2004 Mary Michelle Cynthiana
Famous since Colonial times, Cynthiana stands alone among the early grapes grown in America capable of producing a dry, red wine in the finest European tradition. To produce these outstanding qualities in the wine, special attention is essential due to the fact that the grape is as difficult to grow and requires as much care and patience in the winemaking as an outstanding Pinot Noir. The 2004 Mary Michelle Cynthiana has upheld this tradition by winning a Gold Medal at the International Eastern Wine Competition in New York. To create this award-winning wine, the juice was permitted only six days on the grape skins to extract the optimum amount of color and body and avoid any bitterness or astringency.Fermented at 80 degrees in stainless steel tanks, the wine was then aged in Allier and Troncais French oak barrels to finesse the rich tannins characteristics of Cynthiana. The result is a Chicago wine in a Carl Sandburgian sense. It is a dry, red wine "of the big shoulders," with a deep red hue, a long lasting middle, and rich finish. The bouquet has hints of cassis, dried cherries and cedar. It makes an ideal accompaniment for Chicago's specialty meat dishes of steaks, chops, and other robust cuisine including seasonal game.
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