Savor
this wonderful estate Hill Country sourced fruit and relish the magical flavors
that Mason County grapes can provide. Amber color, apple aromas, and tropical
fruit notes...this all-round refreshing jewel is just filled with luscious
mouthfeel to excite your senses. This white wine leans towards the bold side,
so it is lovely on its own, but simply divine paired with your favorite fish,
poultry, or vegetarian dish. The acids
balance out quite nicely, as well. Enjoy!
Wine Of The Moment
Wine Of The Moment is just that. A moment of trying out a new bottle of wine and sharing our thoughts and impressions. There is no planned wine bottle that is to be opened or set time that it will be tasted. It is what ever just happens to be opened...for the moment. On occasion, we may also post our feedback on new wineries that we have visited as well as unique cheeses. So, pull up your own plate of cheese, crackers, and fruit and enjoy these discussions.
Thursday, April 25, 2024
Semillon – 2022; Parr Vineyards; Mason, Texas
Monday, April 22, 2024
Euphoria – NV; Heath Sparkling Wines; Fredericksburg, Texas
Aged 18 months via Sur Lie, this brut blend of 55%
Chardonnay and 45% Pinot Noir greets you with a zesty lemon scent and leaves
you with a nice crispness. It pours a pale straw color with notes of pear and
apricot. Repeat the sipping experience
again and you’ll notice some mango along with a touch of grapefruit in there,
too. This sparkling wine is a satisfying treat to have any day, any time.
Cheers!
Thursday, April 18, 2024
Merlot Grand Reserve – 2017; Robert Clay Vineyards; Mason, Texas
This
is certainly one of the best estate Merlots Dan has crafted. Having been barrel
aged for a whopping 52 months is a testament to his patience in wine
making. If you want the ultimate tasting
experience, besides tasting at the winery, let this baby breathe for a good 90
minutes and try a few sips while you wait. Clocking in at 14.0 abv, this Mason
County fruit boasts some mighty fine bright cherries and plums along with a touch
of nutmeg and a bit of cola. Swirl and
sip then enjoy that rich red fruit followed by some beautiful Mason County
earthiness. This wine is well balanced
and is drinking nicely now. Pair this special bottle with your favorite dish
and know how it feels to live well. Cheers!
Monday, April 15, 2024
Merlot – 2018; Adega Vinho Winery; Stonewall, Texas
There
is nothing like sipping a great Merlot to help ease away the tensions of the
day. Sourced from the Texas High Plains AVA, this lovely wine has a good
balance of dark and red fruit. As you sip and enjoy it, you should discern
notes of plums in this beauty. It has good acids along with a delightfully smooth
mouthfeel to this gem. Relish this one with good food and great friends. Cheers!
Thursday, April 11, 2024
Sagrantino Reserva – 2017; Messina Hof Winery; Bryan, Texas
This bold and tannic Italian red wine varietal shows
great structure along with a rich luscious mouthfeel. Sourced from the Texas
High Plains AVA, this bold wine pours an enticing dark ruby red color with
notes of black fruit and some spice that provides a lovely bouquet. Give it a few swirls and you might notice some
plums and a hint of raisin. There is just a touch of black pepper in there for
added depth along with medium plus acidity. This full-bodied delight is a great
wine, so enjoy it well. Cin Cin!
Sunday, April 7, 2024
Whitetail – 2020; Limestone Terrace Vineyard; Wimberly, Texas
Sourced from the Texas High Plains AVA, this white blend of 34% Roussanne, 33% Trebbiano, and 33% AlbariƱo really hits those high notes of aromatic sensation and mouthfeel bliss. It’s very well balanced, refreshing, and a hit to pair with savory food options. This medium bodied white wine jewel is wonderful on its own but does complement fish and fowl proteins and vegetable dishes wonderfully. Enjoy well!
Saturday, March 30, 2024
Blackmon Wines - Mason, Texas
Blackmon
Wines - Mason, Texas
Bill
Blackmon...there is so much back story to tell about this great man, so let’s
save that one for a future novel. Even
just trying to sum up his contributions to the Texas wine industry is a lengthy
essay in of itself. Let’s just say that
many know him quite well from William Chris Vineyards. Who knew back then that starting out that
first opening day with his partner and good friend Chris Brundrett in an old
farmhouse that was still a “work in progress”, would lead to what the winery is
today. His labor of love and sweat at
cultivating the former Granite Hill Vineyards as well as contributing his
expertise to several vineyards and wineries in the area will leave a lasting
impression for a very long time.
Bill’s
latest venture in the Texas wine world is his own wine brand sourced from his
vineyard, Blackmon Ranch Vineyard, in Mason, Texas. Some of you may have been
lucky enough to grab a bottle of William & Chris wine that was sourced from
his vineyard a few years ago. Delicious doesn’t even begin to describe those
wines. Yes, it’s that damn good! Bill’s
vineyard sits on the Hickory Sandstone formation which has outcrops in Mason
and area counties. Several well-known
vineyards in the county have been out there for a while growing grapes. Many
Texas wine fans are aware of the superb fruit quality that these vineyards
produce that end up in award-winning wines. This soon to be Hickory Sands AVA
designation for those Mason County area vineyards will be a testament to the
uniqueness of this wine growing region. For the Blackmon Ranch Vineyards,
you’ll have some vines starting around 2015 onward. With primarily Cabernet
Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec, and some Petite Verdot being grown on the estate,
these vine jewels are the source for both single varietal and great blending
wines.
You
may have already had some “sneak peek” tastings of these wines at Mason events
and weekends when the tasting room is open. In the works for a while (and some
say longer) has been a tasting room on the square. It had opened for a soft
opening during the October 2023 Art and Wine festival and starting in 2024 more
regular hours on weekends. The prime
showing in the beginning was their 2021 releases. First up for tasting was their 2021 Red
Blend. Made from primarily Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and some Malbec, you’ll
get some rich balance of blackberries and cherries along with a touch of spice.
It’s well balanced, has good tannins, and has some excellent fruit forward
notes. Next up, was the 2021 Merlot.
This estate wine is full of rich flavors and enticing aromas that will
surely make a Merlot lover out of you instantly. The star of the selection must
be the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon. Oh my,
it is big and bold with a full mouthfeel and satisfying finish that leaves you
wondering if you have found the golden ticket. An extra treat to try is a
special tasting of their 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon. To say that it’s tasting well
now does not do justice. That is an extra special wine worth savoring. Check
out if the 2020 vintage is available and just maybe the 2018 first release
might be around for a few diehard fans.
All
these wines are very age worthy, and it will be an extra special treat to see
how they will continue to evolve over time. Texas weather is a never-ending
challenge, but Bill has gone through more than his fair share of those
challenges and still knows how to grow great grapes and craft great wine from
what may seem challenging odds. Let’s look forward to future releases as well
as going back in our cellar and re-sampling some of these wines in the future
(you might have to stick around 10+ years for that). Mason is well worth putting on your wine
travel bucket list to check out and explore, so stay tuned for future updates
and opportunities to try Blackmon wines in the future. Cheers!