8 year anniversary!

If you had given us a Magic 8-ball eight years ago and asked it to predict the future of this blog, who knows how those vague answers would have been interpreted.  So, let’s give it a shot today and see what it says:

Will we continue to make new wine discoveries?  Yes

Will our insane wine collection continue to expand?  Most Likely

Will this blog last another 8 years?  Without a doubt

Rose’, White, or Red? Concentrate and ask again

Will we eventually have our own Netflix show? Better not tell you now.

As you can see, the Magic 8-ball can still be interpreted as a positive outlook for the future.  It is always enjoyable writing about what comes to mind with the wine we try and wineries we visit.  Who knows, with continued healthy wine in our diet, this blog might last 80+ years!  Oh yes, we can say that there will be a few surprises for the upcoming year!  Stay tuned, our wine friends.  Same wine time, same wine channel! Salud!

Tempranillo – 2007; Texas Hills Vineyards; Johnson City, Texas

Well, damn!  Sit back and enjoy these precious moments, because they don’t come that often.  This Tempranillo certainty began with some quality fruit and add to that a winemaker’s skillful talent, plus an owner’s patience in allowing the bottle to cellar in a constant temperature for years and you’ve got yourself a fine present! Although the wine was quite strong when first opened, it settled down quite nicely after an hour. Some of the fruit flavors have faded, yet it still held up very well. Overall, it had a good balance of fruit.  Notes of plum and pepper stood out for this 11-year-old Texas wine.  The tannins likewise held up well allowing for a pleasant lingering finish. This one could still hold the test of time for a couple of more years, but we were awfully glad we had the chance to enjoy it now. Cheers to another fine Texas Tempranillo!

www.texashillsvineyard.com

Horn Winery – Hye, Texas

Welcome to Hye, Texas.  This town has now become the next fast-growing destination of new wineries in the Texas Hill Country while keeping its local charm.  Horn Winery is the latest addition to open here by owner Ryan Horn on his 16-acre estate.  We were fortune to catch him on grand opening day on June 16^th. Ryan is certainly no stranger to the industry. He operates Vintner’s Vault next door which has become a one stop shop for all things a winery would need…. except the customer. Having spent a good amount of time with the California wine industry, Ryan is well seasoned at this and shows a lot of promise at making quality Texas wines. The tasting room is filled with musical instruments and records on the walls to help accent the theme. The current wines available for tasting are from Paso Robles.  Ryan currently has Texas wines aging in the back. The first Texas white should be ready in the next several months. The wine bar features eight wines available for tasting of which you can try six with a tasting. While enjoying your wine tasting at the bar, you get a clear view of the production area and tanks.  For the grand opening, we were fortunate to taste all the wines on the current menu! The 2014 Verismo is a Chardonnay that is crisp with a slight buttery note.  The Rosé is called Segue and you will note it has unique complex notes due to the oak it was aged in.  It is 2014 blend of five varietals and is very refreshing for those hot summer months of Texas heat. The first red on the menu was the 2014 Crescendo. This Merlot has some dusty notes with a strong enticing nose. For the 2014 Rhapsody, it is a Petit Verdot that along with its deep color, delights your senses with cherries and strong tannins.  The 2014 Duet is a 50/50 blend of Petit Syrah and Syrah that is pleasantly smooth with a touch of pepper and a light finish. Onward to the 2014 Melody, and you get to enjoy a Bordeaux style blend of one third each of Merlot, Petit Verdot, and Cabernet Sauvignon. This wine has light acids and a light body with a nice balance. The 2014 Aria is a Cabernet Sauvignon aged in Hungarian, American, AND French oak, so you will experience some intense black berry notes, yet a smooth and fine finish. Lastly, the 2006 Portamento is a Tawny Port. Made from Touriga Nacional, this bold dessert wine packs a bold mouthfeel and melds flavors of chocolate and raisins followed by pecan notes.  If you enjoy their wines, then hang out for a little while to pause for a bit before you go into the Distillery. Yes, right within the facility in a separate room is their onsite Distillery and cocktail lounge that is for members only. They feature their own Grape and Apple Vodka, Apple Brandy, Rum, Moonshine, Bourbon, Tequlia, and more!  They produce their own spirits and during their grand opening, guests were invited to stop in and visit their cocktail lounge.  It offers something unique to other options on the 290-wine corridor and is worth a visit. Horn Winery has a great future and a theme going for it. The staff are all knowledgeable and make you feel very welcomed.  Another great reason to stop in and say “Hi” in Hye!

www.hornwinery.com

Loken Cabernet Franc – 2007; Pahrump Valley Winery; Pahrump, Nevada

We could hardly believe that we were saying, “Wow! This wine can just keep aging…” Take note at the exception of this well-made hand-crafted wine from Nevada.  The acids are perfect for this beauty. The excellent tannins present a pleasant long-lasting finish. This one exemplifies why Cabernet Franc can be addicting. On the nose you will note the enticing aroma of black licorice tempting you. The notes range from bell peppers, to plums, and a hint of strawberry in this medium-bodied wine.  The flavors meld nicely and allow this wine to pair nicely with many dishes. If you’re patient and want the best that this wine has to offer, make sure you allow it to breathe for an hour or so before you drink it. Best of all, if you are really patient and have some of these bottles in your cellar, just let those extra bottles sit a little longer, as this one can still cellar for a while longer. There were no signs of degradation in this 2007 vintage. A wonderful long-term wine for the cellar to be enjoyed throughout the years to come! 

www.pahrumpwinery.com