Viognier – 2010; Driftwood Winery; Driftwood, Texas

Oh man!  This white Viognier tastes amazing after all these years beyond its release. Color aging…almost nil!  Aromas.…very fragrant.  And the flavors…bold with some spice and mango.  The finish is even still quite long and overall this wine remains very refreshing.  Who is up for another?  Hats off to Driftwood for this excellent Viognier.  Double cheers that it lasted so long via cellaring and retained its beauty!

www.driftwoodvineyards.com

Southold Farm + Cellar – Fredericksburg, Texas

Perched up high on the hills of the Texas Hill Country is a great new Texas winery and vineyard for your viewing and tasting pleasures.  Originally from New York, owners Regan and Carey Meador are not only resident transplants, but have transplanted their winery to Texas as well.  They’ve picked one of the best Hill Country locations and views for their new adventures in Texas wines.  They have been opened since August and the interest in this brand-new place has grown.  While plans are in the works for their own Texas wine making, you can enjoy many of their great wines they produced from their former New York location.  The 2014 Sauvignon Blanc is well rounded and crisp for these never-ending Texas summer days. The 2015 Sparkling Lagrein is nice and we enjoyed this while celebrating their new opening in Texas. The 2015 Lagrein (non-sparkling) is another great comparison of this red varietal.  The “Devil Makes Three” is their Bordeaux style red.  It is a blend of Cabernet Franc 69%, Malbec 20%, Merlot 11%.  Keep holding on to this bottle and it will be even more delightful.  There are many more great options on their tasting menu, so it’s a good excuse to return!  The owner’s plan for an estate vineyard is to do hill side plots on the north side with low yielding vines.  This should bode well for their future Rhone style wine plans, minimal touching of grapes, and concrete tank fermentation.  What’s not to like about this place?  With their intuition and experience, they should do quite well on the 20-acre estate. Take a jog north of the busy HWY 290 wine trail sometime and check them out.  You’ll love the fantastic 360 views of the Pedernales Valley, the great company, and some great wine.  Enjoy, our wine friends!

www.southoldfarmandcellar.com

Touriga Nacional – 2008; Spicewood Vineyards; Spicewood, Texas

A little aging and a lot of patience does lead to great surprises!  This lovely inky red wine still has some very nice robust structure. We enjoyed pouring this wine into the glass and watching the colors unfold.  It’s part of the dedicated wine lover mission to enjoy our research and how the wine tantalizes the senses. We discerned some tobacco and leather on the entry, which tapered off quickly followed by hints of spice and nutmeg. The finish lingers with a cross between mint and bittersweet cocoa.  It is slightly acidic, so bring on those nice fatty dishes.  This wine is probably at the end of its peak.  Savor now and bid this fine classic from Spicewood “adieu”. Cheers!

www.spicewoodvineyards.com

South African Pinotage – NV; Water 2 Wine

You just never know what you may find in your cellar that surprises you.  This signature South Africa varietal still expresses some nice fruit.  The berry notes are quite favorable and still has a bit of earthiness to it.  It hinges on being medium bodied and has retained some of the tannins, which have softened over time.  This wine balances well with spicy cuisines and likewise can stand on its own.  Serve chilled and enjoy this tasty fruitful treat.

www.water2wine.com

Viviana – 2009; Llano Estacado; Lubbock, Texas

This lovely white blend makes a great summer time option to enjoy alone or as a beautiful white for pairing with dinner.  The elegant aging color of this wine only adds to the visual experience. The notes are still holding up well and one can detect hints of floral aromas on the nose. Tasting notes include melons and citrus still present along with some honeysuckle. The acidity is bright and overall this white wine still has a nice finish.  This one pairs well with that fresh salmon, mild fish dishes and vegetable dishes. Though you may no longer be able to find this vintage, newer ones should be relatively easy to find and we think white wine lovers will enjoy this one.

www.llanowine.com

2010 Red Table Wine 228 – Arche’ Wines; Saint Jo, Texas

Behold! This blend of Syrah, Cabernet, and Merlot reveals some delightful signs of life after several years in the cellar. The acids are good and it still holds a nice balance.  This wine also has a nice finish that tapers off quickly.  Some of the fruit notes are hard to discern in the nose, but this one still has a pleasant sensation overall when you sip and savor.  The color is showing signs of aging and is getting lighter.  If preserved well in the cellar, this could hold for another year.  We don’t recommend aging this one too much longer though and suggest if you have any bottles lingering in your cellar to pop the cork and enjoy them now. Cheers!

