Wine Recommendation
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Wine Recommendation

Black Star Farms 2005 Pinot Gris

Black Star Farms

2005 Arcturos Pinot Gris
(Old Mission Peninsula)



Although Black Star Farms, owned by Marylou and Don Coe, is located in Suttons Bay in Michigan's Leelanau Peninsula AVA, Pinot Gris grapes for this wine were sourced from the winery's Seven Hills Vineyard in the Old Mission Peninsula AVA.

The Arcturos moniker stems from the Bootes constellation that "guards the bear" on the label, represented by the mother and her two cubs of the famous Sleeping Bear Dunes (National Lakeshore on Michigan's "left" coast). As the Ojibwa tale goes, a mother bear and her two cubs flee a Wisconsin forest fire by attempting to swim to Michigan. Mother bear succeeds but her cubs don't. Mourning her cubs on a Michigan sandy beach, the "Great Spirit" takes pity and raises her cubs from the depths, forming North and South Manitou Islands.

Although winemaker Lee Lutes has been hailed by British wine writer Tom Stevenson as the best red wine maker Up North in Michigan, his 2005 Arcturos Pinot Gris demonstrates his talents in crafting this white grape variety that's on meteoric rise in the Old Mission Peninsula AVA. It's introduced by attractive floral notes punctuated by citrus and melon flavors and a lengthy finish.

Michigan is known for its whitefish and with it, the Black Star Farms 2005 Arcturos Pinot Gris shows its mineral qualities. With shellfish, its citrus touch makes a perfect pairing and with simply grilled wild caught salmon, it's a totally sophisticated orchestration.

This wine was awarded a gold medal at the 2006 Michigan Wine & Spirits Competition.

Reviewed September 13, 2006 by Eleanor & Ray Heald.

The Wine

Winery: Black Star Farms
Vintage: 2005
Wine: Arcturos Pinot Gris
Appellation: Old Mission Peninsula
Grape: Pinot Gris / Grigio
Price: 750ml $13.50

Review Date: 9/13/2006

The Reviewer

Eleanor & Ray Heald

The Healds have been writing about wine since 1978 and have focused on appellation significance in many of their world beat writings. They value recognizing site personality (terroir) within an appellation's wines. They praise balance and elegance in wines styled to pair well with food and eschew over-extraction, high alcohol and heavy-handed oak. “Delicious” is their favorite descriptor for a great, well-made wine.