11-year Anniversary!

Yes, it is an understatement to say, “What a year”!  Although the pandemic had curtailed our typical wine travels, it did open the door to trying out a good number of unique wines from our wine cellar that we might not have pulled out yet. Trying the 2006 Inwood Estates Magellan was a big treat and thrill! The last year was also an opportunity to try out Picpoul Blanc from several different Texas wineries. All the wines were quite fantastic, and that variety shows a lot of promise for the state.  We also sipped some British bubblies which were quite remarkable. It was fun to try something new.  And let’s not forget some top-notch Cava from Gramona. 😊  We do have a very nice 2007 Cava from there yet to be “sampled” and who knows what next year will bring. 😉  Hands down, it was the year of 2017 for Texas wine sampling and sipping at our place. Probably most of the wines posted were that vintage and all were excellent. Maybe we should setup a dedicated 2017 Texas wine blog…hmmm.  Fortune did favor the wine travelers and we were able to visit a few new wineries as things got back to “sort of” normal. It’s a much better and happier experience to engage with owners and staff once again.  There is no substitute for meeting new people and hearing their stories one-on-one while sipping their hand-crafted creations. Thanks for all the comments, shares, and suggestions.  Regardless of the trials, tribulations and challenges that Mother Nature and Global Pandemic throw in our way, we still have a lot of wine bottles to taste, write about and share with you.  We are truly in this together. Cheers to a better year to come!

Pinot Noir – NV; Cork House Winery; Waxahachie, Texas

This easy drinking Pinot Noir from Cork House Winery is a nice treat to have in your wine cellar when you want to enjoy a Pinot Noir. It is soft and smooth with good fruity aromas of blackberries on the nose. The medium bodied red wine will also throw in some rich cherries and a touch of spice to the merriment of your palate.  We would suggest chilling this one just a tad bit as it will make for a very enjoyable sipper to enjoy on a warm afternoon, as well. A nice find and hope you will give it a try. Cheers!

www.corkhousewinery.com

Chloe Cuvée – NV; Bending Branch Winery; Comfort, Texas

Named after the owner’s granddaughter, this undisclosed blend will delight all your wine senses in just the right ways. The unique glass stopper on the bottles is the first clue that this bottle has had a special attention to detail that top quality deserves. As you pour the first glass, you notice a deep rich garnet color that is exceptionally pleasing. This special family blend really entices and rewards with big dark fruit, leather, and jam. Oh yes, there is a hint of coca that lingers on the end, as well.  At 15% alcohol, the wine does seem well balanced without any “hot” sensation. This full-bodied red beauty shines with firm tannins to let you know that it is still maturating well. A simply lovely and well crafted wine to enjoy. Well done and Cheers!

www.bendingbranchwinery.com

Nevina's Vineyard Pinot Noir – 2016 – Furthermore Wines; Sebastopol, California

Any dedicated Pinot Noir lover will want to embrace this lovely red wine with everything they have. Sourced from the Sonoma Coast AVA, this deep garnet hued gem will unfold with some very intense dark fruit aromas with a touch of lavender on the nose. The cranberry flavors will provide that delightful treat your tastebuds are longing for, and the touch of licorice will tease you with a slight sweet feel. This medium bodied beautiful masterpiece will not disappoint Pinot lovers. This is an extremely enjoyable sipper, but also pairs nicely with food. Savor every sip!

