“I’m hard pressed to name a better dry Riesling that’s available
at this price point here in the Detroit market.”
Click image to enlarge.
I used to sell a lot of Riesling in a previous life in wine retail. Many of my customers were looking for the sweeter stuff; they had no idea just how versatile the variety is, and were quite surprised when I informed them that there are plenty of dry variations of the theme to be had as well. Many of the more obvious examples come from places like Germany, Alsace and Austria, but there are also a number of great choices to be had produced everywhere from Australia to Washington, New York, Ontario and right here in Michigan.
One of my longtime favorite Michigan dry Rieslings comes from Chateau Grand Traverse, up on Michigan’s Old Mission Peninsula. We first tried the CGT Whole Cluster back in 2007, and we’ve been buying successive vintages ever since. I filed a report on the 2020 model almost a year ago, and if anything, this one might even be better. Like the 2020, it still sells for $13.99 at Westborn Market on Woodward, in Berkley.
2021 Chateau Grand Traverse Whole Cluster Riesling Old Mission Peninsula, 11.5% alc., $13.99: This is all about citrus and ripe green apple, with a little bit of mineral and a pleasant whiff of petrol. It’s racy, with active acids on a medium-bodied frame, and very good concentration and intensity. Vintage in and vintage out, this is always a fine example of dry Riesling from Michigan. It opens and becomes even more appealing with just a little air, so it wouldn’t hurt to decant well chilled 15 minutes before pouring. Find this wine
I’m hard pressed to name a better dry Riesling that’s available at this price point here in the Detroit market. If you have a better idea, I’m all ears!
Reporting from Day-twah,
Bastardo
