Michigan By The Bottle

Podcast #81: Longview 2010 Cabernet Franc

We pretty much cover the entire fruit aisle of the produce section ("Like a big bowl of fruit pie!") as we taste through Longview Winery's 2010 Cabernet Franc. And app, you say? Yes, we have an app-tastic guide to navigating Michigan wine country. Anyways, are you a Longview fan? Come tell us about it.

Feedback Friday: Longview, Boskydel, Contessa

You may have at least heard of or seen our Michigan wine app for iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch and Android — hopefully, you own it, use it and love it! Now, you have a chance to be IN it.

Welcome to Feedback Friday, our weekly feature that works like this: We solicit comments about a specific winery or wineries. You supply them. We pick some to include in our app. You become famous (at least in the Michigan wine community). The end.

Today's featured wineries:

Longview Winery & Vineyard
Boskydel
Contessa Wine Cellars

Send your comments on these wineries to cort@michiganbythebottle.com or post them as a reply to today's Feedback Friday thread on Facebook. We'll be accepting Feedback Friday comments for these featured wineries until next Friday, when we'll introduce a new set. (Of course, feel free to come chatter on Facebook about the wineries you love just for fun any old time. We dig that.)

Read on for complete details...

Tasting Leelanau: Prologue | Gang of Pour On Wine

Picture driving back roads through the hills of the Leelanau Peninsula in a bright red, souped-up Dodge Charger for three days, with weather more beautiful than anyone has a right to expect in mid-November, bouncing from winery to winery and tasting some of the very best wines the appellation has to offer, and you’ll get some idea of what our adventure in northern Michigan was like last month.

Our intrepid band of explorers, all of whom serve on the tasting panel for Michwine.com, consisted of Master Sommelier Claudia Tyagi, retired engineer and avid wine aficionado David Rusnell, Gang of Pour Chief Cook and Bottle Washer Kim Adams and this taster.

via blogs.gangofpour.com

You must not miss this report. Claudia Tyagi, David Rusnell, Kim Adams, and George Heritier descend upon Leelanau wineries and provide us with in-depth features of the wineries, tasting notes, and some great videos.

The Ann Arbor Chronicle » Column: Arbor Vinous

Eat your heart out, John U. Bacon. While the football Wolverines plummet weakly toward the depths of the Big Ten, a very different Michigan eleven just beat up big time on its arch-rivals from Ohio.

This squad doesn’t strut its talents in the Big House or cavernous Crisler. Its slightly smaller – but decidedly more refined – field of combat lies a couple of miles north on Main Street, around a crystal-bedecked tasting table at Vinology Wine Bar.

Earlier this week, the second annual Ohio vs. Michigan Wine Clash turned into a rout, as eleven of Michigan’s finest wines drubbed a like number of Buckeyes during back-to-back judgings in both Ann Arbor and Columbus. 

It wasn’t really a fair fight with the amazing red wines from Michigan’s 2007 vintage, the finest in the state’s history. The lopsided results: the best wine overall, and four of the top five, were proudly Wolverine – though Ohio provided the lone bargain among the bunch.

via annarborchronicle.com

Great article by Joel Goldberg in the Ann Arbor Chronicle. I find it a little odd that Jim Lester was asked to judge when his wine was included, but nonetheless it is good to see Michigan wines presenting well against their Ohio counterparts. Make sure you read Joel's entire article, as it really makes you feel like you were there.

2nd Day of Ontario Wine Writers Visit to Leelanau Peninsula

On his second day on Leelanau Peninsula, Michael Pinkus visits Willow, Chateau Fontaine, Bel Lago, and Longview. Read about his experience here.

Another View on the Michigan Cab Franc Challenge

Before the Cab Franc Challenge, what did wine writers and bloggers have to write about?

William mentions in his article that one poorly made wine made him put his hand to his mouth and his knees buckled. I watched him taste this wine and I thought that maybe he had tasted the one French wine in the bunch;). Read his article here.

The State News Video Report on the Michigan Wine Competition

Linda Jones, Executive Director of the the Michigan Grape & Wine Industry Council and Alan Eaker, owner of Longview Winery, talk about the event. See the video.

2009 Michigan Wine & Spirits Competition Highlights Quality Wines from Michigan

The results of the 2009 Michigan Wine & Spirits Competition are in.  Casual observers of Michigan wine may be surprised by the strong showing that Michigan reds brought to the table.

Best of Class Winners:

• Dry White - Left Foot Charley 2008 Pinot Blanc "Island View Vineyard"
• Dry Red - Gill's Pier Vineyard & Winery 2007 Cabernet Franc/Merlot
• Semi Dry White - Bel Lago 2008 Gewurtztraminer
• Dessert - Fenn Valley Vineyards 2008 "42" Ice Wine
• Fruit - Longview Winery Reserve Cherry Wine
• Rose - Forty-Five North Vineyard & Winery 2008 Pinot Noir Rose

Judges' Merit Award

• Black Star Farms 2008 Arcturos Dry Riesling

You can view the complete list of winners here

You can attend the Gold Medal Reception on Thursday to taste these wines for yourself. Get the details here.