www.archewines.com

Cabernet Sauvignon – 2004; Unionville Winery; Ringoes, New Jersey

A well-aged Cabernet is one of those great treats to have and enjoy. This 13- year old bottle of wine has held up well.  It’s just beginning to turn, but still drinkable.  Do let it sit for an hour to enjoy the best that this wine has to offer.  There are good notes of flavorful blackberries and cranberries to be enjoyed, followed by a touch of cherry that comes afterwards. There is a sense of light herbaceousness and green pepper as well. Some mild tannins still linger, but overall it has smoothed out quite nicely.  A great wine to repeat again if you have another.  Enjoy well our wine friends!

www.unionvillevineyards.com

Sangiovese – 2010; Solaro Estate; Dripping Springs, Texas

Oh man!  What a pleasure it is to enjoy such beautifully aged wine.  The light ruby red color is tantalizing to watch on that first pour.  Though this wine lacks a strong or significant bouquet on the nose, it still packs some intense strawberry and cherry flavors with a touch of creaminess. This lovely red is unfiltered, so you get all the best natural notes in this wine. Though there is a slight earthiness, this one is not as overpowering as other similar Texas Sangiovese wines can be. The acids and tannins are still holding well and have contributed to this beauty aging nicely and having the ability to continue to be enjoyed for a little while longer. Good thing there is another one in the cellar to check out in a few years! We always appreciate the wines from Solaro, as their reds are fabulous and can lay down for a while, providing the opportunity to enjoy them for many years to come. As such, you can still acquire their 2010 Sangiovese Reserve bottles and other fine wines at their winery and we highly recommend you visit them if you have not already tried any of their wines. Cheers!!

www.solaroestate.com

Rosa Blanca – NV; Lost Oak Winery; Burleson, Texas

Though darker than most blushes, the Creamy and smoothness of this wine makes it a great summer time enjoyment.  It’s well balanced with good acids.  Raspberries come out after the first sip with that will linger around for a bit.  Take notes of the honeysuckle notes, as well.  This sweet chilled wine will make a great pairing with a curry dish.  Although the winery’s name has changed from Lone Oak to Lost oak, you’ll still get the same great enjoyment from their wines.  Cheers!

www.lostoakwinery.com

7 Year Anniverasry!

Wow!  It’s been seven years at this.  While some may start getting that seven-year itch at doing something and bail, we’re getting that itch to crave more!  While we will have many new varietals and styles of wines on the list to try, we will still honor our past and ensure we enjoy and share with you some of those unique and age worthy wines as well in future postings.  Here’s to looking forward to seven years and more! Cheers to our fans and followers who have joined our journey and stuck with us along the way! We appreciate you as much as the great wine and winemakers we’ve shared through this fun adventure.

Cava – NV; Villa Conchi; Spain

Ah…Cava!  What a lovely and enticing Brut selection.  This blend of Macabeo 30%, Parellada 30%, Xarel lo 30%, Chardonnay 10% is just the right way to start you’re your feast.  Take a good long inhale after the first pour and soak up those pear and lime aromas.  Yes, it is quite refreshing!  The sharp acidity and citrus finish is one of the memories you’ll want to repeat again and gain.  An elegant choice for the elegant palate.   Enjoy well!

www.villaconchi.com

Flanigan's Distillery & Winery - Bertram, Texas

Nothing like an early 20^th century building in a small town to help set the mood for your wine tasting experience.  “Iron Star Hall” is the location of owner’s Kevin and Dana Flanigan’s winery.  Over the years, the two building sites have been a lumber store and post office.  It also served as a setting for the movie, “Newton Boys”.  The interior is quite spectacular and does have that 1920’s feel and look of the movie set hotel and bar. They’ve been opened since September of 2016 during the last Oatmeal festival and have been serving up some good wine & spirits along with some great story telling.  There are currently five wines available for tasting.  During your tasting session, Kevin will guide you through his sommelier experience and make sure that your sight, smell, and tasting experience is well done.  Along the way, he may tell you some interesting stories and jokes to help keep things lively.  The 2015 Viaggio is a dry white blend of 50% Muscat Blanc and 50% Muscat Canelli.  It’s loaded with citrus aromas and some tartaric acids.  Ironically, as you let it linger, it does smooth out for a nice finish.  The 2015 Rose’ is made from Mourvedre.  It has honey and cranberry notes and is perfect for these 100+ degree days in Texas.  The Bear is a 50/50 Merlot and Sangiovese blend using old world style techniques.  It is tannic with a long finish.  The Slainte is a new world style of 35% Malbec, 35% Mourvèdre, 9% Petite Sirah, 12% Petite Sirah, 6% Tannat, and 3% Alicante Bouschet.  Everything but the kitchen sink, right? It is quite fruit forward with some tobacco notes and is well balanced.   Last is the Marmalada.  It’s a sweet blend of Chenin Blanc, Viognier and Merlot.  Chilled, this makes a great light bodied wine that is smooth and refreshing and delightful for summertime sipping.  In addition to the wine tasting, there is a spirit tasting to do, as well.  Trust us, Kevin won’t let you out without trying them.  We might have to setup a separate blog for these, but you will get the level of quality tasting experience as you do with the wine and some good stories from Kevin.  This is a nice addition to the Bertram area and is worth the stop on your way out to the Hill Country.  Cheers!

