people go from their elementary school to their middle school and then on to high school, basically with the same group of kids that they grew up with. In Detroit, there were five elementary schools that funneled their graduates into one Junior High School for the seventh, eighth and ninth grades. Then we were splintered off to as many as five different high schools, depending on geography, academics or a specific curriculum that certain high schools specialized in. The Junior High was the big melting pot and many life long friendships were created from those three years. In later reunions the mix of attendees also included the parochial schools in the neighborhoods, as we were all intermingled after school.

B&G Vouvray 2014

The day before the reunion, there was possibly the last “walk through” of the school, while the school was saved from becoming empty, it will be employed by the Board of Education for an Adult Learning Center and it will cease its entity as a school. I did not get a chance to attend the “walk through,” but I felt alright with missing it, as I did have the delightful chance of delivering the graduation speech to the last class of the school. I also enjoyed the fact that my ticket number of sixty-nine was also the year that I graduated, and I also believe that we had the most alumni appear for this reunion.

Wilson 6th Reunion Ticket

The reunion actually started earlier and I was slated to work the registration table at three when the doors opened up, but I got there five minutes late, due to a traffic tie up that took twenty minutes to get through without any hope of creating a detour for myself. So I worked the table at a later time schedule. There were individuals that worked getting the decorations in place, we had volunteer photographers in attendance, one that was taking group pictures of each year and another that was filming the partiers in all of their revelry. One couple was also honored for restoring the old podium from the school, and they also found a replacement podium for the school, so now we have an official keepsake to use for all future reunions. There has become another tradition where everyone can take the helium filled balloons that were used as centerpieces on the tables and one could write the name or names of past friends of the neighborhood that have since passed away, and all the balloons are released at the same time from the field behind the hall for a moment of reverence.

Wilson Balloons 2016

For the admission price, the attendees had the chance to go through the buffet line that featured “City Chicken,” Kielbasa and Sauerkraut and Roast Beef, not to mention salads, bread and assorted sides. Everyone was quite pleased with the food, and it was the same caterer for the last couple of reunions. There were iced tubs set up for beer, water and assorted soft drinks for the evening. Later on in the evening there must have been about thirty pizza pies delivered for some late night snacking. There were also four different sheet cakes for the party decorated with different themes pertinent to the festivities.

Wilson Reunion Name Tag

While there were basic drinks furnished for the attendees, one could also bring their own choice of beverages, and I saw an assortment of different liquors for some, as their drink of preference. I also some wine on the tables and I even brought some wine for myself, and I guess that would not surprise anyone. I had decided to have some chilled white wines as the heat of the day, kept me from having any red wine. I guess that I have been on a Vouvray kick recently and I started the party off with another bottle of this famed wine from France. I had a bottle of Barton & Guestier Vouvray 2014 from the Loire Valley and the area around Touraine. Barton & Guestier for years used B & G for their labels, as they have been an extremely safe bet for ages for the wines that they bottle as a negociant. I also trust that this new label is geared for the New World customers as it is the first time that I have seen the grape Chenin Blanc appear, as if Vouvray would not automatically mean that to most people. Later on in the evening I opened up a bottle of Carmel Road Arroyo Seco Chardonnay 2011 from one of my favorite areas in California, namely Monterey. I had some concern about the age of the wine, but it showed no foxiness or oxidation and was quite mellow and showed the craftsmanship of the winery. The day was a most pleasant memory, enjoyed by all, and I am sure missed by those that did not attend and they hopefully will not miss the next reunion.

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Some Interesting Wines

Posted on August 7, 2016 by thewineraconteur

Mrs. Wine Raconteur Jr. was having a birthday celebration and we were invited to the party. It was great to see her and her husband the Wine Raconteur Jr., but we also got a chance to spend some time with his parents, his brother and his lady, and of course their two children. The party was at their house and of course we offered to bring something for the festivities and it was suggested that perhaps a dessert wine would be great. Of course I knew that we had something in the cellar that would work.

