Cabernet Sauvignon – 2006; Val Verde Winery; Del Rio, Texas

It is a great pleasure to be able to enjoy a wine from the oldest winery in Texas which has been in existence since 1883!  After all, if you have been in the business for over 135 years, you must be doing a lot of things right.  Lo and behold, this lovely Cabernet Sauvignon was a wine that was produced to cellar well. A bottle from the 2006 vintage that did not disappoint and drank quite well. Everything about this red wine is still excellent and holding its own.  From the acids, to the fruit, to that enticing extra long finish, you will surely embrace the full mouth feel that this medium bodied wine presents. Even the ruby color is still in fine form. This wine was a definite stunner and a lovely surprise when we enjoyed it over dinner. One glass was not enough. Savor this one and know that it can still survive in the cellar a little longer and is worthy of sharing with friends and family. Cheers!

www.valverdewinery.com

Riesling – 2011; Alexander Vineyards; Fredericksburg, Texas

Great treats are a delight and this Riesling encompasses all that excites the taste buds and more. Produced from fruit of the Mosel region in Germany, this 2011 vintage is full of depth and the character one would expect from a Riesling. The flavors and aromas are spot on. There is an enticing touch of citrus on the nose and palate with very fresh fruit flavors and a bit of sweetness to this wine that just to livens things up. With an ever so slight effervesces to tease you, this one will not disappoint. It is great white wine to sip enjoy as you float away to bliss.  Enjoy!

www.alexandervineyards.com

Cabernet Sauvignon-Syrah Reserve – 2010; Becker Vineyards; Fredericksburg, Texas

This 60/40 Cab-Syrah blend from Becker Vineyards is still drinking very nicely.  It is heavy on the chocolate notes with a touch of black dry fruit. The firm tannins are holding up quite well.  The wine is smooth and has a touch of spice with a defined leathery finish.  One can still denote a nice earthiness to this lovely wine as well. This bottle still has the potential to lay down for several years so if you have any left in your cellar, don’t feel the rush to get rid of them all just yet.  Keep some to enjoy again in the 2020’s!  Cheers!!

www.beckervineyards.com

Utopian Shift – Austin, Texas

Yes, there are great quality wines in the under $15.00 price range. Yes, it can be hard to know what is good when you go to a wine store without being able to sample things. The bottle may look nice, the label may be fancy, others online may say it is good, but you really want to try it for yourself. Have no fear, that is why Utopian Shift was created to help individuals with this dilemma. The shop was started by Ericka and David, who felt there was a need to help folks identify less expensive and easily approachable wines that tasted great that they could enjoy and feel good about sharing with others.  Having been opened for just over a year, what they have done is pre-screen many wines across the world that are under $15 and picked out those that they and their trusty tasting crew believe will fit their customers’ palate. In addition, you can try these wines before you buy them to see if you like them. A novel approach for a wine shop to say everything is available to try before you buy. How cool is that?  From white to red, sweet to dry, and let’s not forget the bubblies, too, they have an A to Z selection that will fit your wine fancy. On our visit, we were able to sample a variety of wines from great crisp whites, to good earthy and smooth reds, to delightfully naturally sweet wines, and then capped it all off with sparkling wines! There were even some very good wines in the $5…. yes $5 price point!!!  During your tasting session, David will be more than happy to share his notes about the wines and a little about how he finds these wines.  When you stop in, ask David about the phone app demo, it’s cool, too! These wines are on par with some higher-end priced wines and your tasting experience is fun, personable and very interactive with the staff. You can tell David and Ericka’s passion and heart are in this business.  With fairness in mind and the “what you would do for a friend” ethics, customers will be coming back again, as we will. There is no doubt the Utopian Shift will be successful in the years to come and we applaud their approach and desire to fill the need for consumers in this wine space.  Salut and here is to many more years of success!

www.utopianshift.com

Super Texan Reserve – 2007; Landon Winery; McKinney, Texas

Great pleasures do come with time. This red wine blend does that statement much honor and then some. The wine’s blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Sangiovese is still rich in structure and flavor. On the nose there is still berry aromas and the fruit flavors are still intact. There is a touch of black pepper on the finish to provide a satisfying sip that makes you go “Ah”!  If you’re still holding on to this one, a) it does still have a few years left, and b) you have a jewel.  A simple pasta pairing with this delicious red wine blend and you’ll be a happy camper. “Back in the day”, there were a few wineries plugging the “Super Texan” name.  For Landon, this same wine style is now called ‘The Texan’.  Buy lots and enjoy!

www.landonwinery.com