Black Star Farms

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.