Regusci Stags Leap Cabernet Sauvignon 2012

Now you have to realize that the Wine Raconteur Jr. can make me look bad without even trying. When he asked her what she would like to have for the dinner, she wanted something simple, she wanted steak. Of course he went way beyond that one dish, because not only can he grill, he can cook and he can bake. I am lucky if I am allowed in the kitchen.

Segura Viudas Brut NV

Of course there were assorted appetizers and he even baked a type of cheese bread puff, that was excellent and I wasn’t sure if I could stop eating them, and add the antipasto spread and it was like I was back in the old neighborhood or even the old country and I am not even Italian, but it was great. Then the steaks and the sides were done perfectly and he really was not even sweating, that is what I call confidence in the kitchen. He was conjuring up his memory of Charlie Trotter without the pomp. For dessert he attempted and succeeded making a Clafoutis and he presented it so humbly and it was great, my only indecision was if I wanted any ice cream along with it, but I did.

Prager Noble Compaion 10 Year Old Tawny Port NV

When we got there at the desired time, he was just opening up some Segura Viudas Brut NV from Penedes, Spain. The Spaniards have been so successful with their Cava sparkling wines that there is now a Cava DO and this wine was done in the “Method Champenoise” or Method Traditionelle” and it was a very festive way to start the meal off. This particular wine is aged for nine months and is a mix of Macebeo, Parellada and Xarel-lo and it had nice tiny bubbles and a soft taste that worked well with the assorted appetizers. For the dinner he opened up his last magnum of Regusci Cabernet Sauvignon Stags Leap 2012 that they had bought on their last trip to Napa. I had to admit that I did not know this winery, but it was established in 1932 and still in the family. The wine had everything going for it, Cabernet Sauvignon from Stags Leap AVA is a given, and there is just a bit of Merlot and Cabernet Franc in the mix to wow anyone that has it. The wine had the classic body and meshed with the steaks and even though it was young it worked flawlessly with the meal. I felt kind of sheepish that I didn’t know the wine, and then I saw the wine being offered a week or so later at a restaurant in a resort, so my man knows his wine. The wine that I brought for dessert I was not sure, if it was over the hill, so I brought a back up bottle, but it wasn’t necessary. When we were in Napa back in 1999 we sent cases and cases of wine back home and one of the bottles was from that trip, and I have even wrote before about the winery. Prager Winery & Port Works is in St. Helena and I brought a bottle of his Noble Companion 10 Year Old Tawny Port NV, so you can see why I had brought a back up. Jim Prager makes this Tawny from Cabernet Sauvignon and he claims that it should be enjoyed with a good cigar, which we did not have that evening. I was a little concerned because the cork broke and crumbled, so I asked for a decanter and my little trick of using a funnel and coffee filter and decanted the wine. Not only did the filter paper catch cork, but there was quite a bit of sediment, just like I have had from classic Port wines. Then the moment of truth, did I do all of that extra work for naught? I have to admit that it was the perfect ending for the meal and it paired very well with the fancy dessert that was freshly baked. We ended up enjoying it, until it was all gone, which doesn’t always happen with dessert wines. So once again we wish Mrs. Wine Raconteur Jr. another Happy Birthday, and we were so glad to be considered part of the family.

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The Last Day of the Fair

Posted on August 5, 2016 by thewineraconteur

The Wyandotte Art Fair was finally coming to a close, but that meant another twelve hour day and the good news was that because I got there early I only had to walk six blocks to get to work. Another hot and sweltering day and I had to wonder how all the crafters were eking out an existence under the sun and their tents. Then there was the constant bombardment of assorted different cooking trailers, barbecues and other foods typical of the event. I was glad that I was indoors and keeping the store in some form of normalcy between waiting on customers and directing others to the register area.