www.flaniganswineandspirits.com

White Hof – NV; Weinhof Winery; Forestburg Texas

This Blanc du Blois white wine is quite refreshing for those casual light dishes or can be enjoyed entirely on its own.  This white though is somewhat crisp, yet not as strong as other crisp whites. This is also nicely balanced and easy to sip. On the nose, you get those lovely summery citrus notes that help transport you to a relaxing tropical place. Due to the crispness of this wine, it is ideally served chilled. It is a great way to complement your evening snacks as you begin to unwind and relax or would also make a great wine for brunch.  Enjoy!

www.weinhofwinery.com

Le Libertine – NV; Time Ten Cellars; Dallas, Texas

This red wine is a blend if Merlot (47%), Cabernet Sauvignon (44%), and Malbec (9%).  From the back of the label, it looks like the grapes were sourced from California.  This red was created in a Bordeaux style and although non-vintage, this bottle is about 10 years old.  It is declining, so sadly we did not pull it to try in its heyday, however, it still maintains some of the fruit and smoke flavors that made this wine very enjoyable. Cherries still stand out the most and there is a tobacco sensation on the palate.  The acids are tolerable with a nice fatty dish.  Temper this nice red blend with a great cut of meat and veggies for a pleasant delight! Check our other great wines offered by this winery at their website link below.

www.timestencellars.com

Blanc du Bois – 2010; Enoch’s Stomp Vineyard & Winery; Harleton, Texas

This elegant Blanc du Bois white wine can stand toe-to-toe with many traditional fine white wines.  It’s a pleasant off-dry wine with notes of pears.  The fruit is beginning to taper off in this seven-year-old white wine, but it’s still quite refreshing and enjoyable. The color is also experiencing some darkening with age, but not as much as with most aged whites. It’s still a great wine to enjoy and pair with your favorite spring dishes or to just enjoy by itself while out on the porch enjoying the beautiful sunset! Cheers!

www.enochsstomp.com

Whistling Duck Vineyard & Winery – Weimar, Texas

You’ll want to take a trip down the country dirt road for this winery trek, because you’ll eventually end up at a very peaceful and picturesque location, with lots of wine available for you to sample. The Johnson’s (Stan and Mary) and Cooke’s (John and Kari) teamed up using their backgrounds in horticulture and winemaking to make dreams come true and started the Whistling Duck winery.   They started out planning vines on the 17-acre family ponderosa. Over the years, they’ve continued to add to the rows and now have about 4 acres of Blanc du Bois and Black Spanish planted.  Up near the Dublin/Stephenville area, is another 55-acre family farm where they have 3 acres of Tempranillo, Viognier, and Malbec planted. They opened in 2014 and now have many wines to choose from for tasting.  You get to choose from a diverse selection of white to red and dry to sweet.  The people at Texas Custom Wine Works have assisted them with the wine production.  The 2015 dry Blanc du Bois is a light and smooth enjoyable white wine.  The 2016 Viognier is semi- sweet with honey and apricot notes and a touch of effervescence.  The Friday Night Whites is a white blend of Blanc du Bois, Orange Muscat and Muscat Canelli.  It’s citrus aromas and tropical notes will help transport you to that remote island relaxation mode.  The Pura Vida is a nice Muscat Canelli that’s very elegant with its citrus and melon notes.  The Texas Sparkler is an off-dry Blanc du Bois. It’s very refreshing and once again shows how this varietal has found its calling!  If you like the semi-sweet Blanc du Bois style wine, do try the Long Road Home.  For the Black Spanish grape, their 2015 Lenoir has a nice fruit forward appealing taste.  For an off-dry Lenoir, check out their 2015 Buzzard Head.  It has a lighter texture and is smooth. The 2015 Tempranillo is very dry and quite peppery!  You’ll be in for a delight with the Chocolate Duck. Made with infused chocolate and almonds coupled with a Ruby Cabernet, it is very delicious and has the power to charm the sweet and chocolate addict!  Finally, you’ll get to sample their own Sangria recipe.  It employs their Cattle Guard Sweet Red (Tempranillo) as the base married by citrus and sparkle, it is quite the delightful refreshing end to your tasting journey. The friendly and warm hosts and the inviting and relaxing country setting implores you to slow down and set a spell as you take in the nice country air and enjoy the fruits of the vine. This little piece of heaven is a place where you can unwind and let your worries escape as you enjoy all the beauty of the season with good company, attentive service, and a good selection of wines to tempt your palate. Cheers!

