52% Nebbiolo, 28% Schioppettino, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon

Philosophy
On ancient maps, “Ultima Thule” referred to places ‘beyond the northern borders of the known world’. It has come to mean ‘a supreme goal.’ Our Ultima Thule vineyard and wine embody both. Hidden away at the northernmost tip of Old Mission
Peninsula, we grow Nebbiolo, Schioppettino, and Cabernet Sauvignon varieties that can only be ripened to perfection by our proprietary Nella Serra technique. Bold, complex, and marvelously unique, Ultima Thule exemplifies our supreme goal of making spectacular, and unexpected, red wines in Michigan.

Flavor Notes
The star of the blend is Nebbiolo, a pale yet intensely tannic red grape grown primarily in northern Italy’s Piedmont region. True to its nature, our Nebbiolo fills the palate with grippy and complex tannins that carry through to the finish. This is the second vintage to feature Schioppettino, another Italian red grape with pretty aromas and softer tannins, complementing the Nebbiolo and rounding the wine out. Distinctive notes of cassis and anise from the Italian grapes mingle with a bright raspberry fruitiness provided by Cabernet Sauvignon. Soft notes of vanilla and clove from time spent aging in oak add body and weight, filling out this complex blend.

Pairings
Due to the presence of both Nebbiolo and Schioppettino, we recommend enjoying this wine with Italian food. The intense tannic quality of the blend allows it to pair well with fattier foods; cheese like Parmigiano-Reggiano, buttery garlic mushroom risotto, or any marbled red meat like prime rib or sausage.

Vinification
All three varieties were harvested on November 9th 2017 from our northernmost vineyard, Irish. The grapes were fermented separately and pressed on December 15th. The Nebbiolo and Schippettino were aged in neutral oak while the Cabernet Sauvignon went into new oak, all French barriques. After two years and seven months of aging the wine was blended together on July 28th 2020 and bottled shortly after on September 8th.

Cellaring
Enjoy watching this wine evolve now through 2032.