Merlot – 2004; Sterling Vineyards; Calistoga, California

Ahh… merlot…Ahh Sterling Vineyards.  What better marriage between the two! Time has mellowed out this Merlot quite nicely. It still packs some notes of vanilla, nutmeg, and dark cherry. You’ll pickup on a touch of jam and a touch of spice just to round things out. The acids have reduced over the years, but the wine still retains some good body and structure. There is still a tantalizing finish towards the end just to let you know this old guy still has some magic left to it. Open this bottle up for a good 90 minutes before enjoying and then drink well my wine friends!

www.sterlingvineyards.com

Pebble Rock Cellars – Texas Hill Country

Owners Robert and Lydia Nida are certainly no strangers to the Texas wine industry. Having hands on work experience at several area wineries, connections with Texas grape growers, running their own vino consulting business, and experiences from abroad including France, Spain, Portugal, and Italy has certainly served them well. The name of the winery has a real deep meaning to them on how they got engaged and Lydia’s love for penguins. Telling the story is one thing, but it is much better to hear it from them in person when you got to taste their great wines! Their passion for winemaking and how they want to see their new business run is quite inspiring. Not only are they sticking to their guns and keeping it a small production winery, but both Rob and Lydia see this as a unique opportunity to help give back and support the Texas winery community by fostering novel winemakers on the ins and out of the industry.  It’s a win-win for both the master and the apprentice and shows a serious and genuine commitment to the Texas wine world and helping to give back and mentor others to create an even better Texas wine industry. Current tastings are done at the Cicada Cellars location in Stonewall, Texas. Most fruit is sourced from the Texas High Pains AVA. We first tried the 2018 Chenin Blanc. Oh wow! If you are not already one, Rob’s latest creation will make a Chenin Blanc lover out of you.  It’s got a nice, crisp long-lasting finish that you expect from a great Chenin.  The second wine sampled was the 2018 Rosé of Sangiovese. Sourced from Nara Vineyards, it has great acids and a spectacular fruit forward profile. The winemakers also have a 2018 Table Red Growler. Their growler program allows wine club members a unique opportunity to refill wine from some custom batch wine jobs. The 2018 Growler was a Malbec and packed a full mouth feel with great tannins!  Available during our visit was a 2017 Sangiovese from Cellar Rat…another small batch wine produced by another winemaker in the Hill Country. Lastly, we tasted the 2015 O Inicio. This fortified Blanc du Bois is rich in flavor, smooth in sipping, and really demonstrates the true quality character of this varietal. The labels and rocks in their tasting room are the Petoskey rocks from Lake Michigan - a testament to their life experiences. They likewise feature some great artworks on the walls to admire to help compliment your wine tasting experience. These two rising star entrepreneurs have made a great new start with Pebble Rock. Their vision signifies a new wave of next generation winemaking for the Texas industry and we could not be more pleased with their work. Look forward to more great things from this couple!

www.pebblerockcellars.wine

NZ-6 – NV; Location Wines; New Zealand

Some countries have given a few wine grape varietals a distinct geographic location where they have made a substantial mark and have become a traditional varietal for that area. Sauvignon Blanc is one such grape New Zealand is well known for in the wine world. In fact, one might say the two are synonymous. To say New Zealand has made Sauvignon Blanc great again is a gross understatement. In fact, that country has made it outstanding! Although this grape is not originally from that country, the soils, climate, and people have worked with it and made it one of the most well-known and sought-after wines of the world. The people behind Location Wines have done justice to New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc.  Sourced from old vines of Wairau, Awatere and Waihopai valleys, its lovely pale color is just the tip of the sensory journey as you relish this wine. Pour a glass and breathe in all that the wine has to offer which is heavy on the heady tropical aromas for this wine. Take a sip or two and you’ll be enticed by the lusciously overwhelming ripe fruit flavors of peach and passionfruit. There is an intense tart lemon finish with a touch of herbal notes.  Want to try the experience again?  Buy a bottle or two or three and repeat. Feel blessed that they are still for sale at your popular wine shop. There is still ample opportunity to enjoy!

www.locationswine.com

Red Blend – NV; Nolan Creek Winery; Belton, Texas

This red wine blend of 50% Syrah and 50% Mourvèdre is well balanced with lively acids. Chocolate, blackberries and vanilla are the dominate notes. It is full bodied and quite aromatic. It will leave your mouth coated with tannins for a satisfying finish. It is no wonder that this wine won the bronze medal at the 2014 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo International Wine Competition. NV, but the wine log shows we picked up this bottle in April of 2014. A few years of aging has done well for this one. It is quite a pleaser and will catch the attention of many who enjoy drinking good red wines. Sadly, the winery is no more, but good memories can linger on longer than the tannins!

Albariño – 2013; Wedding Oak Winery; Burnet, Texas

This Spanish style white wine is equally pleasing to look at as it is to taste! Six years of aging has turned this Albariño into a richer more enticing color. There is still the essence of nectarine aroma, but most have tapered off over time. The flavors still are bold with bright lemon notes being the most pronounced.  We can see why this wine had numerous medal wins including Double Gold Medal and Best Albariño recognition at the 35^th annual San Francisco International Wine Competition in 2015. It is still quite a showcase in and of itself and pairs well with seafood dishes. Check out Wedding Oak’s newest tasting room in Burnet and enjoy their newest releases! Although this bottle is not currently being sold at the winery, there are other Albariño vintages that are, and we suggest you stop by and give this wine a try as you explore their tasting menu. Cheers!

www.weddingoakwinery.com