www.whistlingduckwinery.com

White Zinfandel – 2010; Kiepersol Winery; Tyler, Texas

What an absolutely, lovely treat to have tucked away and rediscovered!  This elegant White Zinfandel was beautiful in sight, smell, and taste!  We were happy to see how nicely this wine held up with aging and it literally tasted spectacular. It had a nice bright raspberry color with pleasant floral aromas on the nose. The raspberry and light strawberry notes were still well intact along with a long apricot finish. This sweet fruit forward chilled beauty was just what we needed on a warm evening to help shake off our workday cares.  Don’t overlook the chance to pick up any of Kiepersol’s White Zinfandel for those upcoming spring and summer evenings when you need to reach for something sweet, refreshing, and truly a delight to drink.  We hope you enjoy it as much as we enjoyed drinking this one!

www.kiepersol.com

Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve – 2004; Triple R Ranch, Whitesboro, Texas

Sourced from the Texas High Plains, this aged Cabernet still exhibits some lively ruby color and enticing vanilla bean aromas. There is moderate color loss, but not unexpected due to the age. Cherry and blueberries are the notes that are holding well as you sip and enjoy this wine.  The tannins are still quite firm and the cork was still intact, as well! Labeled “Big Red”, this wine does demand a big bold meaty pairing to do it justice. We were pleasantly surprised how well this one still held up over time and were pleased with the overall structure. We always enjoy sampling any Cabernet Sauvignons and this one did not disappoint over time.

www.thetriplerranch.com

Sangiovese – 2007; San Martino Winery; Rockwall, Texas

Great wines come to those you have the patience to wait!  This ten-year-old Sangiovese from San Martino is a testament to how Texas wine can age well.  Sourced from Newsom Vineyards, the high plains fruit has melded nicely with the beautiful oak flavors in this wine. The cherry and raspberry notes still hold up well and balance out with the great acidity in the wine.  Some peppery notes linger towards the end of the finish just to further dazzle your palate and leave you wanting another sip. The tannins are still holding their own and we believe this wine could last another couple of years before smoothing out.  This wine was a great treat to open and enjoy on its own and pair with a big pasta dish.  Though you may not be able to find this vintage at the winery, they are still producing Sangiovese from this vineyard and we have every reason to believe that subsequent vintages should no doubt still delight. We  highly encourage you to make the trip to Rockwall to visit them and taste for yourself. Enjoy well, our wine friends!

www.sanmartinowinery.com

Wines of Dotson-Cervantes – Pontotoc, Texas

Out on the edge of the Texas Hill Country is where you’ll find this shining light producing some great Texas wines.  Owners Alphonse Dotson and Martha Cervantes may have started out on difference paths in life, but good karma has brought them together and lead them to this piece of Texas wine country.   Alphonse was a former NFL player and played for the Oakland Raiders.  Martha worked for resort companies in Mexico.  They met and had a desire to start something entirely new in their lives and determined that Texas was the place for their vineyard.  They have been growing grapes in their vineyard near Voca for about 18 years.  The vineyard has about 20 acres planted with about 20,000 vines.  Fall Creek Winery has been using their grapes to make some of their award-winning wines for many years.  Fall Creek and the Dotson’s helped disprove the myth that high quality Chardonnay can’t be grown in Texas.  You may have seen their wines at area wine stores.  Don’t be afraid to try them.  They are quite good!  The tasting room in Pontotoc opened in November of 2014.  They currently have four wines for tasting.  Ed Auler and Sergio Cuadra from Fall Creek helped with the winemaking, too.  The 2015 Perseverance is a blend of 75% Muscat Canelli, 13% Malvasia Bianco, 7% Chardonnay, and 5% Moscato.  Alphonse tells a great story of how these vines recovered from an accidental herbicide dose, hence, the origin of the name. This white wine is crisp with lovely citrus notes.  It has the taste of sweetness, yet it’s dry.  The 2015 Gotas de Oro is a 50% Chardonnay, 50% Muscat Canelli blend.  The “Drop of Gold” wine has delightful citrus and pear notes with a nice soft finish.  Now, the Something Red is a real treat!  This 2008 blend of Cabinet Sauvignon 68% and Merlot 32%.  It has all the right berries, all the right tannins, and just enough spicy notes to give that wonderful full mouth feel.  We also tried the same wine that had been opened for two weeks.  Guess what…it still tasted great!  It was just a bit softer and more mellow, but the fruit still held up well. We enjoyed Fall Creek’s Chardonnay that he had on hand.  It’s a very nice wine for the white wine lovers!  Already bottled and waiting to settle down is the 2015 Patience.  This blend of 55% Merlot, 17% Sangiovese, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 13% Petit Verdot is surely to be the next knockout red wine for the Dotsons. When you come, plan on spending a long afternoon sitting, visiting and enjoying yourself.  There’s no rush or hurry in Pontatoc. Alphonse has some great stories to tell while you sip and enjoy these wonderful wines.  We’re looking forward to the next outing here and hope we’ve inspired you to make the journey as well!  Cheers!

