Michigan By The Bottle

Podcast #95: Fenn Valley 2012 Sauvignon Blanc

"It's, like, jumping right out of the glass. That's so dorky, but it's true!" We get giddy about grapefruit as we sip (and spit, to practice our "proper" tasting techniques) a mega-aromatic 2012 Sauvignon Blanc from Fenn Valley VIneyards & Wine Cellar in Fennville. Are you a Fenn Valley and/or Sauvignon Blanc fan? Come tell us about it.

Video features referenced in this podcast:
Fenn Valley: "A Hobby That Got Out of Hand" (Part 1)
Fenn Valley: "A Hobby That Got Out of Hand" (Part 2)

Podcast #94: Old Shore Vineyards 2011 Refuge Pinot Noir

We ramble on for about as long as the recommended cellaring for this bottle of 2011 Refuge Pinot Noir from Old Shore Vineyards, a "delightful" (Shannon's word) Pinot with hints of cocoa and coffee. And don't mind the mention of gnomes. Are you an Old Shore Vineyards and/or Pinot Noir fan? Come tell us about it.

Podcast #93: Lynn Aleksandr 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon

We're FINALLY back with new podcasts, as our old computer literally died as we were editing this very episode. But we have a new computer now (hooray for unexpected large expenses) and we're back in business!

"Love love lovety love!" Strong sentiments for this 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon under the Lynn Aleksandr label, the premium line at Cherry Creek Winery, on the Pioneer Wine Trail. Are you a Cherry Creek/Lynn Aleksandr/Cab Sauvignon fan? Come tell us about it.

Podcast #92: Fenn Valley 2011 Merlot

"Don't be afraid of the Merlot!" In what may well be one of our goofiest podcasts ever, we taste through Fenn Valley VIneyards & Wine Cellar's 2011 Merlot and ramble about why it seems so many people are fearful of this particular grape. (Also, let it be known that while Cort professed at the beginning that she typically prefers Merlot blended with something else, she ended up drinking the rest of the bottle in short order and proclaiming it awesome.) Are you a Fenn Valley and/or Merlot fan? Come tell us about it.

Podcast #91: M. Lawrence Redd

"I"m not really into sparkling wine ... JUST KIDDING!" Cort loves sparkling wine a LOT and other non-surprises are the theme of this podcast on the latest offering in L. Mawby's M. Lawrence line, Redd. The part you didn't get to see was Shannon calling Cort "a (expletive) psycho!" for her prolonged monologue on the wonders of sparkling wine. Are you an L. Mawby/M. Lawrence fan? Come tell us about it.

Oh, and links as promised in the video:
L. Mawby Video Feature (Part 1)
Putting the Fizz in "Fizz"
Sparkling Wine Sweetness Level Terms 

Podcast #90: Bowers Harbor Vineyards 2012 Unwooded Chardonnay

What do Scottie Pippen and Bowers Harbor Vineyards' 2012 Unwooded Chardonnay have in common? Guess you'll have to watch our podcast coverage of Bowers Harbor's latest Chard vintage. Today's obligatory digression from the topic at hand also involves popcorn and Seth MacFarlane. Are you a Bowers Harbor fan? Come tell us about it.

Podcast #89: Circa 2008 Cabernet Franc

We get sentimental in our tribute to Circa Estate Winery, which closed its doors earlier this year. Against better judgment (after all, it's likely to become a collector's item), we popped open a Circa 2008 Cabernet Franc for this latest podcast. Are you a Circa fan? Come tell us about it.

Podcast #88: Brys Estate 2011 Pinot Noir

Has there ever been a more random podcast? Discussions about Pinot Noir's "sexiness," the coining of the phrase "Pinot party on your tongue," Cort's "invaluable" assistance despite the loss of multiple senses and — inexplicably — planting the seeds of a Riesling-centered movie (starring Cort, of course) are among myriad tangents in this rambling exploration of Brys Estate's 2011 Pinot Noir. Are you a Pinot Noir lover? Come tell us about it.

Podcast #87: Chateau Grand Traverse 2011 Laika

We talk about unusual grapes and dogs in space as we taste through 2011 Laika, a Gruner Veltliner from Chateau Grand Traverse. Are you a Gruner Veltliner fan? Come tell us about it.

Podcast #86: Flying Otter Starboard

Piggishness abounds as we snarf through some truffles in conjunction with our tasting of Flying Otter's Starboard, a port-style dessert wine that smells like plump, juicy raisins (and not, as Cort clarifies, the dried out ones currently lingering in our pantry). Are you a Flying Otter fan? Come tell us about it.