The Opening Tip: First Impressions
Label is clean. Gold capsule. Estate grown and produced. That matters. They’re controlling the ball from vine to bottle.
On the nose? Fresh apple, pear, a little lemon zest. There’s a clean lake breeze quality to it—no heavy butter bomb here. This isn’t 1997 California. This is modern Michigan.
Oak? Present. But disciplined. Think coach who believes in fundamentals.
The Game Film: Tasting Breakdown
Mid-palate shows crisp orchard fruit. Green apple, subtle stone fruit, a touch of toasted almond. The acidity is where this wine wins games. It keeps everything moving.
No sluggish finish. No over-oaked turnover.
It’s medium-bodied, balanced, and honestly refreshing. You could serve this slightly chilled and it would absolutely shine with Great Lakes whitefish, grilled chicken, or even that barbecue zucchini boat your girlfriend makes from the garden.
It’s structured enough to age a few years. But let’s be real—you’re opening this on a Friday night.
The Underdog Story
Here’s what people forget: small producers don’t have the marketing budgets of the giants. They don’t have national distribution muscle.
They have vineyards. They have Michigan weather. They have risk.
Estate-grown in Lake Michigan Shore means frost pressure, lake effect swings, constant adjustments. This isn’t Napa autopilot. This is half-court defense every vintage.
And yet—here they are.
At $27.89 when you buy six? That’s competitive. For context, a mid-tier Sonoma Chardonnay at Meijer is easily $22–$28 and not estate grown. Napa? You’re north of $35 without blinking.
Filkins is playing in that bracket—and holding their own.
Where to Buy
Sale price: $30.99 with card
Buy 6+: $27.89
Valid 2/2/2026 – 3/1/2026
If you’re local along the Lakeshore—Grand Haven, Holland, Muskegon—this is a strong “support your home team” buy.
And frankly? It drinks like a regional contender.
Final Buzzer
Is it perfect? No. I’d love just a touch more mid-palate weight. But that’s stylistic preference. What it does, it does cleanly.
This is disciplined Chardonnay. Balanced. Michigan proud.
And if you’re building a cellar of local producers who deserve minutes on the court—Filkins deserves playing time.
