Monday, August 31, 2020

Souzao – NV; Bending Branch Winery; Comfort, Texas

 Although this Portuguese varietal is often associated with port wines or blending, some wineries have shown that this grape can be made into an outstating single varietal wine.  This Bending Branch version is a testament to how fine wine can be made from Souzao.  Sourced from Silvaspoons Vineyards of the Lodi region, this red wine explodes with bold deep flavors that you might have thought were exclusive to other typical red wines. It can be tart at first, but just letting it breathe for a good hour will take care of that. This wine has some great acid levels that lend to perfect meal pairings with meaty dishes and proteins. Even at just 12.5% alcohol, the balance and character of this wine is amazing. Some fantastic blackberry notes will envelope your senses followed by some tobacco.  There is just a touch of cocoa towards the end complimented by that classic long-lasting finish. This is a bottle worth savoring and enjoying with a nice meal. You will want more, so stock up well on this one in your cellar.  Cheers!




Friday, August 28, 2020

Kalasi Cellars; Fredericksburg, Texas

 The newest adventures of Nikhila Narra and Gregg Davis at Kalasi Cellars is their latest endeavor into all things grape and wine in Texas.  Having already established themselves as one of the top-quality growers of Texas grapes, the expectations of their own line of wines has been eagerly awaited. Although this is her first big step into the Texas winery business, Nikhila is certainly no stranger to the wine industry. Having experience in wine making at Cakebread Cellars in Napa Valley as well as wine certification from UC Davis AND a Texas Tech viticulture certification, her credentials are only matched by her inspiration and enthusiasm for this big dream.  Like his wife, Gregg has jumped all into this new business with enthusiasm and is not looking back. With experience in business management practices, he can help foster growth and success for this new bright star that recently opened. At 3300 feet in the Texas High Plains AVA, the Davis’s have been setting the bar on sustainable and quality grape growing practices for six years at Narra Vineyards. In 2014, they started with 20 acres of Albariño, Roussanne, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, and Sangiovese vines. Since then, they have expanded to almost 117 acres including not only Tannat and Tempranillio, but also Malvasia Bianca, Viognier, Petit Verdot, and Cabernet Franc as well as some “rising grape stars” like Carménère, Sagrantino, and Teroldego. And as if that is not enough, they have started a new vineyard on their Texas Hill Country estate with freshly planted Teroldego last May. WOW…right? Using low yielding practices, the quality of each grape varietal at both vineyards will continue to be highly sought after by winemakers. Their commitment to a holistic approach to winemaking is unwavering and you can taste the difference in their inaugural wine releases. There are six wines to try in the fresh new hill country tasting room. The first line of wines to try are called the Heritage Collection. This represents the more common and traditional wines that everybody knows and loves. For the 2018 Roussanne, this stainless-steel aged wine does have a deep golden color and a well-rounded mouthfeel. The “newbie” on the rack is a 2019 Sparkling Muscat. This wine has just a touch of CO2 and was bottle aged for 6-months, giving it a pleasant tingling sensation along with honeysuckle notes that dance and delight across the palate. A great wine for spicy foods or a great summer sipper. Moving on to the reds!  The 2018 Sangiovese was aged 18 months in neutral oak. It has good depth, character, great raspberry flavors, and is smooth. Got Malbec?  This 2017 release is a big pleaser. It has a medium bodied texture, with cocoa, and cherry notes, making this bold wine a winner!  The other two reds are part of their Reincarnated line. These seldom seen and grown grapes in Texas may not be so rare once Nikhila and Greg show the Texas wine world how they can be grown and crafted into great wines. You certainly may have had some good Carménère from Chile, but this “lost grape” explodes with beautiful berry structures and a touch of paprika. Have never heard of Teroldego?  This Italian varietal has certainly found a new home here at Kalasi Cellars. With vanilla and tobacco notes, this very deep dark rich red wine will certainly rival many traditional well-known reds.  Bring on that locally sourced fatty aged steak for pairing!  It goes without saying that this 100% estate and Texas grown fruit is working out quite nicely for this new winery. On the wine horizon will be a Rosé Tannat and a Sagritora – yum and YUM! It was great being there for their opening weekend and we hope to visit again and enjoy spending a bit of time on the patio. They are a great young couple to chat with and they certainly have their hearts and passions in the right place.  Do plan to stop by! They have a kitchen, so stop in for lunch and a tasting or snacks and a tasting. We think you will be incredibly pleased with the wines and glad you visited. Enjoy!