J Moreau & Fils Vouvray 2013

The thought of where to go eat finally entered into my mind, as I was getting hungry after about seven hours of “retailing.” I decided to go to an old standby from my years of visiting Wyandotte, not as an employee. I decided to go to R.P. McMurphy’s a wonderful watering hole and restaurant that has the aura of perhaps being a speakeasy from the Roaring Twenties era of the last century. The restaurant is named after the main character from the play and film “One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest.” How appropriate that I would decide to dine there with the fair taking over the downtown area. The restaurant was packed and I had to sit at the bar and eat, which was fine, and something that I normally don’t do. I passed on all of the colorful sandwiches named after other characters of the play and decided to have some good bar food, namely a Cheeseburger. Every once in a while I get the craving for that classic dish, and when I do, I try to indulge the inner child of mine.

MI RPMcMurphy's MB

Since the day was hot, I knew that I was going to have white wine, and yes I don’t mind having white wine with a burger. It makes me feel almost like I am at a picnic or at the least an outdoor affair, only with air conditioning. It was the second time in a week that I was going to have some Vouvray wine. The wine selection was J.Moreau & Fils Vouvray 2013 and the Moreau firm is a respected negociant. This wine is from the Touraine district which is the heart of the Loire Valley, and while there is a Touraine appellation, I was having a wine from probably the most famous appellation in the Loire, namely Vouvray. The wines of Vouvray are made from Chenin Blanc grapes, or as the locals call it Pineau de la Loire and it is high in acidity, which makes it enjoyable to me in the hot weather. Also because the wine has high acidity, it is one of the few white wines that is known for long cellaring, though I have never had an older Vouvray; I only know from what I have read and heard. I thought it was very fitting that I should be found with Randal P. on that hot and crazy long weekend.

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Magdaleno

Posted on August 3, 2016 by thewineraconteur

It was in the midst of the third day of retailing while the Wyandotte Art Fair was progressing and the store was running on extended hours for the event, maintaining the hours of the fair.  By this point, my old retailing regimens were kicking in and it almost felt like old times.  I did not walk the fair, as I figured that I had enough additional walking, just because I was joking that I was parking in the next city from all the additional cars; and of course I was over dressed, but some traditions die hard.  My Bride and one of her girlfriends were going to come down for the fair, they would walk the show and then we were going to meet at a restaurant that I had not tried yet.

Campolieti Valpolicella Ripasso 2013

 

Magdaleno Ristorante was one of the restaurants that I had been touted to try, even before I took my position working in Wyandotte.  It was one of the traditional Italian eateries with more than a bit of charm and not the type of place that I would want to go to by myself.  It had the feeling of Old World charm and I felt right at home.  The bread and the special “sauce” that they brought was not the typical Olive Oil and spices and the three of us were enjoying it immensely.  I kind of felt sorry for our server, as she almost seemed a bit frazzled by the fact that I had to go back to work, so that I could not enjoy my dinner at a more relaxed pace, and she expedited the orders.  We all started out with house salads with Champagne Vinaigrette and it was light and very tasty.  Our friend had the Frutti di Mare which was scallops, shrimp, mussels and clams in a tomato white wine sauce tossed with spaghetti.  My Bride and I both elected to go with one of the specials of the day.  She had the Grilled Sea Bass with vegetables and I had the Braised Short Ribs with polenta and we were both happy campers.  In fact my Bride ordered my entrée while I was walking over to the restaurant, just to keep me in time for work, like I said this would have even been better if I could have paced the meal properly.  We were all sated and we did not have any dessert, I guess we were all watching our teenage figures.

Voga Pinot Grigio 2015

 

The ladies both had white wine, which is understandable with what they were ordering, plus for the fact that they had been out in the hot sun walking the fair.  They were enjoying Voga Pinot Grigio 2015 from Venezie in Italy and instead of a typical wine bottle; the bottle looked more like a glass cylinder.  This wine was aged in Stainless Steel and had a nice crisp taste and a very soft color with a very mild nose.  I went with a more robust wine with my entrée.  I was enjoying Luigi Righetti Campolieti Valpolicella Ripasso 2013 with a Classico Superiore DOC.  This wine is made of Corvina and Rondinella grapes which are the grapes of Valpolicella, but then it is refermented with the tannin rich skins of the grapes, hence the Ripasso designation.  Valpolicella and Bardolino are the two most famous wines of the Veneto wine region of Italy.  This wine was most enjoyable and my Bride thought that it would have even been a good choice with her entrée as well.  I am sure that we will return to Magdaleno Ristorante when we can have a nice leisurely dinner, and I might even mention it to my club as they have an ample side room for private parties.