www.furthermorewines.com

Heath Sparkling Wines – Fredericksburg, Texas

Sparkling wine from Texas is nothing new, but they have been gaining more traction in recent years. Many long-time wine fans of Grape Creek Vineyards might remember that “little known” 2013 Sparkling released many moons ago.  A couple of years ago though, that sparkling endeavor and dream, gave birth to what is now Heath Sparkling Wines.  You will be captivated by the buildings sleek hip architecture and open floor plan.  The full view of the estate vineyards is a great backdrop to have when tasting or sipping the bubblies outside.  Of course, the real show here are the sparkling wines. Made in the Méthode Champenoise way, grapes are sourced from the Hill Country estate as well as their Texas High Plains vineyard partners. Patience is everything with these jewels from the initial cuvée to secondary fermentation. You can expect these bottles to wait 2-3 years before they land in your sipping glass.   Currently, there are four sparkling wines for tasting. Each are paired with a different cheese bite to compliment the tasting experience. First up is the Blanc de Blancs. Made from Chardonnay, this brut style bubbly is clean and crisp with notes of delicious apples and a mouthful of delightful bubbles plus an ever so slight sweet sensation.  The 2018 Euphoria is a blend of 75% Chenin Blanc and 25% Trebbiano. The pale straw color and medium sized bubbles is a great eye catcher in addition to the long-lasting lingering flavors of peaches and melons.  Next in the lineup is the 2017 Ebullience.  It is an old style ramato wine blended with 88% Pinot Grigio and 8% Chenin Blanc. It has a golden color and slight oakiness to it. With medium bubbles, grapefruit will pleasantly greet you with a slight tartness for this extra brut sparkling.  To finish this fantastic tasting, is the 2018 Adoration. Blended with 88% Pinot Noir and 12% Chardonnay, the rose-pink hue, moderate bubbles, and refreshing floral notes will be a great pleaser to finish this delightful tasting.  The staff here a great, knowledgeable, and helpful as they take you thru your journey and show you the bottling experience on the state of art display screens at every tasting bar. They are only exceeded by the quality of the sparkling wines served. International wine competition wins have certainly helped elevate the respectability of what Texas can do with sparkling wine. If you have not stopped in for a visit yet, you should. This is a fantastic venue, with a great team and a beautiful product to share. Come by and enjoy the new wines and meet new friends. Cheers!

www.heathsparkling.com

Malbec – 2017; William & Chris Wines; Hye, Texas

At 14.2% alcohol, this bold 2017 vintage from the Texas High Plains has a lot going for it.  Picked from Tony’s block at Lost Draw Vineyards, the deep plum red color and bright cranberry aromas are very enticing as you pour that first glass. On your palate, you will discern some well rounded cherry and raspberry flavors followed by a touch of pepper. It is relatively smooth and easy drinking. With moderate acids and tannins, this medium bodied red wine will please the body and soul and tickle the taste buds with delight. An excellent wine to sip and pair with food. Enjoy and “Cheers!”

www.williamchriswines.com

Bloomsbury Brut – 2014; Ridgeview Wine Estate; Sussex, United Kingdom

This estate blend of 58% Chardonnay, 28% Pinot Noir, 14% Pinot Meunier is a delightful bubbly to enjoy. With the light golden color and marvelous aromas of citrus and peaches, it will not take long to transport you to that bubbly happy place.  Flavors of apples and nuts will dance around your palate mingling with the bright acids.  That clean and crisp “ah” comes after that first enjoyable sip only tempting you back for more.  This excellent ’14 sipper has aged quite gracefully. Hats off to English bubbles.  Cheers!

www.ridgeview.co.uk

Picpoul Blanc – 2019; French Connection Wines; Hye, Texas

Picpoul Blanc has been one of the more recent rising star of white wines in Texas. This fantastic creation really demonstrates how well this southern French grape does in Texas.  Sourced from the Texas High Plains AVA, the very pale-yellow color and zesty citrus aromas really shine through on this wine.  You might discern the aroma of apples on the nose too. The moderate acids and rich mouthfeel are simply amazing! On the finish, you will notice a bit of guava and hint of pineapple flavors to round out this tantalizing sipper. In the right winemaker’s hands, this varietal may have found a new home in this state! We invite you to give it a try if you like crisp, refreshing white wines, as we think you will become a fan too. Santé!

www.frenchconnectionhye.com

Katie’s Miscela – 2017; Murphey Creek Cellars; Mason, Texas

This blend of 40% Aglianico, 30% Tempranillo,15% Petite Sirah, 8% Syrah, and 7% Malbec really highlights some of the best aspects of Texas Hill Country fruit. This 2017 vintage (a fantastic year for Texas wines) is still rich and intense with its fruit forward notes. The blend is very well balanced and shows great character of each grape. You will love the bright cherry finish on this full-bodied red wine blend, as well. This wine is drinking beautifully right now with lots of luscious berry and fruit still intact and amply pleasing. It should be no surprise that this 2019 Lone Star International Wine Competition winner did quite well. If you have some bottles, they should keep well over the next few years. Well done Murphey Creek Cellars and cheers!

