Merlot – 2003; Pheasant Ridge Winery; Lubbock, Texas

Houston, we have a winner!  We opened this bottle on the 50^th anniversary of the moon landing. Like the moon landing anniversary, it was a great experience to savor this vintage after so many years. Age may have taken a toll on the color, but the fruit profile is well intact for this 16-year-old wine.  You want some background light for the first clear ruby color pour – great special effects!   There is a little bit of alcohol heat but dissipates over time. Some subtle black cherry notes remain, and the finish is pleasantly smooth. This Texas Merlot still holds some good depth yet has picked up some dustiness in its aging and will likely cellar for a few more years. The only question is…why didn’t we get a case?

www.pheasantridgewinery.com

Assyrtiko – 2014; Sigalas Santorini; Santorini, Greece

Behold this great Greek wine!  The deep blond color with a tinge of green is just the beginning of your tantalizing experience. Citrus notes are quite pronounced on the nose. Take your time on the first sip, indulge in kiwi and melon flavors that dazzle your taste buds. The acids are a bit strong, but that just ensures you the experience is real. You will also discern a slight effervescence that just adds to the character and makes this wine more interesting. There is a long refreshing and tingling honey note that lingers and is joined with distinct minerality on the finish.  A great treat for hot summer days and nights. This is refreshing and pairs nicely with fresh salads or dish dishes. 

www.sigalas-wine.com

Mission Cabernet Sauvignon – 2007; Fall Creek Vineyards; Tow, Texas

The label designation, Mission San Antonio De Valero, gives reference to the original name of the Alamo in San Antonio.  It’s a reflection of the owner’s dedication to Texas and its history and it features a fantastic rendition of the Alamo on the label. The wine, for its age, has held up nicely. Spices, dark berries, and a bit of cedar are what still lingers in this dry red wine. This wine improves greatly over time as it begins to breathe, and we noted it was still lovely after a few hours. This medium bodied red has moderate tannins and a nice fine finish. A nice find in our wine cellar and happy to share that is has aged well. Cheers!

www.fcv.com

Naca Valley Vineyard – Nacogdoches, Texas

What to do with 62 acres of family land in East Texas? How about a vineyard and winery!  Sure, you could do some timber cutting, but it’s kind of hard to make wine out of pinecones. Buzz and Wanda Mouton along with their son Scott and his wife Chelsea have put their heart and a lot of hard work into building this small family business. What originally started out as a car shop is a now a full-blown tasting room and winery. Buzz has been making wines since his “younger” days and has won some awards at TWGGA and in local wine competitions. The Mouton’s are in their third year of production and the tasting room has been opened for two years.  It’s a small batch operation of about 1000 cases per year. Most grapes are sourced from the Texas High Plains and their fruit wine comes from East Texas. The repurposed desk by Buzz’s grandmother makes for an excellent tasting bar and adds to the unique decor and character of their custom tasting room.  There are three flights of two, four, or six wines to choose from on their menu.  For the whites, we enjoyed the 2015 Southern Belle which is an off-dry Roussanne/Muscat Canelli blend with excellent flavors of apricot and orange. The grapes for the 2018 Blanc du Bois were sourced from Henderson County.  Its off-dry texture has an enticing citrus nose and is a bit crisp, making if quite refreshing on a hot afternoon. The 2017 Riesling is semi sweet with strong apple and peach flavors. The last white we sampled was the 2017 Stellar, an Orange Muscat/Muscat Canelli blend which was a fantastic sweet treat when chilled!  We tried their 2018 Bad Day Rosé, featuring Black Spanish grapes sourced from Henderson county. It made for a lovely refreshing wine that helps give Black Spanish grapes a reputable name. For the reds, we sipped on the 2016 Primitivo which was a full-bodied wine with moderate tannins. We really enjoyed the 2017 Tempranillo, which was a bold tannic Tempranillo that would pair nicely with that famous East Texas BBQ!  Lastly, we tasted the 2017 Brick Street Red with its sweet and jammy notes making it a great stand-alone evening wine.  Some future releases the winery is planning include another blueberry wine, (which was sadly sold out by the time we arrived), sourced from Angelina County, and a possible “port” style wine!  The excellent artwork on the wine labels are done by family members and close friends and are just one more testament to the family focus of this business. In addition to the current wine tasting room and pavilion, there are dreams of expansion that include future cabins and hiking trails. This place can be quite packed during the Spring and Fall and we can see why.  We can’t wait to check on their progress on a future visit and encourage you to stop by and visit.  This will be a true gem to Nacogdoches and The East Texas area.

www.nacavalley.com

Cold Soil White – NV; Terhune Orchards; Princeton, New Jersey

Got Thai food?  This delicious white blend is a great compliment to some good spicy dishes.  This blend of Vidal Blanc and Muscat has a touch of sweetness and loads of honeysuckle with a hint of pear on the nose. With pear and apple notes on the palate and a medium body, this smooth and delightful white will give you loads of satisfaction when paired with spicier dishes or will provide thirst quenching delight on a hot summer day when served chilled and enjoyed on its own. Either way, whether paired with food or enjoyed as is, we think you will find this one quite a nice treat on a hot afternoon or evening. A lovely wine to share with friends and neighbors.

www.terhuneorchards.com