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Wine Dotte Bistro

Posted on August 1, 2016 by thewineraconteur

The second day of the Wyandotte Art Fair and I was getting my sea-legs back, after working a twelve plus hour day, and I was out of practice.  On the second day I only had to work an eight hour day, which was doable.  The curious thing that had happened a week earlier or so, I made a sale (which is not odd) to a customer, and somehow the conversation ended up going from clothing to wine, and the customer and his wife I found out were opening up a wine bar in downtown Wyandotte.  It is so amazing what one can find out during a conversation.  Outside of a two year period, I had always sold clothing on a salary, as opposed to being on a commission basis, and somehow it has always been more of a gentlemanly way of doing business.  The customer was planning on having a “soft” opening during the Art Fair, and I decided to deliver his purchases to him, and also to check out the new restaurant in town.  Over the years I have met many restraunteurs and I have always tried to make a visit to their establishment as a courtesy.  I have always thought that since they paid for their merchandise, I would reciprocate.

Ch Moncontour Vouvray DemiSec 2014

I just liked the cleverness of the name, Wine Dotte Bistro, a wine bar in Wyandotte.  The location was on the backside of the main street and has a view of the Detroit River, and I have to admit that I had never been to that part of the downtown area.  So as I schlepped all the garments over my shoulder I made my way through the maze of patrons for the fair.  When I got there, the restaurant was quiet, but it was their first day of business and the word had not gotten out on the street.  Since it was a “soft” opening the menu was abbreviated and I understood that.  I went with some Shrimp Tacos with house made Tortilla chips and house made Salsa as well.  I was very pleased with the quality of the food, especially since the Shrimp were not tiny, which is a pet peeve of mine.  The food that I had was enough to make me make a return trip.  By the time that I was paying my bill the room was filling up, the word was out about the new establishment.

Licia Albarino 2014

Beyond the food, was the wine, and besides having a full bar, they had a wonderful selection of wines and that is what piqued my curiosity.  They had forty-two wines by the glass and a choice of sixty-one different bottles of wine in total.  There was a good mix of domestic and imported wines and some old standbys that I noticed were from the Wagner Group, Duckhorn, Far Niente, Cakebread, Nickel and Nickel, Moet & Chandon and Ruinart.  Since it was another hot and humid day, I started off with a glass of Chateau Moncontour Vouvray Demi-Sec 2014.  Vouvray is one of the most famed wines of the Loire, and for sure from Touraine.  It is in the Loire where Chenin Blanc shines, and locally it is known as Pineau de la Loire, and it can be so refreshing and it actually is a white wine that can age from cellaring, but get a fine bottle to save.  I also had a glass of Jose Limeres Licia Albarino 2014 from Rias Baixas in Spain.  Albarino, known locally as Albarinho, is a most pleasant white wine and this wine was pure Albarino.  To have the DOC of Rias Baixas the wine has to be mostly Albarino.  Rias Baixas means the Lower Rias, which describes the area, and this wine was made from two sub-zones of the region; Condado de Tea and O Rosal.  Jose Limeres got into the wine business, to get quality wines for his restaurants originally.  I know that I shall be going back there again, and I am especially looking forward to their full menu.

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The Art Fair Starteth

Posted on July 30, 2016 by thewineraconteur

You may not be aware of the fact, but I am semi-retired and trying to acclimate to this new life style.  I guess that I am a clothier at heart and a merchant as well.  I was studying the calendar and realized that I had a two week window, where I would hardly have a chance to enjoy my blog and all of the readings of other writers, so I worked at a break-neck pace and almost wrote a whole month’s worth of articles before the two week interval that would be devoid of writing, but not of wine.  First up was the long weekend of the Wyandotte Art Fair, where the main street is blocked off to all traffic and I had to walk on the average of about ten blocks each way from where I parked my car, because of the Art Fair vendors and patrons.

