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Brengman Brothers 2010 Riesling Reserve Crain Hill Vineyards 10.6%
I’ve had some lovely wines from Michigan. Most of those I’ve tasted have been white wines, and the vast majority have been highly imbibable. In fact, there have been enough good ones that I am eager to continue tasting other wines from the region. That’s often not typical for an up-and-coming area. I’m very happy to have had the chance to taste a few wines from Brengman Brothers just recently. This was my favorite, and I hope to try more of their wines very soon. (P.S. They also produce a delightful and purposefully balanced amaro called Piccolo Dito.)

With this 2010 Riesling, Michigan yet again defies expectations. (Okay. Fine. Most imbibers have no expectations for Michigan wines, and that is fair. However, now is time to look into them!) This gently-aged bottling is smartly balanced with a generous, but well-considered and perfectly integrated, 41 grams per liter residual sugar. (In this case, that means it's just sweet enough to notice the sweetness but to still be able to enjoy a glass or three thanks to its terrific balance. Read on.) Thanks to the spritely acidity that makes this lovely peppermint and apricot peel-scented white accessible on the palate and versatile in food pairings, there is also supreme gulpability. There’s a stony, wet river bed note on the lingering finish that should – along with the classically varietal palate – give Riesling freaks an exhilarating cold chill straight up their spine.

I can’t wait to see what this family brings – in Rieslings and in other bottlings - in the future!

Drink: 2017-19