www.dotsoncervanteswines.com

White Merlot – 2010; Westcave Cellars; Round Mountain, Texas

What a jewel to still have and enjoy!  This lovely merlot wine is what a good mouth feel is all about.  Despite its age, it still packs beautiful full fruit flavors.  The aromas are quite delightful with notes of bright cherries.  It’s slightly sweet and could substitute just fine for any dry white wine pairing.  It’s been preserved well and could go on for another year or two.  Westcave Cellars still makes White Merlots, so it will be an interesting comparison to try newer vintages. It is worth scouting out a bottle or two to enjoy, especially in this early spring, warm spell we’re seeing in Texas right now. Enjoy well!

www.westcavecellars.com

Montepulciano – 2009; Llano Estacado; Lubbock, Texas

Sourced from Bellanzi vineyards in New Mexico, this beautiful red wine is a pleasure to behold and taste.  Popping the cork, you’ll notice a nice black coating signifying a great experience awaits!  Admire the light-colored red in the glass as you anticipate the initial waft of its lovely bouquet. On the nose, you will get a hint of leather and some cocoa as you swirl and inhale. You might just repeat a few times because smelling wine is sometimes more enjoyable than tasting it and much of the taste is tied to our noses. Take the first few sips and savor the blueberry and plum that dance across your palate.  It still has decent tannins, so this one continues to open and develop the longer it’s in the glass. This medium bodied ’09 Montepulciano has aged well and is certainly able to cellar longer. This is a lovely wine to pair with food, but also entirely enjoyable on its own. Great wine like this one is certainly to be remembered!

www.llanowine.com

Sparkling Blanc du Bois - 2014; Majek Vineyard and Winery; Moravia, Texas

Blanc du Bois may have finally found its calling in Texas as THE sparkling wine to produce!  The delicious tropical fruit nose and lively bubbles are an enticing sight and tickling treat for the nose.  This sparkler is pale in color without flaws. There are nice acids along with kiwi and peach notes.  No traditional cork or plastic cork with this bottle, but a bottle cap! Yes, something unique and different to add to the overall enjoyment.  The Majeks have shown how to do a quality Blanc du Bois right with this fantastic sparkling wine they are producing. Kudos and cheers!

www.majekvineyard.com

Zero 815 – Hye, Texas

Hye is becoming a popular location along the HWY 290 wine corridor in Texas.  Zero 815 is one more winery to add to your next visit in the Hye area.  The husband and wife team, Karl and Laura Hogsett, just opened their tasting room a little more than a week before Christmas.  Just in time for the holidays! The winery name comes from their anniversary date, 08/15.  How cool is that!  With their passions now in full gear, you’ll get to try some great Texas wines.  Bending Branch and McPherson are helping this new winery get off on the right sip with their initial batch of wines.  The grapes for their wines are sourced from some quality vineyards, like Newsom, Reddy, and Lepard.  There are five wines to try out.  The first is a 2015 Muscat (50/50 Muscat Blanc/Muscat Canneli) that has that nice dry citrus feel you expect from a Muscat.  The 2015 Blush is a light and tropical white blend that’s easy drinking for many occasions.  The 2014 Mourvedre has a nice long finish and an enticing cranberry color. The 2015 Rilassato is a Malbec/Mourvedre/Petite Sirah Blend (50/25/25) made in French and American oak. The tannins are balanced and the berry flavors are a delight.  The 2015 Hyeland Blend is a “tweaked” version of the Rilassato with (37.5/37.5/25) Malbec/Mourvedre/Petite Sirah. The Hyeland Blend has as similar tasting profile as the Rilassato but with a bigger mouth feel and a longer finish. Planned for future releases are a Zinfandel, a white blend of just about everything, and a Tempranillo Rose’.  The Hogsetts have plenty of acreage (14) on their estate.  You’ll get some really nice views looking down the Pedernales Valley.  Karl plans to plant Picpoul Blanc out on the front of the estate and an undecided red in the back.  This place will look fabulous driving in when those future vines mature.  Stop in on your next trip through Hye and spend some time with Karl and Laura as they share their love for wine with you.

www.zero815winery.com

Valentine – NV; Bernhardt Winery; Plantersville, Texas

This exceptional red blend is a delight and treat for the tongue!  The soft texture and smooth taste gives a heartfelt warm reception to your taste buds. On the nose, you get very pronounced bright fruit. While the palate discerns velvety strawberry and cherry notes to sip and savor in this well-balanced wine. Although not an entirely sweet wine, this is on the sweeter side and would pair nicely with spicy Mexican or BBQ dishes. It is also such a lush pretty wine to enjoy on its own or with something chocolate.  Highly suggest you stop in to pick up a bottle to sample for yourself and we think you won’t be disappointed and you will likely crave more.  Yes, it is quite wonderful! Cheers!

