Blanc de Noirs Brut – 2013; Ridgeview Wine Estate; Sussex, United Kingdom

British bubbly? But of course!  The southern part of England has proven to be a great wine region and traditional method sparkling from there has been great.  This sparkling is a blend of 55% Pinot Meunier, 45% Pinot Noir.  It has a deep golden yellow hue to it for starters. This is followed by aromas that explode with intense apple and raspberry notes. Sip once, sip twice, sip some more, and your palate will discern that distinct citrus and pear flavor. The acids are medium, and this bubbly has a decent long finish. There is just a bit of nuttiness to add to the tasting twist and small not overpowering bubbles to please your senses. Cheers to all!

www.ridgeview.co.uk

Orange Muscat – 2015; Newsom Vineyards; Comfort, Texas

Well it is undeniable. We all know how notorious the summer heat can get in Texas and many times it sneaks up on us early!  A chilled thirst quencher is a must in your wine stash and this orange Muscat surely hits the spot.  The notes of citrus, mandarin, and honeysuckle transport you to that relaxed state and get you dreaming about tropical breezes and summertime fun. At first sip, you will find this wine quite refreshing - slightly off-dry and not super sweet.  Notes of apricot and slight citrus delight the palate for this medium bodied wine.  Acids have tapered off a bit since we first tasted it, so this wine is drinking quite nicely now.  Stay cool, wine friends!

www.newsomvineyards.com

La Cuvée De Cantegral – 2012; Calais Winery; Hye, Texas

We have had a few good Cabernet Francs from Texas in the past, but this one has certainly been a more satisfying one. This wine is produced with fruit sourced from Newsom Vineyards of the Texas High Plains AVA.  Be prepared to let this wine breathe for at least 90 minutes.  Even at 45 minutes, it was still tight.  Once you have endured the patience of letting it breathe, you will be rewarded with rich notes of cherries, raspberries, olives, and a touch of pepper. The acids are lively in this one, so expect that added sensation on your palate. The finish on this bottle has a nice smokiness plus a touch of nutmeg.  The tannins are moderate with a nice long-lasting finish. Pair this one with a nice meaty meal but save room for the cheese plate as well since both do well with this bottle. There are still many great years still left for this bottle to cellar, so save those extra bottles for future indulging. Santé!

www.calaiswinery.com

OR-4 – NV; Locations Wine; Oregon

Pinot Noir lovers, this one is for you!  Sourced from “Pinot Noir country” (Willamette Valley AVA), this red wine has everything you have always appreciated about Pinot Noir and more. The hue is a semi translucent purple as you admire this one poured into the glass. It is quite aromatic with bold notes of cherries and strawberries with just a touch of pepper. Your palate will be invaded by the additional notes of thyme and tobacco with excellent earth undertones. Best of all, it ends off with a mouth smacking spicy finish.  Absolutely delicious and a job well done on this one. We were thoroughly pleased and kept saying how much we genuinely enjoyed this bottle. The only thing left to say is, “More please!”

www.locationswine.com

Round Mountain Reserve – 2012; Lewis Wines; Johnson City, Texas

The Round Mountain wine brand from Lewis Wines has always been a real top-quality treat. This 2012 reserve vintage continues that reputation. Round Mountain Vineyard in the Texas Hill Country AVA has focused on Portuguese varietals. This 2012 release is a blend of 53% Tempranillo, 26% Tinto Cão and 21% Touriga Nacional. The deep cherry red hue is the first part of the pleasure in enjoying what this bottle has to offer. This is complimented by cherry aromas as you take in that first inhale. This full-bodied wine then unfolds with a bit of smokiness and cocoa notes on the palate. The acids are bright, so bring on that fatty meat dish for this wine. The tannins are still holding firm on this eight-year-old bottle.  Give it a couple of years for the acids to tone down a bit more and see how it progresses.  If you have saved any bottles, we toast to you and hope you enjoy!

www.lewiswines.com

Blanc du Bois – 2015; Majek Vineyard & Winery; Moravia, Texas

The full potential for this varietal is still in the making, but it has definitely found a niche in Texas sparkling wine. “Sealed” with a bottle cap is one unique feature you will notice and get a kick out of with this wine. Obviously, they have ensured there will be no chance of tainted cork for these bottles! This bottle has been sitting around for five years, so how is it you say? Simply, great!  This bottle has a softer feel, so you will taste more tropical fruit with kiwi and peaches. The deep pale straw color is just a sign of aging, but the aromas of apples and mango are still intact. It is dry yet provides a slightly sweet sensory profile.  A great successor to the 2014 vintage and very nicely done. Generally, no need to hold this type of wine this long, but just in case you forgot one in the back of the wine cellar, you know you can still pop the top and enjoy. Cheers!

