Shady Lane Cellars – Suttons Bay 7/14/08

Shady Lane Cellars

We really liked this place – you go up to the tasting bar, the first pour is free, after that for $5 you pick four more and get your choice of cheese and crackers, you get a seat on the patio and they bring it to you – jolly good. This is a great place to slow down and relax.

2006 Semi-Dry Riesling – fantastic stuff, good acid, just enough sugar - excellent balance – with mostly grapefruit.

2006 Pinot Noir Rose – dry and peppery, strawberry notes, mild tannins – quite good.

2007 Gewurztraminer – this was their first vintage of Gewurz and I think it shows promise as a work in progress. Floral and honey noteeso n the nose. Quite dry, but it drinks like a Riesling – not enough spice though the acid was pretty good – by no means bad but I'd wait a few years.

2007 Coop De Blanc – Nectarine on the nose / spiced stone fruit palate – not bad, but so much of the wine up here is like this, it's just not interesting.

2006 Roost – cherry cough syrup on the nose / a simple palate, cherry, a bit of sweetness and some medicinal qualities, but really this isn't bad.

2005 Pinot Noir – cherry and dirt on the nose / good acid balance, earth, cherry, spice – detailed notes coming.

2005 Cabernet Franc – Pepper on the nose / cherry, earth, solid tannins, and good stucture

2006 Late Harvest Vignoles – honey and under ripe cantaloupe on the nose here. Good crisp acid, more of that mellow melon and some musty qualities too. Good stuff.