www.bernhardtwinery.com

F-2 – NV; Locations Wine; France

Ooh…now this location wine is quite lovely!  This red blend of Grenache, Syrah, and some Bordeaux varietals balances out quite nicely.  Do let this crimson colored jewel breathe for about 20 minutes to release those aromatic berries and optimize the flavor profile.  It is a bit smoky at first, however it then transitions to some moderate peppery notes. After a good swirl across your palate, you’ll pick up some moderate acids followed by a nice tannic finish. This wine has plenty of pairing power to entice your taste buds.  That’s just what good wine is all about, right? Enjoy this, with your favorite elegant style meaty dish!

www.locationswine.com

Blanc du Bois – 2010; Saddlehorn Winery; Burton, Texas

This six-year old Blanc du Bois is quite lovely.  The color shows little signs of aging unlike most whites and the fruit is still intact.  It is somewhere between dry and off-dry.  On the nose, you will initially get some herbaceous notes. You’ll detect some butter on this wine and it might trick you into thinking Chardonnay initially, but it’s really a dry Blanc du Bois.  The Apricot aromas are a delight along with some tropical and herbaceous notes.  The tad bit of sweetness gives this elegant wine some versatility in your dish pairings.   It’s also a great treat on those warm winter days!

www.saddlehornwinery.com

1851 Vineyards – Fredericksburg, Texas

Getting overwhelmed by the number of wineries along Texas U.S. HWY 290?  Next time, just hop over to Fredericksburg and take a visit to this wonderful new winery located just south of town on highway 16.  Owners John and Dabs Brown Hollimon have started their own pioneer dreams for the estate.  It’s not often that you get to visit a new winery that sits on property with such a rich history harkening back to the pioneer days of Fredericksburg.  The site was once the location of the owner Carl Hilmar Guenther who started Pioneer Flour Mills.  The original barn building and house are still on the property and are historical landmarks.  Dab’s family acquired the property in 1964.  She has since turned a vision of something more into reality by transforming this historic location into a quality vineyards and winery with the help of her husband John. You will have great views of the older buildings, vines, and ancient trees as you drive up to the tasting room.  On the estate are planted ten acres of Albarino, Tempranillo, Cabernet, Malbec, Petite Sirah, and Tannat from 2013.  There are plans to add Mourvedre and Alicante Bouchet.  Many Texas wine fans are familiar with the winemaker, John Rivenburgh.  John has crafted some fantastic wines for the 1851 Vineyards winery. Notice on the label the JD “cattle” branding representing the family collaboration of John Hollimon and Dabs.  The first batch of wines that 1851 has are grapes sourced from the Sierra Foothills for the reds and the Texas High Plains for the whites.  There are four wines to currently taste. The first is a dry Texas white blend of Muscat Canelli and Muscat Giallo.  It has a beautiful orange aroma and a nice bright citrus flavor. The 2014 Tempranillo is just superb!  With earthy aromas and an excellent rustic finish, you’ll have no problem stashing more of these bottles in your cellar!  For the 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon, you’ll get lots of nice fruit and cherry notes along with a hint of leather.  The 2014 Tannat is not for the timid.  If you LOVE red wine, then this hard-core red is for you. Be prepared for rich, strong tannins with a super long finish, and you’ll be happy with the bold berry flavors that this wine offers. Only four wines to try out you say?  Not to worry.  There are some other wines currently waiting to be released hopefully within the next two months. A 2014 Alicante Bouchet will be totally worth the wait.  We got to taste this (ok, maybe more than one taste) and it is just the epidemy of awesome red wine!  John has done a fabulous job on these initial releases and we look forward to more! Small crafted and attention to detail is what this winery aims for and is what they are achieving right out of the gate in producing high quality wines. The Hollimons also know a thing or two about great hospitality. You’ll enjoy your visit here and the warmth you’ll feel from the staff in this inviting tasting room. Don’t’ be surprised if you walk out with a case.  We’re really excited about this place and will make this one of our regular stops. Enjoy!

www.1851vineyards.com

La Herencia – 2009; McPherson Cellars; Lubbock, Texas

Aging has balanced out this wine quite well. This Spanish style red wine is a Tempranillo blend of 70% Tempranillo, 15% Mourvèdre, 5% Grenache, 5% Carignan and 5% Syrah.  It is quite delicious and still exhibits the wonderful flavors that delight the red wine lover. The smoothness and rich mouth feel that coats your palate makes this wine worth doing the side-to-side swish across your tongue.  Soft tannins only add to the delicate taste of this beauty.  Yes, the Texas High Plains fruit shows its ability to age well in a finely crafted bottle such as this. Whether you pair it with Spanish, Italian, French or Texas style cuisine, you’ll find this to be a well-suited wine for dinner.  Enjoy!

