This light and easy drinking Italian bubbly hits the spot
quite well. It
presents appealing floral aromas on the initial pour, inviting a relaxed
experience. Notes of fresh
grapefruit and some apples come out as you gaze at those fine bubbles. There is
also just a hint of rose petals to add
to the tasting experience. A fine Spumante to enjoy for sure. Cin Cin!
Sourced from the
Texas High Plains AVA, this Rhone-style blend expresses primarily
Viognier and displays a stunning deep golden hue after six years. The wine’s
expressive floral character is immediately apparent, with notes of flowers and
honeysuckle mingling back and forth with additions of peach, and some apricot.
These elements come together to create an excellent white wine that reflects
very well the meaning of the label. Cheers!
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!