Wednesday, August 26, 2020

Verdelho – 2017; Lewis Wines; Johnson City, Texas

This white Portuguese varietal just might have found its new home in Texas.  As a single varietal dry white wine, it demonstrates the potential to produce top notch wine.  Sourced from the former Tio Pancho Ranch Vineyard (now Bear Vineyard) of the Texas Hill Country AVA, this white wine explodes with bright acids and a clean crisp sensation. A little over three years old, it is still relatively clear with a slight pale-yellow tint. The floral notes can be intense but balance out well with flavors of melon and peach. Just a touch of oiliness to the tongue, but that’s just part of its unique character.  A great long memorable finish will keep you sipping for more throughout the hot summer days. We thoroughly enjoyed this bottle chilled making it even more refreshing on a hot summer evening. Problem is, people love this one so much, few bottles linger this long in many cellars. Enjoy!


www.lewiswines.com


Monday, August 24, 2020

House Wife (Malvasia Bianca) – NV; Farmhouse Vineyards; Johnson City, Texas

 This 100% Malvasia Bianca has everything beautiful in it and really pleases. This 375ml bottle packs a lot of great sensation in such a small bottle. This semi-sweet wine strikes a great balance - a dry feel, yet a light sweet touch. The aromas are full of orange and jasmine. The citrus notes are light and not overpowering and transition into a smooth flavor of pear with a very lush mouthfeel.  When chilled, this Texas High Plains fruit makes a great summer pleaser during those triple digit days. This is such a sexy little sweet wine for easy sipping with small bits or dessert or enjoying on its own to cap off a great meal. Nice job Farmhouse team! We will be looking for more.


www.farmhousevineyard.com

Saturday, August 22, 2020

Kuhlmanation Roussanne – 2017; Kuhlman Cellars; Stonewall, Texas

 This white wine was one of the inaugural releases from the Kuhlman estate vineyards.  Bottom line, nothing short of greatness here. Just demonstrates what fabulous wine can be made from fruit grown on the Texas Hill Country HWY 290 corridor and Hill Country AVA.  As a silver medal award winner in the 2018 Lone Star International Wine Competition, this 2017 Roussanne still flourishes with fantastic flavors.  It delivers on honeysuckle, citrus, and apricot notes all bundled together with a touch of mango on the finish. Yes, you can say, “Wow” after sipping this lovely wine! In addition, did we mention that the acids are also holding up nicely on this one and balancing out the fruit very well. It is an age worthy white that can still cellar a bit longer if you saved any bottles. Santé!

www.kuhlmancellars.com

Thursday, August 20, 2020

Merican – 2005; Chaddsford Winery; Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania

 

This Bordeaux like wine is an amazing jewel to have in your cellar. This blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot shows great balance and texture. After 15 years of captivity, the color shows almost no browning.  After waiting an hour or so for the wine to fully breathe, that first pour explodes with intense raspberry aromas. The dominant flavors are plums and intense mocha with a touch of tobacco on the finish. A nice long lingering finish as well demands a big smile after that first sip. This is a well-made Bordeaux style blend for a New World wine and could still age for many years to come.  A top-quality wine demands a top-notch meat pairing, so do not be shy about serving this treat with a lovely grilled steak or bold burger. This gem is designed to be enjoyed with food so dig in and enjoy! Cheers!


www.chaddsford.com

Tuesday, August 18, 2020

Touriga National – 2014; Compass Rose Cellars; Hye, Texas

 Touriga Nacional…a Portuguese varietal that has seems to have found a footing in the ever-expanding line up of grapes being grown and bottled in the Texas wine industry.  Sourced from Robert Clay Vineyards in Mason County, this red wine has all its tannins and acids well intact.  A good 45 minutes of breathing is must just to get started with this one. Even at that, plan on a good 4-5 hours to enjoy the ever-evolving notes as this wine continues to express itself.  Dark cherries will be the first thing that comes to mind from the initial aroma on the nose. That will linger a bit as you sip and find notes of dark chocolate and sage.  The tannins and acids are quite intense yet balance out with the right food pairing.  A dense finish ends off this big wine’s journey.  A very enjoyable red wine, indeed! If you happen to still have a bottle in your cellar, it still can cellar a bit more if you desire. Unfortunately, this winery is no longer in business, so you will be hard pressed to locate more bottles. Cheers and hats off to this former winery and their work on this lovely bottle.



