Riesling - 2011; Chateau Ste Michelle; Woodinville, Washington

This delicious off-dry Riesling is a product of the vineyards from the Columbia Valley.  It has the aromas and taste of pears, apricot, and apples that one would expect from a good quality Riesling.  It is definitely packed with rich fruity flavors yet has just a tad bit of lemony tartness to it.  The acidity surprisingly balances out well in this one.  There is also a slight effervescence to this wine, so don’t be surprised if you get a few bubbles. It is a well balanced and lovely Riesling that is true to its character and will not let an avid Riesling fan down.  This wine pairs easily with a number of different dishes.  We also found it very lovely as a substitute for Chardonnay when cooking salmon. Surprise your guests at your next dinner party with this wine and use it as a secret ingredient in some of your recipes and they might be in awe!

www.ste-michelle.com

Lakeview Winery – Austin, Texas

Owners Kenny and Gail Fowler have established a nice winery along one of Austin’s most gorgeous views of Lake Travis – The Oasis! Opened to the public since March 2012, they now have 7 wines of their own available for tasting as well as some from other Texas wineries. The three reds available are Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and a Sweet Red. Strangely enough, the less dry and sweeter the reds are the better they taste! From the selection of whites, you’ll get to try there is a good chilled Chardonnay that will suit you well during the hot summer, as well as, a delicious Sweet White that is about 90% Blanc du Bois and 10% peaches. It truly is amazing how much of the peach aroma and flavor translates to your taste buds when sipping this one, so we strongly suggest you buy a few bottles for some cool summer sipping or a different take on mimosas without the fizz. Their other white is 100% Muscat that will go well with some desserts from the Oasis. There is now a Black Cherry wine that is quite tasty as well! This last fruit wine really has a nice bold black cherry flavor and will likewise make a great summer sipper and after dinner drink. The winemaker from the Georgetown Winery has been helping these folks get started. Other wines are in the “vats”, so be on the look-out for some more new wines with unique names on their tasting menu in the future.

http://www.lakeviewwinery.com/



Sweet Red – NV; Twin Springs Winery; Tow, Texas

This red sweet wine is a blend of Merlot and Zinfandel.  It’s smooth, soft, luscious and full of fruity flavors.  The flavor is true, bright grapes presented in a sweet, yet not syrupy sweet manner.  Your nose will be pleased by the aroma and taste buds will be excited by the flavor.  It is quite refreshing and sweet wine lovers will certainly enjoy this one.  Why even devout dry wine lovers might be tempting for a second glass!  Twin Springs is a brand owned by Fall Creek Vineyards.  You’ll be sensationally pleased with this one and it makes a lovely summer sipper for entertaining family and friends!

www.twinspringswinery.com

Circle S Vineyards – Sugar Land, Texas

Located just outside of Houston, this winery is crafting some fine Texas wines.  It’s not far at all for wine lovers in the Houston area to check out.  With a vineyard in Centerville, Texas and sourced grapes from Italy, the winemaker (Dave Stacey) has a quality selection of grapes to choose from in making his own wines.  Among the nice selection of varietals available are Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Sangiovese, Montepulciano, Chardonnay, Magia di Amore & Ilbello (the latter two being his own signature blend).    You might come across a good bottle of jalapeno wine at certain times of the year.  Many of the wines are award winners.  Recently released is the Tre Nel Cielo which is a Montepulciano/Merlot blend plus a third, secret grape that the winemaker is very tight lipped about.  Stop by for a tasting to see if you can discern that third varietal. While you’re there, sample some of the other wines and see what you think. We think you will be happy you stopped in and gave this place a try when in the Houston area.  Help keep a good local winery going with your patronage!

www.circlesvineyards.com

Cabernet Sauvignon – 2005; Perissos Vineyards; Burnet, Texas

Every once in a while, a wine lover will get a rare opportunity to try a winery’s earlier vintages that they had worked on before going “public”. This wine from Perissos is one of their first editions in the wine crafting business. We were told that is was a Cabernet. The taste and aroma comes across more in a Chianti style of wine. Perhaps some Sangiovese may have been used to top off the barrel during aging. It definitely has a strong oak taste with a bold full bodied flavor. Surprisingly, little tannins are noticeable. The oak aroma is quite strong when first opened, but tends to soften as it aerates. This is a fairly good wine and not a bad start to wine making. Do let this air for about an hour before sipping. It definitely goes well with a good steak as the earthiness and heartiness of this red can stand up to some strong flavors. Enjoy and savor the moment with this one!

http://www.perissosvineyards.com/