The Chaparral Red of 2020 from Peters Prairie Vineyard in
Mason County, Texas, showcases the lush locally sourced fruit of the Texas Hill
Country AVA. This approachable red blend—featuring Malbec and Barbera—offers a
touch of sweetness with a fruit forward profile, making it a perfect choice for
warm-weather sipping. Best served chilled, its vibrant notes and gentle
sweetness reflect the perfect pairing for Hill Country summers. Cheers!
If you’re looking
for some well-crafted small batch Sonoma wines, look no further than this local
boutique family winery in Dripping Springs. Owner and winemaker, Tom Parmeson’s,
journey to this second part of his career may have been different, but passion
and hard work have paid off. Tom was a techie in the software development
industry when he had one of those epiphany things happen on trips to California
wineries in the 2000s. Like a great piece of software code that just pops into
your head in the middle of the night, that sparked a new motivation in Tom for
what he wanted to do with the next chapter of his life. After moving to
California and learning the trade, as well as obtaining a UC Davis degree, a
new adventure was launched in making wines in 2013. Eventually, he moved back
to Texas and opened his own winery in 2019. The tasting room building is
adjacent to a long-time stone sculpture garden. Inside the building, it is
quite quaint and cozy. Staff are more than happy to help guide you through your
wine tasting. The wine tasting building is also loaded with relics and the
history of Texas, as well, including some granite from the State Capitol. There
is ample space inside in a separate room to sit and enjoy your wines with a
view of the nearby stone sculptures as well as space outside to sit and enjoy
the scenic and quiet setting.
Tom emphasizes cultivating high-quality grapes and employs hands-off (aka don’t mess with the
grapes) approach to winemaking. The
current tasting menu predominantly features selections from Alexander Valley
and Russian River Valley. Tasting flights are available for both white and red
wines, making it an ideal opportunity for guests to sample a comprehensive
range. During the visit, the first to taste
was the 2022 Sparkling Albariño which was an ideal way to ease into the mood.
Notes of citrus and pear predominated along with a delightful refreshing feeling.
This was followed by the 2023 Sauvignon Blanc, which was quite aromatic with a
bouquet of key lime and grapefruit with good acids complimented by a crisp
finish. The subsequent white, the
2023 Albariño, presented robust aromas of grapefruit complemented by hints of
apple and lime. The final white wine, the 2022 Chardonnay, offered a
lighter profile compared to typical Chardonnays.
It expressed itself as easy drinking with zesty apples and peaches hitting the
senses in all the right places. Transitioning
to red wines, the 2022 Pinot Noir showcased the varietal’s hallmark qualities,
featuring abundant currant, a touch of vanilla, and balanced acidity with a
refined finish. The next red
was the 2022 Syrah. It was quite dry with a profile of cedar and berries and medium
acidity. That was followed by the 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon. It had a very opaque
hue and lots of bright cherries on the palate. The wine had good structure and
a bit of pepper at the finish. Wrapping up the tasting experience was the 2018 Zinfandel (produced from old vines) and featured an
opaque hue with depth, herbaceous undertones, plum notes, and robust acidity
and tannins.
This winery is a
great addition to the Dripping Springs area with plenty of outdoor seating
under the oak trees. There is much to just soak up and enjoy at this spot with
a great glass of handmade wine and good company. When you follow your dreams,
great things are possible. Voila!
If you are ready
for one sensational Sangiovese, this
bottle presents an excellent choice.
Harvested from the Texas High Plains AVA, this wine offers some vibrant bright
aromas of red fruit complimented by notes of berries with a touch of spice. Sip
and swirl and yes, there is a bit of vanilla that is perceptible, as well. It has some decent minerality to it along
with medium tannins and a notch above light acidity. Let’s just call this
classic varietal medium bodied and savor all day. Salute!
Clocking in at 14.8 abv, this vintage is a blend of 39%
Malbec, 36% Petite Sirah, 20% Tempranillo, and 5% Petit Verdot. Pouring a deep,
inky red hue, this wine invites you to enjoy that initial sip with aromatic
notes of plums, blackberry, and a hint of spice. On the palate, the rich
flavors of dark fruits are complimented with subtle oak and well-defined
tannins. This member’s favorite
blend stands out as an excellent example of the wineries’ ability to craft
outstanding and creative red blends. Cheers!
Behold the Dão
wine region of Portugal. Probably best to just pour a glass, turn on the music
and just shut up. But if you must know,
here are some highlights. This vintage
is a blend of Touriga Nacional, Jaen, Tinto Pinheira, and Alfrocheiro. Yes, all
great Portuguese grapes. The
wine presents a bouquet featuring spicy notes, complemented by dark cherry,
plum, and fig. Sip, swirl, and
savor every moment of this wine as you uncover some leather and a hint of balsamic.
