The Olympic Event: Precision & Balance
If Sauvignon Blanc were a winter sport, this would be figure skating.
Clean lines. Controlled power. No sloppy landings.
This isn’t the loud, grapefruit-bomb New Zealand style. And it’s not over-oaked California either. It lives in that disciplined middle ground — citrus peel, light stone fruit, fresh-cut grass, and a subtle smoky edge from oak influence.
The oak is integrated. Not hockey-checking your palate. More like a well-timed defensive play.
Acidity? Bright but not aggressive. Think Lake Michigan wind on a March morning — crisp, but you’re still smiling.
Estate Grown on the Lake Michigan Shore
That matters.
Lake Michigan Shore AVA isn’t Napa. It doesn’t get marketing budgets or billion-dollar backers. It gets frost threats, humidity, and growers who actually walk their vineyards.
Filkins grows and produces this themselves. Estate fruit. That’s not easy here.
Michigan Sauvignon Blanc has to fight for ripeness without losing acidity. That’s a balancing act like slalom skiing. Miss your edge by a degree and you’re out.
They nailed it.
Price Reality Check – Let’s Talk Scoreboard
Regular tag: $38.99
Sale with card: $30.99
6+ bottles: $27.89
At $38.99? I’d say it needs to win gold outright.
At $30.99? Now we’re in silver medal territory. Respectable.
At $27.89 when you buy six? That’s where this becomes strategic.
Let’s compare:
• Solid Napa Fumé Blanc? $28–$45
• High-end New Zealand SB? $20–$30
• White Bordeaux from a reputable estate? $25–$40
This is priced like it belongs in the conversation. And honestly, it does.
Is it punching like a $60 Pouilly-Fumé? No.
But it’s not trying to.
It’s competing in its weight class — and winning rounds.
Where It Shines (And Where It Doesn’t)
Strengths:
- Texture. There’s grip. Not thin.
- Oak restraint. No 2x4 lumber yard.
- Real Lakeshore personality.
Honest critique:
- If you want explosive tropical fruit, this isn’t that.
- It leans elegant over flashy.
This is a tennis baseline player. Consistent. Strategic. Not smashing every ball 120 mph.
And I respect that.
Pairing Playbook – West Michigan Edition
This wine screams:
• Grilled whitefish from the Muskegon channel
• Lemon herb chicken
• Goat cheese salads
• Your girlfriend’s garden zucchini boat situation
The acidity cuts. The light smoke complements grill char. It’s built for summer on the deck or a chilly Olympic rewatch night.
Local Hero Factor
Here’s the bigger picture.
Buying this supports a Lakeshore grower battling climate swings and corporate shelf dominance. This isn’t a global brand flooding ads during prime time.
This is grit.
You talk about underdogs? This is hockey practice at 6 AM before school.
And that matters.
