Pineapple Express - NV; Maydelle Country Wines; Rusk, Texas

Are you stuck in the endless summer heat that is lingering into fall without a vacation in sight right now? Has your supply of Rosé run dry?  Well, this fruit blend wine may be just your cure. This fruit blend of 60% Pear and 40% Pineapple seems to have just the right sweetness and fruity appeal to satisfy those longing for a sweet tropical treat. There is good balance between the two fruits in this wine, with the pineapple notes a little more pronounced yet not too overpowering. It's great to enjoy on the back porch as you dream about Hawaii or some other tropical destination. Enjoy this one chilled to appreciate it's tropical notes of paradise.  Don't be afraid to try the 'Pineapple Express' ..... you just might find a great new wine destination to enjoy!

www.maydellewines.com

The Thirsty Mule - Liberty Hill, Texas

Up along the countryside stretch of U.S. Highway 183, you'll find one of the newer wineries in Texas.  Located just north of Liberty Hill, this location has a very unique side to it --- the fact that the tasting room is underground.  What a great idea! Especially under the infamous Texas summer heat.  The Marek's from Georgetown Winery have been working on this site for the last several years.  Built on an old 40 year old home site, they've constructed their winery  from an old underground house.  Seems the former owner decided they wanted to carve their home out of the limestone hillside and seek some cooler shade and temperatures over the years, so fast forward a number of years and the derelict underground former residence is slowly remodeled into one of the newest and more unique tasting rooms in the state. The tasting room and bar is quite spacious and a COOL area of about 3400 square feet. Take a look at the back where they have windows with views to the cave area as they left a few spots for you to view the sides of the cave the place is built into. Their eight acre estate is not only the location of the new tasting room, but also houses their winemaking facility which doubles as the facility for Georgetown Winery too.  However at this site, the wine selection is different.  They've been open since May and have a well rounded list of wines from white, to red, to sweet.  There are eleven wines currently available for tasting of which you can select four in a regular tasting.  A number of them have already won awards from the Lone Star competition.  For the whites, they have a Pinot Blanc and Chardonnay.  Good chilled whites to have in the afternoon.  For the reds, you'll get to try a nice range from Tempranillo, Malbec, Merlot, or Cabernet Sauvignon.  For the sweets, you might get wrapped up with the Sweet Blush which is rich with strawberry flavors.  It's better than iced summer time lemonade!  There is also a sweet red to enjoy, and a white with hints of pear as well as a Muscat. Lastly, there is a pretty darn good Sweet mule port. No need to fortify this port as it's quite tasty on its own.  Dan can be found running things around the site engaging with customers.  With picnic tables out front and lots of great big shade trees, you get the feeling of a nice relaxed country setting to help you unwind and escape into your wine sipping mood. Although they get a number of their grapes from their Rockdale vineyard site, there are plans to put a vineyard on the front of the property.  Check this place out on your next 183 wine trekking adventure.

www.thirstymule.com

 

Kick Butt Cab - 2008; Texas Hills Vineyards; Johnson City, Texas

Yes, this is one of those wonderful Cabernet Sauvignons that has aged well and deserves to be savored to the last drop. Pat yourself on the back if you purchased extra bottles and tucked them into your cellar. This intensely ink dark, smooth and velvety soft red is just one of those lovely wines you want to linger over as you slowly enjoy each sip. It is full bodied and the fruit has held up well. With moderate tannins and cherry and blueberry notes, it's a great summer red.  It will likely hold up for a few more years if you've been storing this one properly.  The wine pairs nicely with steak and even compliments blueberry pie or cobblers. It's a top quality wine, so treat it that way when you enjoy it.  Keep cellaring this one well our wine thirsty friends!

 

www.texashillsvineyard.com

 

Calcaria - 2014; Kuhlman Cellars; Stonewall, Texas

Get ready for your new favorite summer white wine!  In Texas, summer can still go well into fall, so you're still good.  This blend of Trebbiano 75%, Roussanne 17%, Viognier 8% has some of the best white grapes that Texas has to offer.  This straw colored wine is crisp with a bit of effervescence. The lemon notes are pleasantly strong and complimented by the kiwi notes.  It is a medium bodied wine and quite zesty!  It has a nice light finish that leaves you thirsty for more.  A great complexity all around for this release.  Had you been to the tasting sessions at the winery, you may have heard "Bastrop pine forest" in the description, as well, since there is a hint of local pine that has also been detected on some palates.  Once you try the wine, you understand the reference.  We heard thru the grapevine that this wine can pair well with a little bit of heat.  So, find something spicy and pop the cork on one of these bottles for a fantastic pairing. Enjoy!

www.kuhlmancellars.com

 

El Guapo – 2011; Alamosa Wine Cellars, Bend, Texas

Yes, the last vintage of the famous El Guapo from Alamosa is coming to an end.  This lovely Rioja style red wine is a blend of Tempranillo (86%), Graciano (10%), and Garnacha (4%).  The 2011 vintage has to be winemaker Jim Johnson’s finest achievement.  There just aren’t enough good words to use to describe this wonderful work of art.  Here are some “to the point” buzz words to help get you excited.   It's dry, it's aromatic, it's tobaccoy, it's earthy, it's cherry, it's balanced, it has lovely medium tannins, and it's just super beautiful!  Care to add more? Please do! Your complimentary words will only enhance the pleasure as you sip and swirl.  Keep your remaining bottles in a good quality wine cellar and you will more than likely have some long lasting El Guapos until 2020….maybe even longer.  Perhaps over the remaining years, we’ll pull out a bottle from our stash on occasion and see how it progresses.  Something great to look forward to! Savor every last bottle, cherish every last sip, 2011 was a phenomenal year for grapes in spite of and due to the drought and Jim did an amazing job with this vintage. It's simply a beautiful red! Cheers everyone!

www.alamosawinecellars.com