The wine comes across medium bodied, but after one bottle, you’re still listening
to the music and trying to find where you stashed the other bottle. Saúde!
What a fantastic
bottle of estate Mourvèdre to savor all day! This Annie’s block wine from the
Hye Estate sits in at 14.6 abv and really rocks on that impressive mouthful and
balance. Notes of black currant and spice reign supreme on this bad baby along
with compliments of cocoa and berries. It serves as compelling evidence of the quality wines
produced in Texas Hill Country AVA.
Cheers!
Wow, oh wow! The Super Texan brand from Flat Creek has always been a serious go-to Italian style Sangiovese blend to have on hand. Most of the grapes for this vintage were sourced from the Texas Hill Country AVA. This mix of 75% Sangiovese, 16% Montepulciano, 6% Petite Sirah, and 3% Primitivo patiently sat three years in the barrel before being bottled. The result is a very well balanced, favorable, and satisfying wine to thoroughly enjoy. It exhibits a deep ruby red hue with a bouquet of raspberries and cherries to greet you. Sip and savor and some notes of pepper and mesquite will help add to the satisfying sipping session. It still maintains a vibrant fruit sensation even after eight years. Let’s call this one medium bodied with a plus on the acids and just a notch below medium for the tannins. Enjoy this jewel well. Cin Cin!
Behold, the queen
of Provence style Texas Rosé
wine! What one word could describe it….masterpiece, magnificent, superb, second
to none (ok three words there)? Pick
your own or make up one, but this Rosé has it all. Sourced from Desert Willow
Vineyards of the Texas High Plains AVA, those floral sensations plus that dry
and refreshing “ah” moment will captivate you for life. It has that classic pale
salmon hue for visual effects followed by luscious floral and palate pleasers
that you would expect from a Provence Rosé. You’ve got
strawberries, raspberries and a bit of pepper to round things out, too. Plus,
those acids are just spot on,…no….perfect! It also has that thirst quenching
feeling that is oh-so soothing so that nothing will wipe that wine smile off
your face. Enjoy this one well. Santé!
Perissos has demonstrated expertise with Aglianico, which
has become a hallmark varietal produced from their Texas Hill Country AVA
estate. The 2020 vintage underwent extended malolactic fermentation and
aging right in the barrel. What might one get from this? A rich and intense
luscious wine that is worth savoring all day. Those black cherries and
cranberries play off each other quite well in adding harmonious fruit flavors.
The tannins are on the plus side of medium and the acidity has a vibrant kick
to it. Let’s just say having extra bottles for repeat enjoyment is a must for
this vintage jewel. What a treat. Delicious!
A single sip of this distinguished wine demonstrates the
appeal of the 'Rosé all day' mantra. The Hensell label has always been
rock solid on delivering excellent Provence style wines and 2022 upholds that reputation. Harvested from the Texas High Plains AVA,
this vintage comprises a blend of 51% Cinsault, 39% Sangiovese and 10% Grenache.
You will notice the enticing salmon hue on the initial pour plus those ever so
vibrant citrus and zesty aromas that greet you. This is followed by some
strawberries and melons to help round out that first sipping experience. On
subsequent sip and savor repeats, you might discern subtle
hints of cherry as well. It is a well-crafted Rosé that is hard to beat.
Santé!
Ah…wine from the Colli Piacentini wine region of
Italy can be quite remarkable. This Sauvignon
Blanc is certainly no exception. It displays
a straw-yellow hue and exhibits very pronounced tropical aromatics - what a
delightful nose on this one. Notable tasting notes include lots of lemon, along
with passion fruit, and mango. Your palate can certainly feel those
concentrated flavors complemented by some good minerality for balance. The wine
is clean and bright, with refined structure and clarity. Cin Cin!
Peter’s
Prairie is already well known for producing some incredible Mason County red
wines, including Syrah. Their Rosé selections
maintain this standard of excellence. Add sparkling wine to the mix and
you have icing on the cake. As more wineries are expanding their menus to
include a sparkling option on their menus, excitement builds when they are so
delightful to sip and enjoy. Sourced from the Hill Country estate, this sparkling Rosé features a salmon hue, fine bubbles,
and is simply refreshing on the palate. There is a satisfying crisp
mouthfeel combined with a fruity and lively sensation that those beautiful
bubbles provide. It is a great one to have for those Texas dog days of summer.
If you have yet to sample this one, then head over to their comfortable tasting
room and give it a try! Cheers!
