2012 Lone Oak Tree Vineyard Marquette
The Lone Oak Tree Vineyard is owned and cared for by the Curry family near Amboy, MN. The first time I walked the vineyard, I was enchanted by its perfection. This was obviously a well-cared for and deeply impressive plot of Marquette vines. The patriarch, Les Curry, gave most of the credit to the constant, loving attention and hand-work done by his wife Twyla. Her hands move deftly along the vines, pulling leaves and shoots, adjusting canes and worrying the wine into being. I knew right then that this particular lot of grapes was going to make a superior wine. I was not disappointed for when the fruit was delivered, I was convinced it was the prettiest load of grapes I was ever likely to work with.
The choice was made early on not to blend this wine with any other in order to show off its purity and remarkable character. The wine was fermented slowly and at cool temperature and produced a Marquette wine of great distinction. Bright black cherry fruit dominates with lovely side notes of lavender, mushrooms, wet earth, wood smoke and spice. The wine is powerful, intense, concentrated, and shows great depth even at this early stage. It is like the “Black Knight”: quiet, bold, brooding and strong, a wolf without sheep’s clothing. This wine is Pure. True. Unblended.
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Riverside International Wine Competition, California
2014
Silver -
Finger Lakes International Wine Competition, New York
2014
Silver -
Cold Climate Conference, Minnesota
2013
People's Choice Award, Best Marquette -
Cold Climate Wine Competition, Minnesota
2013
Bronze