Nobilo Sauvignon Blanc 2014

It was a very hot weekend temperature wise, and even the store had a whimsical flair to it, with big tents out on the main drag, and racks and racks of sportswear arranged to entice the shoppers that were afoot.  Thankfully my expertise is clothing, which in the Men’s Wear industry refers to suits, sport coats, trousers and all the other accessories to finish an outfit, and thankfully people other than myself still do dress in this manner.  We may have had the front doors open, but I was basically still in an air conditioned environment and for that I am truly happy.

MI Whiskeys on the Water Interior

While the street was a mixture of assorted scents from the different street vendors plying their trade, one could smell barbecued ribs, Italian Sausages and an assortment of other dishes.  When it came time to eat, I ventured out among the throngs, but made a determined walk to one of the newest restaurants that had opened, and I have already mentioned them in an article, but I was seeking sanctuary from the crafters and I decided that I would have a better chance dining in a finer restaurant and spending a few dollars more, and it was worth it.  When one is dining alone, which is the norm in the retailing world, one is interested in speed to a degree, and who wants a three or four course meal when one is by themselves with only the company of a Sudoko or a Crossword Puzzle as company.  I went back to Whiskeys on the Water and got a small table off to the side for myself.  I ordered a classic Reuben sandwich for my meal, and while the meat was cut properly, it did not have the heft that one would expect from a deli, and I do not mean the monstrous open face sandwich that one gets at the Carnegie in Manhattan.  It was a hot day and I was trying to decide what would work with a Reuben and I decided on a cold white wine that would not fight the spices of the corned beef and all of the fixings.  I had a glass of Nobilo Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2014 from New Zealand and it was part of their “Regional Collection.”  Marlborough is probably the largest area in New Zealand and produces about seventy-five percent of all the wine, and Sauvignon Blanc is the king of Marlborough.   It is a wine that I tend to go to when I want something that will be light and crisp and an easy accompaniment to what ever I have to eat.  I even enjoy it with a Cheeseburger, there are days when I am not fussy at all, but just want to have a good safe drink with my meal.

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Lucy & The Wolf

Posted on July 28, 2016 by thewineraconteur

Lucy & The Wolf is next door to my favorite cobbler and artisan in Northville, Michigan. Lucy & The Wolf is one of the tapas style or small plate type of restaurants that are popping up here in the area and I am sure that elsewhere as well. We first encountered the restaurant at the last Culinary Extravaganza at Schoolcraft College. The odd thing about it, is that we made several attempts to get to this restaurant and never had success, as either something came up or we got there and they were closed, but we persevered and finally got there. One night the stars aligned and we finally got there, but as we made our reservations, we were informed that we only had an hour and a half window for dining, but that sounded like enough time, and it was.

Marquese de Murrieta Reserva 2010
The concept of tapas-style restaurants is that one shares the different plates, and that is fine, as my Bride and I have been doing that for years, even before it became in vogue. We started out with a couple of “chilled” dishes. The first was the Charcuterie Plate, which was listed as Capicolla, Iberico Ham, artisan cheeses, olive salad, pickled vegetables and raw honey. Of course the night that we were there they only had one “artisan cheese” and not plural, as the menu read, but it was Mancheco made from sheep’s milk, but it was described to us as cow’s milk cheese. We also tried a plate of Deviled Eggs, which seems to have had a surge in popularity around here, and these came with Iberico Ham and topped with pickled mustard seeds and they were delightful. Then we had the Charred Shrimp, which was described as Spanish style roasted shrimp, Arbol chili spiced, Sherry Vinaigrette and Micro Greens, and this had excellent taste, and we stopped there, as we were concerned about our time allotment for the table.

