2010 Fenn Valley Winery Visit (Michigan)- One highly recommended buy

This was at least my 3rd visit to Fenn Valley Winery over the last 7 years. My wife and I were in South Haven over the weekend and had some free time on Saturday so with the sunny weather we decided to take a drive to see what was new here. They make wine from estate grown and purchased Michigan grapes and concentrate on vinifera. The winery is located in Fennville which in the Southwest corner of Michigan between South Haven and Saugatuck. Tastings are free. They have 20+ wines available to try as well as another half dozen fruit wines. The quality at this estate is in the top half of the estates in Southwest, Michigan. Although as you can see from my notes they still have a way to go. Here are my notes:

• NV Fenn Valley Premier Cuvée 82 Points

  USA, Michigan, Lake Michigan Shore

  Tasted at the winery. This is bottled as a non vintage but all of the fruit in the bottle I tried was from the 2008 vintage. Bottled in June 2009. A blend of 82% Chardonnay and 18% Pinot Noir all from the LMS appellation. This had a sweet nose but was bone dry on the palate. A steely character with some citrus notes but overall very little fruit. perhaps some time in bottle will help a little. 82-83 points.

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• NV Fenn Valley Sparkling Riesling 87 Points

  USA, Michigan, Lake Michigan Shore

  Tasted at the winery. 100% Riesling from the LMS appellation. Labeled as non vintage but all the fruit was from 2008. This estate sent their estate grapes North to L Mawby for fermentation and bottling. This was a step up from the Premier Cuvee in my opinion and cost less (price was $16). Crisp and made in an extra dry style with a touch of sweetness. Apple notes. 87 points.

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• 2008 Fenn Valley Riesling 81 Points

  USA, Michigan, Lake Michigan Shore

  Tasted at the winery. This was a semi dry wine. It had a muted nose. Notes of pear but it lacked concentration and as a result tasted a little flabby to me. 81 points.

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• 2008 Fenn Valley Traminette Semi Dry 79 Points

  USA, Michigan, Lake Michigan Shore

  Tasted at the winery. Clear white color. This had a soapy nose and did not show some of the gewurzlike character that many of the better traminette's show. Moderately sweet. White fruit notes. Needed more acidity to balance itself out. 79-80 points.

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• 2007 Fenn Valley Pinot Noir 80 Points

  USA, Michigan, Lake Michigan Shore

  Tasted at the winery. 2nd time i have had this with consistent notes. Light red with a tinge of brown. Notes of smoke and burnt fruit. Tasted a little green. Light body. 80-81 points.

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• NV Fenn Valley Vidal 42˚ Ice Wine 90 Points

  USA, Michigan, Lake Michigan Shore

  Tasted at the winery. After tasting through a half dozen mediocre to good wines, this bottle clearly stood head and shoulders above the rest. This wine won a double gold medal and best in class (dessert wine category) at the 2009 Michigan Wine and Spirits Competition. Bottled as a non vintage wine but all of the fruit comes from the LMS appellation and was grown in the 2008 vintage. About 967 cases were made. 10.5% alcohol. 37.8 brix and 18.9% residual sugar. This is naturally made ice wine from grapes frozen on the vine (not picked and then frozen in a freezer like some imitators). One of the better Vidal Blanc Ice Wines I have had. Did not have the zippyness or punch that a fine riesling or scheurebe ice wine might possess; but, it had wonderful concentration and purity of fruit. A light yellow straw color. Very pretty tropical nose. Sweet and luscious with concentrated mango, pineapple, apricot and pear nectar notes. Full mouth feel and a moderately long finish. 90 points. Even better was the price of $15 per 375ml (about 1/3 the price of most Michigan ice wines). This wine was made by Fenn Valley for a neighboring land owner who was planning to start his own winery but had not purchased his own equipment yet. When the economy soured, the grower decided not to start his winery and therefore would not be able to buy back his ice wine and sell it to the public. Fenn Valley kept it at a significant discount and has passed the savings along to the public. This is available at the winery and is a highly recommended purchase while it lasts (they said they still had plenty when I was there).

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