Galileo Galilei once wrote, "Wine is sunlight, held together by water." If that is the case, Braganini has captured Michigan sunshine in a bottle. The Braganini Reserve wine collection is named after the family that owns and operates St. Julian Winery.These are the premium offerings of wine exhibiting classic complex and sophisticated wine - made in Michigan. St. Julian Winery has been around for more than 100 years. They are the oldest, largest, and most awarded winery in the state. Located in Paw Paw, Michigan, they have 6 tasting rooms throughout Michigan, including Paw Paw, Union Pier, Dundee, Troy, Frankenmuth, and Rockford. The Braganini label represents the best of their best!
First is the Braganini Reserve albarino 2023. This is a big, crisp, clean, and bright Albarino aged in stainless steel. On the nose there is bright green apple, peach, melon, honeysuckle, and tangerine. On the palate, the wine bristles with flavor and acidity. Fresh green apples, melon, and other tropical fruits come through. It's mainly dry, but a hint of sweetness accompanies the acidity on the finish. Absolutely delicious! Bright, zippy, impressive!
Braganini Reserve Red Blend Reserve Cap Drain #2. According to St. Julian, cap drain wines are dry red blends that change depending on the vintage and the desired combinations by their winemaking team. You might be asking, "But what exactly is the cap drain process of winemaking?"
Nancie Oxley
Nancie Oxley, St. Julian's Vice President of Winemaking picked up this artisanal process from famed Winemaker Daryl Groom while she was interning at Geyser Peak Winery in Napa Valley. "In red winemaking, it’s necessary to ferment the juice and skins together to extract color, flavor, and texture. As the wine ferments, the skins rise to the top of the tank and form a thick “cap” or layer that floats on the top of the wine. When wine is ready to be placed into barrels for aging, it is drained off this layer of skins," states the winery. "Normally, the cap is discarded or turned into compost. What makes the cap drain wines so special, is that the cap is utilized in the winemaking. For an additional 48 hours, these skins and seeds, which have little pockets of wine trapped in them, are allowed to hang out. This trapped wine continues extracting color, flavor, and texture, intensifying all these elements in the wine. Gravity naturally and gently presses this amped up wine out of the skins and then it’s aged separately in barrels. The result is small lots of dark, intense red wines."
As an example, the 2022 Braganini Reserve Winemaker's Series Cap Drain #1 was a blend of Tempranillo, Blaufränkisch, and Cabernet Franc cap drains. The Braganini Reserve Red Blend Reserve Cap Drain #2 is a blend of 50% Cinsault, 25% Grenache, and 25% Pinot Noir. This was an exquisite wine. Lots of dark cherry and blueberry, plum, and bramble, as well as tobacco, and a hint of mocha. The fruit lasted on the palate for a good sixty seconds, the mark of a truly good wine. I savored every sip. This is a wine that would standout in any region. Complex, well balanced, savory, and sophisticated. For lovers of French, Italian or Spanish reds, this wine stands up. A wonderful American wine that pays homage to Europe but is an American standout! One of the best reds I've tried this year so far - and that is saying something!