MI Lucy & The Wolf Facade

They had a very limited wine carte and I was surprised to only find one Spanish wine on the list, one would think that the restaurant would offer several different Spanish wines considering the theme of the restaurant. We ordered the Spanish wine and I was looking forward to it, as it was listed as a “Gran Reserva” with no vintage year listed. We watched as the help scurried about trying to find the wine and then they produced the wine, but it read “Reserva,” and I agreed to it, but I asked if there was a difference in price, and the manager came over and told me, that the price was proper for the wine that they were serving, and I suggested that they edit their wine carte. We had a bottle of Marques de Murrieta Reserva Finca Yguay Rioja 2010. The wine is a blend of Tempranillo, Mazuelo, Graciano and Garnacha Tinta and the grapes are fermented separately in Stainless Steel vats and then blended and aged in American Oak for twenty-one months. This was a production of one million bottles, all done as one lot and required four months just for the bottling.

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A Couple of Magnums

Posted on July 26, 2016 by thewineraconteur

It was the last graduation party of the season, and it was a splendid time, even if we had to drive cross country once again. When we arrived, we saw the Honoree deep in thought as he was playing chess with his Grandfather and they had one of the coolest chess sets that I have ever seen, almost to the point of making me try playing the game again, but I think that I will stay with the games that I am already doing. There were two tents erected in the back yard, one to protect the guests and another fully zipped up tent to house all of the foods that were being laid out, and there were three full tables laden with food for the guests.

Frontera Cab Sauv Merlot 2015

The food was the normal food that one would find at most parties, but there was such an abundance that those that proceeded to have seconds or thirds would not feel guilty depriving others that came later of missing out. There was chicken and also assorted deli submarine-style sandwiches, hamburgers and hot dogs, multitude of salads, vegetables and side dishes that one could wish for to ladle onto the plates. I guess it is my ethnic background that makes me appreciate when I see enough food to feed several platoons of soldiers that make me smile, as I sometimes feel that I should curtail my food options and choices to make sure that others will not miss out. Then the sweet table was also amply stocked, so that no one had to leave hungry, and that is how parties should be.

Kirkland California Chardonnay 2014

As for beverages, they were also in evidence as well. Of course nowadays bottled water is always to the forefront and of course back in the day, good old tap water or even cold water from the garden hose worked to ward off a thirst. Then there were pops, or as some parts of the country call soda, and there was an assortment of beers, both popular and smaller craft beers that are now in vogue. Then there were some magnums of wine for the guests as well. There was the Kirkland Signature Chardonnay 2014, which may become one of the largest sellers in the country, due to the buying structure and power of Costco. This wine is a generic California Chardonnay, meaning the fruit can be harvested from all points of the state for a consistent taste year after year, depending on the winemaker. The other wine that was interesting was Concha y Toro Frontera Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot 2015 from the Central Valley of Chile. The Central Valley is an extremely large appellation for wine making and when one combines the two grapes together from one of the largest winemakers in the area, one knows that it will be harmonious and an easy drink. While both of these wines were in magnum bottles just made the moment feel more festive and the feeling of running out, less of an issue. Sometimes for festive large parties, good basic wines are what is needed, and one never knows when one these type wines may turn another individual into a wine devotee, from that one moment.

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July Birthdays

Posted on July 24, 2016 by thewineraconteur

While still in the eastern suburbs of the Detroit area, we were celebrating all the birthdays in the family that occur in July. This was going to be at one of my Bride’s Sister’s home. So not only did we go to a wedding on the east side and spend the night in a hotel, but we also took along a portable refrigerator that can go from the car to the house, as we were transporting the meats for the party. My Bride had ten pounds of pork tenderloin that she marinated in orange juice, soy and sesame oil and it was to be barbecued for the party. We also stopped and got some chicken and hamburgers, but they were never used, because we had more tenderloin then we needed, but it is always better to have more, than not enough.

Terra dOro Chenin Blanc & Viognier 2013

Since we got there early and my Bride and her Sister were getting the food prepared for later, I went with my Brother-in-Law for a drive to pick up a few last minute supplies. He also gave me a tour of the area that they had moved to, and it was a charming lakeside community with a couple block downtown area of stores and businesses. He also took me to Washington Street Wine House, which produces wines procured from concentrated wine juice from different parts of the world. We had a quick tasting while we were there, and while I laud them for their efforts, I tried their South African Pinotage and to be truthful I did not notice any taste of that unique grape in the wine by that name, in fact I was not sure exactly what grape it reminded me of. It was one of the few times that I ever left a wine shop empty handed.