www.mcphersoncellars.com

Sweet Elisa – NV; Sarah’s Vineyard; Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio

This blend of Niagara and Concord grapes has a well-balanced sweet flavor that’s not overpowering.  It has pleasant fragrances and a touch of effervesces to add to its sparkling color.  Surprisingly, it has some strawberry notes along with the cherry flavors to add a bit of a twist.  Sweet red wine lovers will enjoy this one for those cozy mild nights!

www.sarahsvineyardwinery.com

TX-3 – NV; Locations Wine; Texas

This Texas Locations wine series is a blend of Grenache, Mourvèdre, Syrah, Carignan and a mix of other Bordeaux reds with some Petite Sirah.  McPherson Cellars from Lubbock had a hand in crafting this wine.  Letting this wine sit for about 45 minutes really allows it to reveal the best qualities of this wine.  The deep purple-red color holds up well with little variation.  You will initially pick up notes of raspberries, plums, and some cranberries.  There is some pepperiness to it, but it is a smooth drinking red.  This medium bodied wine is a good well rounded representation of Texas High Plains wines and offers a glimpse to the rest of the country and world of what Texas wines are all about.  Cheers!

www.locationswine.com

Newsom Vineyards at Comfort – Comfort, Texas

Just about every serious Texas wine drinker is probably familiar with Newsom Vineyards.  Established in 1986, the vineyard has over 100 acres of vines in the Texas High Plains, one of the premier grape growing regions.  There are many wineries that source their grapes there and every time you see “Newsom Vineyards” on a label as the source of the grapes, the expectations will typically rise.  Neal and Janice Newsom’s son, Nolan, has taken on the venture of opening a tasting room in Comfort along with the help of his wife, Mei.  They just opened this November. The house they have renovated for the tasting room used to be the tasting room of the former Comfort Cellars, however they have preserved this piece of history by retaining that old wineries sign inside the tasting room just above the entrance. Much of the renovation inside the tasting room involved repurposing the walls and floors back to their original wood which really looks terrific for a home originally built over 100 years ago. At the tasting bar, there are currently four wines available. Since the Newsoms have a long established working relationship with many different wineries, they have worked with different winemakers to help make their initial wine releases.  This helps exemplify their fruit and the character of each winemaker’s techniques.  Driftwood, Bending Branch, Calais Winery, Lewis Wines, Llano Estacado, Pedernales Cellars, and Flat Creek Estate are all lending their wine making skills for the initial wine releases.  The first wine to taste is a dry Orange Muscat (2015).   The citrus and honeysuckle notes might throw you off at first and make you expect a sweet wine, but it actually comes across has quite smooth and refreshing as it is dry.  The 2015 Pinot Grigio is herbal with a tad bit of acidity.  For the reds, the 2014 LaVerne’s Merlot, has fruit sourced from some of the oldest Merlot vines on the vineyard lot (1993).  The garnet colored wine has notes of plums, berries, and pepper.  Letting this bottle sit for another year or two will only improve its character.  The other red is Inception and is a Tempranillo (58%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (42%) blend and is a good example of well-balanced high plains wine.  These are all some great wines to help get this new winery off to a wonderful launch. There are at least five more wines coming out early next year and yet more on the horizon.  For the near future, you can expect a 2015 Albarino, 2015 Sangiovese, 2015 Syrah, 2015 Malbec, and 2015 Cabernet Sauvginon.  This is a great addition to Comfort and a good boost to the downtown shops and restaurants.  You’ll have a good time tasting and chatting with Nolan and Mei who are very eager to showcase and share their latest wines and talk about their history and vision for their new winery. There is also a back porch where you can sit, relax, and sip down a bottle of Orange Muscat on those warm winter days in Texas.  Come visit them and see why Comfort is worth the trip. Cheers!

www.newsomvineyards.com

Riesling – 2010; Lost Oak Winery; Burleson, Texas

This Classic German style semi-sweet wine was a great find from the cellar.  There are no signs of flavor or aroma degradation.  Even the color suggests it may still be relatively new and not a six-year-old white!  Pears are more pronounced in this Riesling and the fruit is very luscious and ripe.  It’s still quite wonderful and delicious to enjoy and it goes so nicely with so many different options this time of year.  We paired this with a favorite stir fried dish and it was delightful, however it will also go nicely with light and creamy cheeses, salads, turkey or chicken dishes and even some lighter desserts.  The sheer beauty of this wine is that you can pair it with food or not, either way you will not be disappointed. Cheers!

