Deck Wine – NV; Tara Vineyard & Winery; Athens, Texas

This rosé blend from Tara Winery exhibits some great flavors that East Texas winemakers are creating. This Blanc du Bois/Black Spanish blend has a nice fruit forward bouquet along with a delightful dark raspberry hue. After a half hour of sipping, the flavors really develop nicely. It’s smooth, refreshing and delightful for those warm summer evenings. This unique blend also exhibits the best that both grapes have to offer, with the Blanc do Bois adding more warmth and sweetness to the Black Spanish on the palate. A lovely wine to sit and sip by itself or enjoy with food. A great treat for watching the sunset on the deck, so we agree the name says it all.  Enjoy!

www.tarawinery.com

Silver Spur Winery – Hico, Texas

Hico is a well-known Texas destination for pies, chicken fried steak, handmade chocolates, and Billy the Kid stories.  Now, add to this list, good wine with the addition of the latest boutique winery located in the heart of downtown.  Owner Phil Lopez is no stranger to wines and vines.  Having spent just over two decades in California working in the wine industry and vineyards, he is well versed in the art and science.  He is aware of the unique challenges that Texas poses grape growers, but that does not daunt him, in fact, it just makes him more determined to prove that he can use his experience and skills gained in California to improve and perfect his growing techniques and winemaking in Texas. Silver Spur has been opened for just over a year and currently offers eight wines on their tasting menu.  The ’15 and 16’ wines are from California. Phil has some vineyards he is leasing in Comanche County near Newburg, Texas to make his Texas wines.  He currently has one Texas wine available for sale while the others continue to mature.  His Texas Chardonnay is quite elegant and soft - not your typically strong oak and buttery Chardonnay, but it is quite pleasant for these hot Texas days when chilled.  The rest of the wines are California fruit, yet, worth your time to stop in to try.  The Viognier is very aromatic with honeysuckle notes.  The California Chardonnay is much different than the Texas one. It has more cream and vanilla notes with higher acids and is blended with Marsanne and Roussanne.  The first red,we tried was the 2016 Charbolla (Pinot Noir).  It had a light color and strong tannins affording a nice long finish.  Next up was the J.W II, which was a double blend Zinfandel with wonderful floral notes and dark fruit and pepper notes. The Cabernet Sauvignon, called Donaciano II, was lighter than most cabs yet still presented some bold earthy flavors and a touch of smokiness. Last, was the Flora, a full-bodied Syrah that was quite opaque and packed strong berry notes with a clean silky finish.  We got a bonus tasting of their upcoming inaugural Texas Tempranillo. It was aged in both American and French oak and had a smooth texture with some soft smokiness. It will be a few months before his first Texas red will be for sale.  Other Texas wines that are currently in the works include an Aglianico, Tannat, and Sangiovese.  We enjoyed our visit and having the opportunity to chat and learn more about their story. We look forward to trying these upcoming wines soon, as well.  Phil is very passionate about what he does and will be more than happy to talk to you about his love for wine making.  This winery fits right in with the town and is a great addition to the many shops and interesting places to visit when you pass through or stop and stay a while in Hico. Even if you still mispronounce Hico, they’ll be glad to teach you how to pronounce it correctly over some great wine. Do stop by and visit and enjoy meeting these fine folks and experience new and interesting wines you can enjoy as you try to beat this Texas heat! 

www.facebook.com/pg/silverspurwinery

Syrah – 2006; Texas Hills Vineyard; Johnson City, Texas

A well-aged red wine can bring many pleasures to those who can wait. The patience is worth its weight in wine barrels. This wine jewel has an added uniqueness that is incredibly pleasing to the eye and soul. A fantastic wine label and a great personal story. The art work on the label is fabulous. It depicts how the owners met while an artist was painting. A great story! Being able to bring that personal touch to the story of this winery and wine, adds additional character and charm. As for the wine itself, superb! After sitting around a dozen years, this intense Syrah can still hold its own. The grapes are estate and reflect the love and commitment the owners have in their work. The color has diminished by about 25%. The fruit forward aromas still held well. At first taste, it appeared that some of the fruit forward notes may have diminished by half, but what remains is still quite enjoyable. A touch of tobacco, a touch of leather, and still offered a great mouth feel. The tannins are still showing a nice long-lasting finish. There are no signs of turning, so this bottle could still hold up well for several more years. Yes, some sediment is present, but that’s where the “vitamins” are located! This is one of those wines that will reminds you why it’s nice to occasionally pop the cork on a beautiful red during the summer because it provides not only enjoyment in the glass, but in the journey to make it. Enjoy well and cheers!

www.texashillsvineyard.com

Rose’ 2010 – Vineyard at Gruene; Gruene, Texas

Imagine that you are on the back porch and it’s 110+ degrees outside.  The sweat is unbearable, the heat is unrelenting, and even with AC, it still feels like it’s roasting. Fortunately, there is relief in sight.  A great chilled Rose’ that can magically transport you to a cool place for a moment. Though we have no information on the bottle detailing the exact varietals this Rose’ was a blend of, we can tell you it’s still quite damn good for its age.  It’s smooth with a honey note and still very fruit forward. Sipping this chilled just helps cool your soul with satisfying sensations from the inside out.  If it’s not blistering hot outside, this wine still pairs wonderfully with a spicy dish and drinks nicely on its own, too. Stay cool, wine friends, fall is just a short few more weeks away! 

www.vineyardatgruene.com