Chateau de Leelanau Cabernet Franc Rose 2013

At the party during dinner we had several different wines, but the wine that I want to discuss is another wine that we had bought at a wine tasting dinner at a restaurant and I just wanted to see if I still liked it, and I did. When we attended a Terra d’Oro wine dinner, some of the wines that we bought, I have been trying again recently like their Pinot Grigio that I wrote about a couple of articles earlier. Terra d’Oro was established in 1970 as Montevina Wines and is now part of the large Trinchero Family Estates and Terra d’Oro means Land of Gold. The Terra d’Oro Chenin Blanc and Viognier 2014 was perfect on that hot July day. The wine was a blend of 87% Chenin Blanc from Clarksburg and carries the Clarksburg appellation and 13% Viognier form the Voteau Vineyard in Amador County. Clarksburg is an appellation that is seldom seen, as most of the fruit produced there is bought by larger firms for blending, and Clarksburg is prominent for their production of Chenin Blanc.  I also want to mention the other wine that we had just bought at Michigan by the Bottle and it was Chateau de Leelanau Cabernet Franc Rose 2013 that we had bought for one of my Bride’s cousins.  I am a big fan of Michigan wines, and we both love Cabernet Franc wines when we can get them, but this wine, even though it was a rose, was a bit sweeter then I would have expected, but the cousin loved it.  So all was great and the day was a perfect July day and the family get-together was just relaxing.

 

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Michigan by the Bottle

Posted on July 22, 2016 by thewineraconteur

We were staying in one of the far eastern suburbs of the Detroit area, because of the wedding, and the next day we were going to celebrate the monthly birthdays, which we do often at our home, but one of my Bride’s Sisters wanted to do it at her house. So as we were packed up from the hotel, my Bride wanted to pick up another bottle of wine for one of her cousins to enjoy. I was not aware of the area, and lately when we are out and about, I will check my phone to see if there are any wineries in the area, because wineries have been growing in numbers here in Michigan. My phone led us to Michigan by the Bottle.

Chateau de Leelanau Muse 2012

The shop had the feel of a tasting room at a small winery. There was a large selection of wines on the walls and racks around the shop, and then there were the usual gift type items as well. The name of the shop is actually derived from a wine blog, and now the owners of the blog have opened three tasting rooms for retail. As the name implies they only feature Michigan wines and some of the wineries are small start up companies, some are boutique wineries and some are full blown wineries. I was looking at some of the brands and smiled because we had been to some of them, and I pointed out to my Bride a bottle and she remembered that we had been to one of the wineries in Jackson the year before and even had lunch there. Since we were not going to be there for long as we had other errands before the birthday party, we opted for the “Mini Flight.”

Verterra Rose of Pinot Noir 2015

I will discuss two of the wines that we tried. The first wine was Chateau de Leelanau Muse 2012 from Leelanau County near Traverse City. This was “frizzante” and our server informed us that the wine was carbonated, rather than even the Charmat Method. The wine was a blend of Pinot Grigio and Bianca. Bianca was a new grape for me; in fact it is very new and only recently developed in Hungary and is known as a Cold Hardy grape varietal, suitable for the colder climates. This wine was listed on sheet as Limited Availability and we did pass on it, as I was not keen on the aftertaste, and since we have had such great sparkling wines from Michigan, I was not impressed. The second wine that we tried was Verterra Winery Rose of Pinot Noir 2015 also from the Leelanau area and a new winery to me. This wine had limited time in Stainless Steel before bottling and it had a very young taste to it and it was slightly sweeter then what I expected. All in all, I wish that we would have had more time to spend there, as there were some other wines that I would have been interested in trying, so maybe I shall try again at one of their other locations that is closer to my house.

MI Michigan by the Bottle BC

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