I’m from Michigan and probably biased when it comes to Riesling. In my opinion, some of the best Riesling in the world comes from Old Mission Peninsula. Yesterday, I tasted several Rieslings from grapes grown on OMP. The first Riesling was from 2 Lads Winery. This 2009 Riesling had a faint yellow color with a floral aroma. The taste was complex reminding me of a fruit salad. Some of the fruits in the mix included apple and peach with a hint of citrus. The wine finished fruity, slightly sweet with some citrus. The wine did not have the minerality associated with some of the Rieslings from New York’s Finger Lakes region. However this is not a negative for those who don’t like mineral Rieslings.

The next Riesling tasted was a Chateau Chantel semi-dry Riesling 2009. Although there was a slight floral aroma, the aroma was predominately peach. Peach was also the predominant fruit on the taste although there were hints of apple and a faint trace of minerality. The crisp finish was fruity. At Black Star Farms, Old Mission winery, the Arcteeros Riesling also had a floral and peach aroma. The peach taste was followed by a slightly sweet aftertaste accompanied by fruit. There was just a hint of effervescence that enticed the tongue.

I enjoyed these Rieslings and look forward to tasting Rieslings on Leelanau Peninsula.

Cheers,
Terry