Round Mountain Rosé – 2019; Lewis Wines; Johnson City, Texas

This Texas Hill Country AVA fruit from Round Mountain Vineyards is a joy to have in the bottle. The care and attention to the vines does lead to great quality wine.  For this Rosé vintage, a field blend of Tempranillo, Touriga National, and Tannat make up this well-balanced wine.  Pear and strawberry notes jump out initially on the nose, along with a bit of honey for this dark hued beauty.  The wine has good acidity and teases you with a touch of cherry in there, as well.  Hello back porch sipping wine that patiently waits for those upcoming warm weather days ahead. Cheers!

www.lewiswines.com

Tioja – 2010; Wedding Oak Winery; San Saba, Texas

Blessings are upon us for one of the first releases of Wedding Oak!  You’ll notice their first name, San Saba, on the label before the name change. Same winery and great wines, just the name changed.  With fruit sourced from the Texas High plains AVA, this red wine is a blend of 60% Tempranillo, 20% Mourvèdre, and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon. There is some browning in the color of this 12-year-old Texas wine, but most of its profile is holding up well.  You can still discern some good blackberry and cherry notes along with a bit of leather. The acids are moderate and there is a lingering tobacco note. Not bad for an “old” Texas wine.  It still paired well with a meaty dish. Lovely bottle to enjoy and happy for the success that Wedding Oak has had over the years. Cheers!

www.weddingoakwinery.com

Adoration – 2015; Heath Sparkling Wines; Fredericksburg, Texas

Mmm…what a treat it is to sip one of their first releases! This 100% Pinot Noir bubbly has a dark pomegranate color and lots of moderate bubbles on the first pour. After watching it “fizz” for a bit, your nose will discern rich raspberry and cherry aromas with a hint of what may be described as tomato.  There is also some peach and a touch of citrus in there, too. With medium acidity and a gentle finish, this “oldie” still has much to cheer about and is still drinking nicely. Much to be adored for sure. Enjoy!

www.heathsparkling.com

Malbec – 2016; Barton Springs Winery; Dripping Springs, Texas

Mmm…. nothing like a good tasting Malbec to wrap up the day. Sourced from Columbia Valley AVA, this smooth tasting red wine is fruity and refreshing. You should allow this bottle to breathe for at least an hour to really enjoy what it has to offer. Blackberry and plum notes are still holding well for this 6-year-old beauty.  The sight, smell and taste all complement each other nicely. It is smooth and mellow and delicious enough to sip on its own, but also worthy of a food or snack pairing. Savor the moment with this wine. Cheers!

www.bartonspringswinery.com

Brut Rosé Cava – NV; Juvé & Camps; San Sadurní d'Anoia, Spain

Source from the Penedès region, this Pinot Noir Cava is a nice fruity refreshing bubbly to sip. It has a bright cherry red color and aromas of strawberries and cranberries with a touch of rosemary. The bubbles will delight as they fill your mouth with every sip of this medium bodied beauty. The medium acidity and fruitiness make this bottle an easy option to enjoy for a celebratory event pairing nicely with dessert, cheese, fruit, or simply sipping for the pure enjoyment of the cava on its own. Salud!

www.juveycamps.com

Viviano – 2008; Llano Estacado Winery; Lubbock, Texas

After 16 years in the bottle, it does not hurt to wait at least a couple of more hours after popping the cork to thoroughly enjoy this classic Texas red wine. It is primarily blended with 73% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Sangiovese with a mix of 7% Syrah, Malbec, Petite Verdot, and Cabernet Franc. This Texas High Plains sourced fruit shows little signs of browning and seems to hold most of its fruit flavors well.  Notes of blackberries and raspberries are dominant along with a hint of chocolate. A bit of leather and earthy notes rounds out the flavor profile of this very dry red wine. The tannins are still holding firm, and the finish is nice on this lovely lady. If you have a bottle cellaring well, no reason why this still cannot keep for a while longer. Enjoy well and salute!

www.llanowine.com

Touriga Nacional – 2016; Robert Clay Vineyards; Mason, Texas

Behold…great Mason County fruit and wine! This “little secret” place in the Texas Hill Country AVA can grow some incredible high-quality grapes. With the right care and attention, Touriga Nacional (a Portuguese grape) can produce some fine dry red wine.  This 2016 release by Robert Clay Vineyards is still holding up nicely. You will notice light floral aromas on the nose with that initial pour. After taking a sip or two, blueberry and plum notes envelope your senses. The acids are bright, and the tannins are still holding firm.  It is amazing what these tiny, packed clusters of grapes can produce! With the right cultivation practices and patience, this bold rich red wine could be the next rising star for Texas wines.  Cheers to an amazing bottle of wine!

www.robertclayvineyards.com

Slate Theory Winery – Fredericksburg, Texas

“That cave…oh, that wine cave!”  This will likely be one of the lasting first impressions you’ll have after visiting this place. Randy Jones, who also owns Slate Mill Wine Collective, has transformed the former Torre di Pietra location into something incredible. Many Texas wine trekkers up and down HWY 290 may have noticed the somewhat lengthy construction at the site. It has been a long time coming, but patience has paid off. The uniqueness and artistic quality of this new winery is certainly a one of kind. The original tasting room of Torre di Pietra has been transformed into an open free flowing concept and the 14+ acre vineyard in the back is still there. There are now some additional covered and open patio locations, a huge production facility and…And…AND a wine cave! It is definitely a real treat just to walk through, but yes, you can wine taste in cave, as well.  With huge arched ceilings, living walls (aka plants growing on it), and a lot of barrels aging future wines, this is certainly and place that can ease the mind and soothe the soul. To bring even more uniqueness to this winery is the theme of mental illness awareness. More like an effort to destigmatize some of the preconceived characterization of mental health. This effort is done very well with not only the label names of the wines, but also the surrounding artistry at the location. Speaking of the wines here, they are all 100% Texas sourced from estate locations Randy owns as well as partner vineyards. For the whites, there is a white blend called the Psychiatrist that has an elegant tropical like feel to it. Yes, they do have a Roussanne! This 2020 High Plains sourced fruit has a touch of vanilla and fresh ripe fruit notes. To make their “stamp” on Texas Rosés is an incredible crisp and dry 2020 Cinault. For the reds, start off with The Narcoleptic, 2017. This Syrah/Grenacne/Mourvedre blend has a touch of earthiness and rich cherry flavors. Next up is The Paranoid, 2018. With 80% Souzao and 20% Aglianico, you’ll pick up on notes of vanilla with mature dark fruit. Did someone say Malbec? Their 2017 release packs some intense berry flavors with notes of pepper. In winery’s own take of a Bordeaux-style wine, The Schizophrenic takes the show! This 2017 release is very well balanced, end-to-end mouthfeel, a hint of leather, and some fine lingering tannins. You can be the judge if it’s “left or right bank” material. The warm and family-oriented hospitality here will make you feel more than welcomed to come back again. This is truly a unique Texas winery with a focused and much needed goal on mind and soul, plus great wine! Allora, cin cin ragazzi, alla vostra salute!

www.slatetheory.com

La Cuvée du Coteau – 2011; Calais Winery; Hye, Texas

Just over a decade later, this Sangiovese is still drinking quite nicely.  Sourced from Newsom Vineyards, this medium bodied red wine shows little color changes and still maintains a good amount of its flavor. The beautiful fruit shines through with ease with light coffee and a bit of oak notes. The tannins are still holding firm, so the grip will be there to remind you that it is still very much alive.  We think we will try another bottle in about five years and see how this wine continues to evolve. Santé!

www.calaiswinery.com