Cabernet Sauvignon – 2016; Ab Astris Winery; Stonewall, Texas

This light ruby colored Cabernet Sauvignon is an easy wine for many Cab lovers to sip and enjoy.  Sourced from The Family Vineyard of the Texas High Plains AVA, aromas of cranberry and dark fruit are quite noticeable. It does present as slightly hot, but those pronounced notes of smoke and tobacco will entice you for more. Cherry and raspberry flavors tantalize the palate and are joined by a touch a spice. It has bright acids, medium tannins, and a relatively smooth finish.  This first cabernet release from the winery is a good meat, cheese, or dark chocolate pairing wine for the evening. Cheers!

 www.abastriswinery.com

Roussanne – 2019; French Connection Wines; Hye, Texas

This white wine beauty was aged “sur lie” or on the lees and shows remarkable character and additional complexity. Sourced from the Texas High Plains AVA, the straw pale color and rich floral aromas are quite inviting. There is a little bit a honeysuckle in there joined by a hint of peaches to round things out. With a good solid minerality, this Roussanne is certainly a great crowd pleaser. Santé!

www.frenchconnectionhye.com

Racker’s Blend – 2017; Perissos Vineyard & Winery; Burnet, Texas

2017 has certainly blessed this classic wine. This vintage is a blend of Aglianico 41%, Tempranillo 30%, Petite Sirah 15%, Sryah 7%, and Malbec 7%.  Gaze at the tantalizing deep red color and let your imagination run wild on what to expect. After 45 minutes or so of breathing, it really opens with fruit forward aromas of cherry and fig.  Flavors of cola will soon compliment your senses along with a hint of vanilla. This red wine has excellent structure and a nice smooth finish. As it hits the 5-year mark, the acids and tannins are about medium for this full-bodied jewel. You can still cellar longer if you have extra bottles but do savor every drop of this delightful blend. Cheers!

www.perissosvineyards.com

Alluvé - 2013; Kuhlman Cellars; Stonewall, Texas

This Sonoma County sourced fruit is an excellent follower to its 2012 predecessor. The blend for this vintage is 40% Petite Sirah, 33% Grenache, 11% Carignan, 8% Mourvèdre, 5% Malbec, and 3% Cinsault. At nine years old, little if nothing has changed for this lovely red wine. Notes of rich cherries and ripe blackberries will still greet you. Smooth and lush is what you will feel on that first sip followed by tobacco and some spice. The acids are good, and the tannins are soft. There is even a little bit of an herbaceous note in there, too.  This bottle of wine has good structure and is still holding up quite well. It can continue to cellar for future tasting enjoyment. Cheers!

www.kuhlmancellars.com

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

What is there not to like about Texas Mourvèdre?  William & Chris have certainly done a huge part at promoting this grape in Texas, plus making some fine vintages. For this 2017 release, fruit was sourced from Buena Suerte Vineyards of the Texas High Plains AVA. Clocking in at 15.6% ABV, this light garnet colored red wine will fill the surrounding air with notes of luscious blueberry and coffee notes with some cherry.  It has a silky, smooth mouthfeel with some lingering plum notes.  Despite the relatively high alcohol content, there is no “hot” sensation – credit that to some good wine making. The enticing earthy undertones compliment your aroma and palate sensations. It is almost medium on the tannins with some leather on the finish.  This is an excellent Mourvèdre and a fantastic vintage year for Texas. Enjoy well!

www.williamchriswines.com

Tannat RF – 2013; Bending Branch Winery; Comfort, Texas

This bold Tannat from Paso Robles AVA packs great red fruit flavors to excite the senses.  Clocking in at 14.6% ABV, this Bella Collina Vineyards sourced Tannat will initially envelope your nose with cocoa and blueberry and a hint of smoke.  Relish that first sip as you enjoy the delicious red fruit and plum notes followed by a bit of spice and a nice bold finish.  Aging perfectly well, you can continue to cellar this bottle longer and enjoy as things continue to evolve in the future. Cheers!

