Siboney Cellars – Texas Hill Country

A little bit of patience and a lot of hard work can make awesome dreams come true.  And so, it goes for owners Barbara and Miguel Lecuona. You may know Miguel from his work at Hill Country Light where his photography work can be found at a number of fine Hill Country wineries. Together with Barbara, who earned her winemaking certificate through the Texas Tech program, they have ventured into this ever evolving and rapidly expanding Texas wine world. First, let’s get the pronunciation right - See-Bo-NAY.  Second, you’ll get a great back story on the winery name when you visit with them and then better understand why it’s a perfect match for their winery.  The name is one of Cuba’s great love songs and yes, it was written by one of Miguel’s relatives! How cool is that? The name also reflects a coastal village on the far south end of Cuba.  The current tasting room location is at Hawk Shadow Winery in Dripping Springs. Grapes are sourced from the Texas Hill Country and Texas High Plains AVA with focus on Rhone and Bordeaux varietals. Barbara has made some great tasting wines with her initial selections. We tried five wines for our first visit. Starting with the whites, was the 2017 Hot Shot. A blend of 50% Viognier and 50% Roussanne, you’ll get the strength of the Viognier complimented with the full bright flavors of the Roussanne. A nicely balanced blend. Next up, was the 2018 Sauvignon Blanc.  This Sauv Blanc hit the high marks! Sourced from Nara Vineyards, it packs great flavor of lime and peaches. Their 2018 Rosé is made from Mourvèdre from Lahey Vineyards.  It has moderate acids, dark color, full of dark fruit flavor and a hint of toasted pecan on the finish. We loved it. For the reds, we sampled the 2017 Travis. Sourced from Hoover Valley Vineyards, this 90% Mourvèdre and 10% Syrah has bright acids, plums favors and a hint of oregano. It will be interesting to try again in 2-3 years. Timing is everything, and we were fortunate to taste (and buy) some of the last 2017 Nebbiolo.  Also sourced from Lahey Vineyards, this wine is reminiscent of Pinot Noir (difficult to grow in Texas). As a special treat we were given a sample of the ‘in-the-bottle-yet-to-be-released-and-named’ red blend.  We won’t spoil the secret of this blend before release, but let’s just say Barbara has done justice and we will be back for some of these! On the horizon will be a 2017 Tempranillo from Newsom Vineyards and a Zinfandel port, which sounds very interesting. These new releases were impressive.  You may have noticed the bud break symbol on the labels.  It is from a bud break on 40-year-old vines from Bordeaux that Miguel photographed. In 2020, the Lecuonas hope to be at their new permanent location on a 52-acre lot adjacent to the west of Lewis Wines near Johnson City.  They are a great and creative couple to get to know and you can see how their heart and soul and passion is all in this new chapter of their life.  We have no doubt that their work will have a big impact on how “Texas Terroir” will eventually be defined and we can hardly wait to see and sample their future releases. Welcome and Saluté!

www.siboneycellars.com

Alicante Bouschet; 1851 Vineyards; Fredericksburg, Texas

This is one of the first releases for 1851 Vineyards.  First impressions are everything and this Alicante Bouschet does not disappoint!  Sourced from St Jorge Vineyard of Alta Mesa AVA, the beautiful deep purple color is enticing and tantalizing. Inhale the fruit forward aromas and brace yourself for some beautiful flavors. It’s rich in chocolate, leather, and berries with a hint of spice and vanilla. This beautiful wine has a soothing long finish with a touch of tobacco on this full body red wine. It does improve over time, so after allowing this one to breathe for couple of hours everything improves!  Enjoy with what you wish but savor it in increments through the evening as it just keeps evolving. Cheers!

www.1851vineyards.com

Cervene Vino Rosso – 2013; Moravia Vineyards and Winery; Schulenburg, Texas

This Black Spanish (aka Lenoir) blend brings out the best qualities and character of this grape. Sometimes it can be a challenge to decide what to do with this grape varietal, but Moravia has elevated this grape to the next level. Admiring good wine legs is always a treat and this red wine does not disappoint. On the nose, aromas of plums, cedar, and pepper are pronounced. Decanting for at least an hour or more helped enhance the bold flavors of blackberry, cherry, and some currant. It’s medium acidity and medium body are still intact. Six years of aging has softened this wine and made it quite palatable for all. Moravia’s Black Spanish is worth the trip and sip. Cheers!

www.moraviavineyard.com

Saint Tryphon Farm & Vineyards – Boerne, Texas

Over the rocky roads and thru the countryside trees, to a new great winery destination we go! Great wine and great food will always bring good people together. Quintessentially, Saint Tryphon Farm & Vineyards is but one more fine example of someone daring to live the Texas Hill Country winery dream and proving it can be done in Boerne. Named after the 3^rd century Christian Saint of all things related to wine and gardening, Saint Tryphon, owners Silouan and Mary Elizabeth Bradford have taken to heart what crafting great grapes from the land can do for producing wonderful wines.  Impressed by Napa wineries, travels to Europe, and sound advice from local area winemaker Lewis Dickson, their dreams began to take root in 2013 with the purchase of their property in Boerne soon followed by Blanc du Bois vines being planted on the estate in 2016.  The winery, which opened to the public in February 2018, has been serving some well-crafted wines to many happy wine lovers.  They specialize in using natural wine fermenting techniques.  Silouan’s winemaking style has yielded some incredible natural and great tasting selections.  Most grapes are sourced from Farmhouse Vineyards from the Texas High Plains AVA.  There are currently five wines for tasting. We started with the 2018 Albariño. Sourced from Newsom Vineyards, it had lovely notes of floral and melons. Their 2019 Mourvedre Rosé…wow! You will love the petals on the nose and watermelon notes with a very pretty color. For the first red, we tried the 2017 Mourvedre which is quite fruit forward and packing plum and cherry notes. The 2018 Tempranillo, sourced from Newsom Vineyards, is spicy with big acids, bold flavors, and a tantalizing fine finish. Like bubbly? No problem! Their 2018 Pét-Nat style sparkling is made from Orange Muscat with honeysuckle on the nose and tropical notes and citrus to delight the senses. Want more tastings?  For sale but not on the tasting menu is the 2017 Blanc du Bois and 2018 Cinsaut Rosé. There are a few new wines coming out soon: a Tannat, an Aglianco blend, and another Cinsaut creation. Whether you choose the indoor or outdoor seating for your tasting, both have the right ambiance for sipping and taking it easy as you relax and enjoy your wines with your visit. The pool and big oak tree to the south makes a lovely picturesque scene as you look out over the Hill Country. It’s a bit of a winding road to get there, but you will be well rewarded with great hospitality and great wine for your efforts. Cheers!

www.sainttryphon.com

Sangiovese – 2009; McPherson Cellars; Lubbock, Texas

It’s a new decade and new refreshing year for wine tasting. Much has changed in Texas wines over the last decade but looking back at this 2009 Sangiovese one can see the great work being done back then. Surprisingly, not much color has faded from this 10-year-old bottle of wine. The light red translucent color still provides a visually appealing color. There are still notes of fresh berry on the nose. As you sip this lovely wine you get some cherry flavors and a very smooth body. There is just a touch of earthiness and very mild tannins on the finish. This was a great first bottle to open for 2020 and a great way to start off the New Year! Cheers to another wonderful year of wine tasting adventures!

www.mcphersoncellars.com