Dry Rosé Merlot – 2006; Driftwood Estate Winery; Driftwood, Texas

The grapes for this wine were sourced from Paso Robles. Once the bottle is opened, you’ll notice a buttery scent and the light red color as you pour your first glass.  The cherry flavors are quite nice and the wine is medium bodied and has aged rather nicely. The fruit flavors are well balanced and though it is dry it is not too dry, making it a very lovely and easy option for pairing with food or enjoying on its own.  Little, if any, degradation was detected during tasting and was still good two days later (with a vacuum pump, of course).  Just about any dish would pair well with this Rosé. We even enjoyed some mild cheese with ours and it paired well with this one!

www.driftwoodvineyards.com

Graciano – 2010; Alamosa Wine Cellars; Bend, Texas

As far as we know, this is the first winery to take a stab at making this single varietal wine in Texas.  Boy, have they done a terrific job!  Quite honestly, we think this wine could blow the cork (aka socks) off of any highly sought after wine.  It’s so good and not too common varietal, we were debating whether to keep this one a secret or not.  But what the heck, great wine like this should be shared and appreciated by all!  Many of you have probably come across wines with fabulous aromas that you just love. Well, this is one of those wines.  Seriously, just keep inhaling the lovely aromas and studying the color in the glass as you begin to appreciate all it has to offer. It’s ok… don’t be embarrassed because it only psyches you up for the tasting part.  But before you do, take a moment to notice the deep purple color and give it a good swirl.  Tasting it will make you a believer in the Elysium Fields.  Soft tannins are noticeable, while big ripe black cherry and berry fruit dances across your taste buds. Happy mature grapes gladly gave themselves for this wine!  The flavors pack everything from earthy to berries to tobacco and more.  This wine has a lower acidity and a very deep purple hue with lovely spice notes.  Graciano is not found much outside of Spain.  It is a low yielding fruit, but has potential and promise to be a good varietal for Texas.  We heard another release may be coming in December of 2012.  We might have to drive over the river and through the woods for more of this one!  Cheers!!

www.alamosawinecellars.com

Alexander Vineyards - Fredericksburg, TX

“And now for something completely different” – a motto that owner Claude Alexander has ‘borrowed’ to describe his venture into the Texas winery world.  This new winery has just opened up and is located on the east of Fredericksburg off of Highway 290.  Claude has taken the time and effort to partner with some well established wineries in France to make his own wine to import and sell in Texas.  The grapes and wines are from France and Germany, but unlike most wine importers, he has actually worked with the winemaker and selected specific wines to produce under his label.  There are currently five wines to select from for tasting with more to be available later this year and early next year.  There are two champagnes, one made of 100% Chardonnay and the other from Blanc de Blanc and Pinot Noir. Yes, these are real champagnes and composed of Grand Cru fruit.  Both are quite good and a very exciting option for champagne lovers, as they are the real deal offered through a Texas winery! They are not super dry like some traditional champagnes and the alcohol content is not so high, so you won’t feel so “bubbly” after having a bottle.  There is a good Riesling also available that is very well balanced. The Riesling grapes are from the Mosel area of Germany.  Lastly, there are two Graves to try.  The red is 55% Merlot and 45% Cabernet Sauvignon.  The White is 55% Semillion and 45% Sauvignon Blanc.  Both Graves have great balances and aromas to enjoy.  These “old world” wines should help calibrate and broaden your wine sipping sensors so you can compare other wines to these created in the heart of the best wine producing areas for each of these various types of wines.  Claude also has plans to bring in some wines under his label through partnerships with wineries in Italy and possibly Spain.  He is very knowledgeable about his wines and what he is doing.  Don’t be put off by the “temp” trailer tasting room, as you can see the plans he has on the walls for future buildings and bed and breakfast cottages. This place is worth your valuable wine visiting time and he is very happy to share his story with those that stop in to explore what Alexander Vineyards currently has to offer.  Enjoy his hospitality and as well as the shade of the big oak trees on this wine country estate. We look forward to seeing the ground breaking on his new tasting room in the near future and the continued growth of his menu offerings. It is exciting to have something totally new and unique being offered to Texas wine connoisseurs.

www.alexandervineyards.com

Canto Felice – NV; Mandola Winery (now Duchman Family Winery); Driftwood, Texas

“Oh my!” Those will be the first thoughts that pop into our heads when we sipped this wine. As one of the early wines for this winery, one can appreciate the quality and how it impressed those first visitors. Made primarily of Sangiovese grapes, this wine is also blended with other varietals as well. The result is a very smooth and pleasant wine. You’ll notice a touch of sweetness, but it’s just on the edge of being considered a sweet wine. The balance between the sugars and acids is very nicely done. The bright red color is an eye catcher and the cherry and strawberry flavors are notable after the first few sips. It is a luscious fruit forward selection that is very nicely balanced. This wine pairs well with spicy foods, but can stand on its own as an after dinner treat too. It’s not common to find such a good quality red wine that is suitable for any drinking mood; however, we find this one very versatile. Either way, you’ll likely find a reason to say, “Just pour me a little bit more”. This is one of the original wine bottles from what was once the Mandola winery. We only wish we would have bought more! Now it is Duchman Family Winery, which is still a very cool place to visit if you get a chance.

www.duchmanwinery.com

Blueberry Wine - Wimberley Winery; Driftwood, Texas

This sweet blueberry wine is quite delicious. It is light bodied and not as overpoweringly sweet as some fruit wines can be. This wine has a stronger and much deeper red color than purple
and can be easily mistaken for a red wine just by the looks. There are wonder full aromas of blueberries to tempt your nose just before sipping. This one makes a delightful any time wine to enjoy whenever the mood pleases. Serve this one either way - chilled or at room temperature and it’s still good! This wine proves fruit wines aren’t just reserved for dessert.

www.wimberleyvalleywinery.com