Wednesday, August 12, 2020

Malvasia Bianca – 2017; Texas Heritage Vineyard; Fredericksburg, Texas

 Delicious!  One word says it all with this Narra Vineyards sourced fruit. It pours a pale-yellow hue for starters. As you begin to admire this loveliness in the glass you get the intoxicating smell of orange blossoms followed by tropical fruit notes. Flavors of kiwi and peaches surround your palate on this Texas High Plains AVA creation.  Good minerality and moderate acidity will round things out followed by a light finish.  This is a good refreshing treat to have on a scorching summer day! An ideal pairing for fish tacos or sushi and salads. Savor your sips and live well!



Monday, August 10, 2020

Merlot Portina – NV; La Buena Vida Vineyards; Springtown, Texas

Three words: yum, Yum, and YUM!  Ok, guess that is four words with the “and”.  Nevertheless, this classic port style wine from the legendary La Buena Vida Vineyards is a bit lighter than most ports, but packs lots of fruit flavors. Made from Merlot and fortified at 17%, it is smooth, rich, and full of berry flavors to fully coat your tongue. We noted that our raspberry and chocolate dessert seemed to pair quite nicely with this 375ml treat.  No worries about drinking this bottle now or continuing to save for later, as this one will still last many years to come. So, whether your celebration is now or later, this little Portina makes a fine option. Might not be easy to find any bottles, but if you have any in the cellar you should be pleased with this beauty. Cheers!



Friday, August 7, 2020

Cabernet Sauvignon – 2009; Bell Mountain Vineyards; Fredericksburg, Texas

 A piece of Texas wine history all in one bottle!  As one of the earliest Texas wineries to be founded, it is a special treat to enjoy one of their wines, regardless of the vintage. This Cabernet Sauvignon is no exception. The deep red color on the initial pour shows little if any signs of color change with age.  Breathe in those first few aromas of cherries, and you recognize this wine has aged well and is still going to be a delicious treat after all this wait. This dry and easy drinking red wine still retains notes of blackberry and a bit of strawberry as well. The tannins have mellowed through the years for this medium bodied beauty but retain sufficient power to provide that pleasant finish you expect in a well-aged red wine.  It has excellent balance with some earthy undertones, too.  This wine is holding up perfectly and could amazingly continue to cellar longer. History and great wine are what all good cellars deserve.  Enjoy!


Wednesday, August 5, 2020

Tempranillo – 2014; Rivenburgh Wine; Texas Hill Country

This Newsom Vineyards sourced fruit has been enhanced at least tenfold in this beautifully handcrafted wine! The aromas of dark cherries are just the beginning of what is to come in this rich and lush tasting wine. Blueberries are the predominant flavors that will dance across the palate. The fruit is enhanced with a touch of pepper that is present in this treat that is blessed with soft tannins. This medium bodied wine has a lovely rich flavor that lingers a bit and is quite nice for sipping on its own or paired with a meal. After six years, it is aging quite well and still has many years left for further aging and future enjoyment. Cheers!




Monday, August 3, 2020

Kuhlmanation White – 2017; Kuhlman Cellars; Stonewall, Texas

This first estate release is nothing short of an outstanding and refreshing white wine blend!  Planted in 2015, this blend of 60% Marsanne/40% Roussanne still maintains a light straw color even after the first tasting event back in 2018.  It is quite aromatic with intense notes of lemongrass, but not overpowering for this silver medal winner at the Lyon International Wine Competition. There is a pleasant coating of acidity on your taste buds after that first sip, but even better are the flavors of melon, accented with a bit of lemon and mango that provides an additional “pop-up” flavor to round out the lovely profile of this beauty.  An excellent smooth finish completes the tasting experience. Have any extra bottles is what you will be asking yourself as you enjoy this one.  This wine is still a keeper for a few more years in the cellar. Cheers to an outstanding and exceptional white wine blend!




Saturday, August 1, 2020

Cabernet Sauvignon – 1995; Pheasant Ridge Winery; Lubbock, Texas

Behold!  Living proof that Texas reds can age 20 – 30 + years. The great history behind Pheasant Ridge and the work Bobby Cox has done for the wine industry is a novel in and of itself. But on to that wine!  Just to have this wine is a blessing, to taste this wine is an incredibly special treat, to enjoy the whole bottle and blab about its well-deserved bragging rights is a super-joy. This 25-year-old intense red wine has a lot of character packed in this bottle. As a grape varietal of the Texas High Plains AVA, the Cabernet Sauvignon wine is still maintaining good acidity. Notes of apricot and prunes are still prevalent after two decades. Fruit flavors are still intact with a wonderful blueberry note. The tannins are well balanced and do not overpower the fruit flavors. There is a bit of earthiness and dustiness to round it out on the finish. There is a slight mustiness in the aroma but does not detract from the overall experience.  This wonderful bottle can still cellar longer if you have any left. Cheers!!