Grand Hotel Cabernet Sauvignon 2005

Price: $14
Maker: Coopers Lane Winery, St. Helena, Napa County, California
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
Packaging: 750 ml bottle, natural cork
Alcohol: 13.8%
Our Rating: 8.5 out of 10

Grand Hotel Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 is one of a series of summer-only products bearing the famous Grand Hotel (Mackinac Island) name and sold through Meijer stores. The wine itself hails from California, not Michigan. It has a complex aroma with dark berry, spice, leather, and vanilla notes. This cab is medium-bodied, with cherry and blackberry fruit, mild black pepper, and tannins that grab your attention, perhaps a bit too much, in the finish. The wine is reasonably well balanced, and comes across as juicy but with some bite.

According to an article in the Cincinnati Post, the products will be available only through July. The full range of products includes such diverse items as Front Porch Ale, fudge and fudge sauce, rocking chairs, pillows, and more. We like this strategy – particularly in the midwest, the Grand Hotel name should be a strong brand symbolic of high quality and relaxed summer fun; for its part, the hotel not only gains royalty income but exposure to new customers in Meijer’s high traffic stores. A win-win, to be sure.

Grand Hotel Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 could be a nice summer entertaining gift. The wine itself is nice enough, and the combination of the appealing Grand Hotel brand and the limited run will make it a welcome conversation piece.