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This rich wine is a worthy successor to our now-famous 1998 and 2000, and is proof, we believe, that the moraine hills of Southwest Michigan will soon be known by wine experts right along with names like Cote de Beaune and Carneros.

This wine is a field blend of 79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Cabernet Franc, and 4% Merlot from the stony soils of Avonlea Vineyard. Bordeaux is our template for this wine, particularly the communes of Pauillac and Margaux. As our soil and climate are very close to Bordeaux, we aim for the richness, complexity, and finesse of these great wines. 2003 “Shou” is reminiscent of vintages such as 1990, 1996, and 1998, where elegant ripe fruit is balanced by excellent tannins and acidity. This deeply-colored red wine has a nose of black currant, black cherry, roasted ancho peppers, dark chocolate, and brown spices. The palate is powerful, yet elegant and crisp with flavors matching the aromas. The abundant fine tannins are evident, and the wine needs another 12 months before opening a bottle. It will improve with cellaring and will keep for another 10 years if desired.

Wyncroft is one of just a handful of wineries in the world that produce a truly dry version of this shy bearing noble variety. It is surprisingly long lived in the cellar. We love introducing people to dry Gewurztraminer, as it is one of the world’s most interesting and unusual wines. But we will warn you that once you are hooked on it, it will become a “must have” wine for your cellar.

Pinot Noir is easily our favorite wine when it is grown in the right place. It is without a doubt, THE most difficult wine to make, and it is a dream of most winemakers to one day produce a great Pinot Noir. Southwest Michigan has the soils and climate to produce superior Pinot Noir, and we believe Avonlea Vineyard is a superior site for Pinot Noir. Taste and believe!

Dry Riesling is a very versatile wine at the table, is age-worthy, and displays wonderful complexity when well grown and not over-cropped. The flavors are so delicious, it is only a matter of time that this great noble grape will once again be regarded as one of the two or three finest white wine varieties in the world.