www.bendingbranchwinery.com

Saba Winery – Mason, Texas

Founded in 2021 by Scott Monette and Mirta Leon Poiseu, this brand-new winery in Mason is really showing off how well Spanish varieties can do in Texas.  The Mason Art and Wine festival last April 2nd was their big “first day” event and it seems like they have made a big impression with many Texas wine fans.  Scott had started out as a California wine drinker, but after a few trips to some fine Texas wineries and sampling what has been made recently, he was quite impressed and decided to take the deep dive into the Texas winery business. The focus of Saba Winery is on Spanish style wines along with some of the history associated with the Mason area. The owners have set aside about 15 acres of their own future estate grapes in the far northwestern frontier of the Texas Hill Country in Menard County. Some of the grapes they will be planting include Graciano, Grenache, and Carignan along with PicPoul Blanc. They also have a great mentor, John Rivenburgh working with them. Using John’s incubator project, this new winery is certainly off to the right start and in great hands.  For the wines, the names and images on the labels all have references to the early Spanish days in Texas along with a good story. Sourced from Buena Suerte Vineyards in the Texas High Plains AVA, the 2020 Mission Rosé is a 50/50 blend of Tempranillo and Grenache.  It has a light fruity fragrance on the nose and ripe strawberries on the palate.  The fruit for the 2019 Norteño Red comes from Tad Daniel Vineyards of the high plains. This blend of Tempranillo, Sangiovese, and Alicante Bouschet displays strong ripe cherries followed a touch of spice on the nose.  Also sourced from Tad Daniel Vineyard is the 2019 Presidio Red.  This 80/20 Tempranillo-Souzao blend is bold and fruit forward and should pair quite nicely with your favorite meat dish. There is also a Two Rivers white available (named after the land between the San Saba and Llano rivers) as well as an upcoming red blend called 5 Hippies Red (named after wine pioneering influencers). In addition to the great wines, you will love the tasting rooms interior space themed in Spanish styled décor. Plus, the tapas are to die for!  This place is a great addition to the up-and-coming Mason wine scene! Come to Mason and see for yourself and say hello to one of the newest fun spots on the square.  Salud!

www.sabawine.com

Gravitas – 2017; Calais Winery; Hye, Texas

A blend from some of the serious grape varietals of 2017, this nearly 5-year old beauty is one to enjoy with quality people and food.  With an almost opaque color, the fruit forwardness is very transparent with rich blackberries and a hint of cigar. Let it sit for about an hour and relish the aromas filling the glass before that initial sip. The flavor packs some good dark chocolate and a little bit of spice here and there. The acids are moderate, and the tannins are still firm, but not overpowering. Sitting around for five years, it is drinking quite well now. Hold if you wish, but do not miss out on this jewel right now if you can spare an extra bottle. Worthy of enjoyment today. Santé!

www.calaiswinery.com

The Psychiatrist – NV; Slate Theory Winery; Fredericksburg, Texas

This white blend release is a blend of 36% Fiano, 28% Viognier, 23% Sauvignon Blanc, 8% Muscat Canelli, 5% Albarino. Note the addition of Fiano - a southern Italian white variety that shows much promise for the unique Texas climate. Tropical aromas will initially greet you including a hint of banana. The taste has an initial Pinot Grigio feel to it with minerality. The acids are light making this a smooth drinker. There is a bit of crispness, paired with some moderate butterscotch notes. A pleasant summer sipper here and should pair well with fresh catch of the day.  Cheers!

www.slatetheory.com

Viognier – 2019; Adega Vinho; Stonewall, Texas

Say hello to some fine Viognier! Sourced from the Texas High Plains AVA. This light golden color white wine exudes tropical notes and a touch of honey during that long pour. Take a sip or two and you will also discern notes of pear and lemon.  There is a little bit of tangerine mingling in there too for a splash of citrus zing. This wine presents some minerality and the acids are holding at a moderate level. This beauty also has a soft light buttery note that leads to a smoothing out the finish. There is a lot to enjoy with this white jewel, so savor every sip!

www.adegavinho.com

Artist Blend – 2011; William & Chris Wines; Hye, Texas

This 11-year-old jewel from the magical fields of Granite Hill Vineyards is showing off quite well. Besides a mild color change, there is still a good amount of fruit forward sensation for this baby. You will get some blackberries and hints of sage followed by tobacco and cherries. Acids are moderate for this red wine blend and the tannins are still holding well. You will also love the lingering finish which only begs for another long sip for optimal enjoyment.  Add this one to your list of Texas wines that age well. Thoroughly enjoyed this artist blend vintage. Cheers!

www.williamchriswines.com

Chardonnay – 2018; Robert Clay Vineyards; Mason Texas

With all the buzz of up-and-coming white varietals that reflect Texas terroir, this Chardonnay certainly commands attention and makes a case for this varietal to behold something spectacular. With the right climate, soil, caretaking, and a blessing from the crazy Texas weather patterns, this classic grape can do quite well in the Lone Star state. This vintage from RVC has an enticing golden hue that summons great things are to come. On the nose, one finds delicate floral notes along with a hint of pear. This is smooth Chardonnay, that has a bit of butter, but not too much and a touch of honeysuckle for tease. This medium bodied white is a testament to how well Texas Chardonnay can be done.  It could certainly hold its own in a blind standoff with many fine world rivals. If you have any bottles in the cellar, they are still holding well. If you do not, there is a “secret” place in Mason you should explore and see. Enjoy well!

www.robertclayvineyards.com