www.murphycreekcellars.com

Touriga Rosé – 2019; Lewis Wines; Johnson City, Texas

Leave it to Lewis Wines to produce this incredible Rosé made from Touriga Nacional. Sourced from the High Plains Phillips Vineyard, this darker hued bottle is still a rosé. Do not let the color throw you off. The strawberry notes are super satisfying with a hint of plum that is a delight. This wine has a bit of a creamy like texture to it along with a touch of herbaceous notes. The acids are moderate, and the finish is crisp and refreshingly clean.  What a great hot summer evening sipping treat. If you have any bottles lingering in your wine cellar, this is still drinking nicely. Enjoy!

www.lewiswines.com

Mourvèdre – 2017; Saint Tryphon; Boerne, Texas

This untarnished Mourvèdre really shoes off some natural aspects of this Texas High Plains fruit.  Sourced from Farmhouse Vineyards, aromas of cinnamon and figs are met with those ripe cherry notes after the first sip followed by a touch of plum.  Yes, there is some sediment in that glass, but that just adds to the natural character of this wine. Those earthy undertones sneak in as well to compliment this beauty. There are some subtle tannins towards the finish to round out that pleasant sip. Only thing that is missing is a sipping another glass while enjoying another majestic back patio sunset. Cheers!

www.sainttryphon.com

Adega Vinho – Stonewall, Texas

The early beginnings of a family-owned boutique winery are perhaps the best times to visit. Everything is new, fresh and the owners are all too happy to tell you everything about their new place.  There is no doubt that the Bilger Family’s heart and soul is in their winery business. Andy and Elena Bilger as well as Andy’s brother Michael, have put much love and wine thought into these big plans.  The family broke ground on their dream of Adega Vinho, Portuguese for “Wine Cellar”, in 2016 and planted their first vines the following year.  Their estate vineyard primarily focuses on about 14 varieties of Portuguese and Italian grapes. Michael Bilger is certainly no stranger to Texas wines. He previously worked under Ron Yates and has now undertaken his own “attention to detail” in every aspect from growing fruit to crafting wine.  Even though it is about a 50-acre estate, the current goal is to establish a sustainable and manageable 20 acres of grapevines. In addition to the vineyard management and wine quality, their goal is to keep production small at 3000 cases per year. With an on-site production facility, maintaining control over all aspects of wine production will be a must for controlling quality. The site was opened to the public in 2020. You will notice the majestic and beautiful vineyard when entering the estate followed by the well shaded oak grove in front of the tasting room. Upon entering the tasting room (besides being greeted by enthusiastic staff) you will likely be mesmerized by the trapezoidal architecture and eclectic art on the walls. Most of the wines currently being served are Texas High Plains sourced.  There is nothing on the wine list that you will be displeased with in our opinion, they are all winners. The 2019 Viognier is a winning combination of fruit, minerality and butter that should make a white wine lover out of you!  The 2020 Tempranillo Rosé is from the estate.  You may be surprised at its full-bodied feel and creamy, smoky notes, but it is a Rosé. The Pordosol is a 50/50 blend of Mourvedre and Tempranillo.  The softer taste and lighter red color help set the mood for an excellent sunset sipper. Their Italian wine, 2018 Sangiovese, has well balanced acids and a fruitiness with cocoa aromas.  One of their early wines, the 2016 Syrah, is a real treat. This rich drinking red has great depth, some spicy notes with a hint of mint, and some lingering chalkiness. It is drinking well but go ahead and lay down some bottles for more surprise sipping in a few years. It seems Tannat is everywhere nowadays, but their dark colored 2018 Tannat is smooth with cherry aromas and a medium finish. Sourced from Newsom Vineyards, the 2018 Tempranillo is still fairly fruit forward with raspberry notes and a touch of smokiness.  Get ready for a superb Mourvedre. The 2017 release is a reserve and explodes with herbal notes and cherries with a lingering tobacco and oak finish. Save the best for last and slowly enjoy the 2019 Grenache. With a hint of orange peel and cinnamon, you may be thinking how many bottles your significant other will let you purchase. The family has plans to offer a field blend of Tinta Cao in addition to a Touriga National.  The owners and staff all feel strongly that Touriga’s future is with their wines. It has been a long dry spell visiting new wineries with the 2020 pandemic, but this was the right visit to get back into the wine groove.  This place is an extra special getaway from the busy US 290 corridor as it sits tucked in on a side road in a lovely quiet spot. It will be exciting to see what unfolds with the Bilger’s piece of Hill Country terroir. We cannot wait to see what the future brings for this very bright beginning. Saúde!

www.adegavinho.com