www.lewiswines.com

Perseverance – 2015; Wines of Dotson-Cervantes; Voca, Texas

Is it hot out there yet?  No worries, for this refreshing white blend from Dotson-Cervantes is just the thing to help keep your mind distracted while your body endures the heat.  Alphonse tells a great story of how these vines recovered from an accidental herbicide dose, hence, the origin of the name.  A travel worthy trip you should make to visit with him and his wife. A blend of 75% Muscat Canelli, 5% Moscato, 13% Malvasia Bianco, 7% Chardonnay from the Texas Hill Country AVA. You may sense some sweetness, but it is more on the dry side. On the nose is honeysuckle, yet it is crisp with lovely citrus notes to help transport you to a tropical relaxation mode. And yes, you will “ahhh” after the first sip. So, repeating is not a sin. If you have not tried any Dotson-Cervantes wines yet, what are you waiting for? Get some and enjoy!

dotsoncervanteswines.com

Alluvé – 2012; Kuhlman Cellars; Stonewall, Texas

You never forget that first love…that first bottle of wine from a new winery that you absolutely cannot do without. Even back when we picked up a bottle or “two” when Kuhlman first opened, we knew this wine was age worthy and would be exceedingly delicious to open in the future. Well, patience has paid off with vibrant flavors and aromas of joy! Sourced from Sonoma County, this blend of 59% Carignan, 22% Petite Syrah, and 19% Grenache shows some great complexity and depth. A minimum of an hour of decanting is a must if you want to experience what “opening up” really is with this sensational wine. Eight years in the bottle and it still has a beautiful deep purple/dusty color. Smell those delightful blackberry and plum aromas to help prepare your palate for the tasting sensations that await.  You will reward that long wait with some bold raspberry flavors, complimented by rich coffee notes.  A touch of leather is also present and quite nice with a velvet finish to top off the icing on the cake! This is sheer elegance in a bottle.  This one is drinking nicely yet still could cellar a bit longer if you like. Ready for the sequel posting in 2022?  We look forward to popping that next bottle’s cork in the future and seeing how things compare. Santé, Santé, AND SANTÉ!

www.kuhlmancellars.com

Corse – NV; Locations Wine; France

Ah…wines from Corsica!  It can be a delightful treat to have a good one if you are not familiar with the region.  This white wine featured by Locations Wine is a Vermentino.  A light yellow with a touch of green in color, it expresses some intense floral noted on the nose.  On the palate, you will discern pleasant notes of apples, basil, apricot, and citrus. It is a bit more on the acidic side than most Vermentinos but does not overpower the overall mouthfeel.  This vermentino does express some great minerality. Since it is from Corsica, Santé and Cin Cin!

www.locationswine.com

Brunello di Montalcino – 2008; Andreucci Wines; Fredericksburg, Texas

Who does not like a great Tuscany wine?  If you have had one from the Brunello di Montalcino region, then you know you have had a top-notch wine from one of Italy’s finest appellations.  We picked up this bottle at the Andreucci tasting room in Fredericksburg, Texas. The fact that we got to taste it was perhaps a miracle in of itself. Nevertheless, greatness has been bestowed upon this wine.  The visual appeal of the ruby rich colored pour is just the beginning. You will be overwhelmed and seduced by the notes of intense wild fruit, blackberries, and plums.  Just wait for the subtle touch of pepper to kick in soon after and you will be quite pleased with this full-bodied beauty. Enjoy the tobacco notes as you round out the finish. Only twelve years old and still young. One can give this bottle another 10-15 years to really unfold. A red sauced pasta pairing is nice complement to this beautiful and stunning wine! Cin Cin!

www.vinoandreucci.com

Mourvèdre – 2014; Rivenburgh Wine; Texas Hill Country

Next to Tempranillo, Mourvèdre just might have found its new home in Texas, as well. To say this grape grows well in the hill country is an understatement because you cannot say that without commenting on the fantastic wine you get from this varietal grown in the state.  Sourced from Reddy Vineyards of the Texas High Plains AVA, this light colored Mourvèdre is one of John Rivenburgh’s first releases under the Rivenburgh brand. It still has lots of fresh fruit aroma after six years in the bottle. On the palate, bright plums and rich cranberries are the predominant notes. There is a touch of tobacco that kicks in after a few seconds for this moderately tannic wine.  Some tartness, but who cares. This wine has a lot to offer the wine drinker who experiences and enjoys it.  We happened to pair ours with a delicious beef dish and thoroughly enjoyed it. Well done Rivenburgh and we look forward to featuring more of your wines in the future.

www.facebook.com/RivenburghWine

Bad Mother – 2014; William Chris Vineyards; Hye, Texas

This red wine blend from William Chris Winemakers’ Series has helped create some interesting competition among the winemakers at this winery and broadened the variety of similar blends produced with just a little different variation based on each winemaker. This bottle was produced by Chris Brundrett. As the name implies, Bad Mother, its certainly one wine that has something bold to it. This blend of Merlot 48%, Ruby Cabernet 48%, Mourvèdre 4% certainly does not hold anything back. It is full of fruit forward aromas and bright acids for sure. In fact, the acids in this red wine blend demand a good fatty meat feast or heavy cheese plate to compliment. On its own, sipping with this one would not do justice so pair well. Besides the visual color of the wine, the label will certainly catch your attention. Time will likely smooth out this creative blend and be enjoyable all over again. We shall see what the future brings with the next bottle we open. For now, you can pair with something rich and meaty, or store for a bit longer and see what more unfolds. Cheers!

www.williamchriswines.com