www.lostoakwinery.com

E-3 NV; Locations Wine; Spain

This Spanish style blend of Grenache, Tempranillo, Monastrell, and Carignan exemplifies the quality fruit that comes from España.  Though the percentages aren’t revealed, the Carignan does tend to stand out a bit, yet doesn’t overpower the other fruit flavors.  This medium bodied red wine has a silky feel to it at first along with elegant flavors of raspberries and plum.  There is a bit of licorice notes along with some pepper and a hint of tobacco.  This is an evenly balanced red blend that will pair nicely with many dishes, yet is entirely wonderful and worthy of drinking on its own.  Enjoy well!

www.locationswine.com

Apple Mead - NV; Maydelle Country Wines; Rusk, Texas

This is a very good combination of mead and apples. To use the classic wine terminology, it is well balanced!  You can discern that this is a honey wine yet that flavor does not overpower the apples.  The wine has a pleasant sweetness to it that’s not too syrupy sweet, so it is very easy to drink and enjoy.   Try pairing this with some homemade apple pie or various cheeses!  It’s also quite nice to sip and enjoy on its own.

www.maydellewines.com

El Gaucho Winery – Spicewood, Texas

Argentina has come to Texas!  Did someone say Malbec, Malbec, and more Malbec?  This place is ground zero for the Malbec lovers.  Owners Bennett Sewell and Eugenia planted their winery roots on this property back in 2014 and opened their winery in 2015.  Bennett spent several years in the Mendoza region of Argentina and absorbed all things that made wine great there.  Eugenia is an established sommelier from Argentina and she knows her stuff!  The couple has two vineyards in the Mendoza region on the east side of the Andes.  The dry climate plus the meticulous viticulture practices only leads to some great tasting red wines from the region.  There are three tasting flights to choose from.  The first one, which are the lightest wine options available, includes whites with a Torrontes!  The second fight is the Estado Natura Malbecs and the third flight are the Reserve wines.  The Grand Reserva is also available and represent the quality work being done by this winery.  The 2010 Malbec Reserva has a nice smokiness that you like to savor in a rich red wine.  The 2013 Malbec Reserva has a good nuttiness.  Their 2014 Cabernet Reserva is not for the light hearted.  It’s a well-rounded mouth feel with great lasting finish that makes you realize why this varietal has a second home in Argentina.  Do try the 50/50 Malbec/Cab blend and be enticed by its spices and clove notes.  If you really want to taste the lands of the Andes, try the Estado Natura 2013 Malbec.  It’s has a pleasant earthiness that you expect and desire from these vineyards.  If available, ask to sample the 2009 Grand Reserva Malbec!  This wine has been aged for about two years, with some barrels set aside for an extra year.  The quality and texture of this wine is unbelievable! Everything that is in a good quality Malbec is exemplified in this wine.  They have not made this one since 2009, simply because the fruit has yet to meet their high standards for this wine.  Several bottles of these are worth your cellar space!  All throughout the tastings, don’t be surprised if visions of meat pairings start coming to mind. Do take the winding road off HWY 71 on your next wine trek and drive up the hill to this destination.  The surrounding views are spectacular, there is a lovely outdoor courtyard to enjoy, and the tasting room is very cozy and swanky with beautiful wooden tables and Argentinian décor, making you feel very comfortable as you enjoy the wine and great hospitality!

www.elgauchowinery.com

“Denomina” Red Blend – 2012; Vinovium Winery; Johnson City, Texas

This red wine is why Montsant, Spain highlights the rich and deep textures of bold red wine.  Former Becker winemaker, Russel Smith, mastered this delicious blend of 50% Grenache and 50% Carignan.  It’s deep berry red color entices curiosity and interest. Breath in those intense floral aromas to help warm up your wine senses.  Next, savor the delicious flavors of raspberry and cherries.  It is quite nice on the palate with medium tannins and a light finish.  Repeat again, with a nice slow cooked ribeye for pairing and you’ll enjoy the wine even more!  We’ll definitely be bringing back our growler for more refills of this one!

www.vinoviumpartners.com

AR-3 – NV; Locations Wines; Argentina

This location series wines gives you a selection of some varietals that do well in Argentina.   This very opaque red blend is a mix of Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Tannat.  It is quite hot at first, but after letting it sit for an hour, it begins to open up a bit. You’ll pick up some aromas of chocolate at first.  Take another swirl and a sip or two and let the taste buds soak up some of that dark berry flavor.  There is some licorice intertwine in there along with a touch of vanilla.  End off with some sage aftertaste and you will have had the nice experience that has been waiting to escape the bottle just for you.  Pour another glass and let it sit longer for another comparison.  Being from Argentina, you’ll definitely want to find your mass stash of protein to pair with this one.  This wine will only get better with added bottle aging. We recommend you store and enjoy in 6 months to a year later. Cheers!

www.locationswine.com