Sauvignon Blanc – 2019; Reddy Vineyards; Brownfield, Texas

This single block pick from the Texas High Plains AVA estate vineyard will quickly put you in that tropical Zen zone. The light golden color will contrast well with your imagined turquoise waters as you dream of a blissful destination to be enjoying this summer sipping beauty.  That first sip packs a lot of tropical fruit notes especially pineapple and grapefruit.  Your palate will also relish a hint of banana with a touch of cream.  This white wine has good acids and a mean pear finish with a bit of lemon zest. A lot of surprises in this bottle and much to enjoy. Hope you have one left in your cellar to enjoy, because we sure did like this one. Cheers!

www.reddyvineyards.com

Adoration – 2018; Heath Sparkling Wine; Fredericksburg, Texas

With a lovely rose-pink hue and delicate bubbles, this blend of 88% Pinot Noir and 12% Chardonnay is certainly a bolder sparkling and refreshing option.  Less than 1% residual sugar is in this bubbly treat.  As you let it “fizz”, you will discern notes of strawberry and raspberry along with bit of herbs. Apple flavors will delight your palate as well.  That tingling finish is great, and there is a touch of balsamic afterwards. The acids are very solid for this Texas sparkling. Cheers!

www.heathsparkling.com

Clairette Blanche - 2020; Ab Astris Winery; Stonewall, Texas

The wines made from the estate grapes of Ab Astris have been perhaps one of the most eagerly awaited ones in the Hill County.  Behold their Clairette Blanche! Pick your favorite astonishing words, but “wow”, “man”, and “OMG” are just the beginning of descriptions of this lovely white wine.  If their tasting room smelled like this grape, you may not ever leave. By the way, if the winery sold a candle that smelled like this wine, it would be a repeat buy.  A lovely bouquet of apple and apricot will certainly delight your nose. Follow that with bright apple, rich flavors of melon and papaya and you know that this white wine jewel is one to savor with every sip. Add to those tasting sensations a touch of minerality and you know you have a winner in your glass.  This white wine just might be your “best friend” to hide out with through the Texas summer. Cheers!

www.abastriswinery.com

Sangiovese – 2018; Kuhlman Cellars; Stonewall, Texas

Perfectly well-balanced Sangiovese wines are a jewel to savor! This Newsom Vineyards sourced Brunello clone fruit from the Texas High Plains AVA should be in your top 10 Sangiovese picks. Light red in color, this dry red wine greets you with a touch of tobacco on the nose as you take that initial sip.  That is followed by lush cherries and plums that delight in this great winner for your next Italian style dish.  This Sangiovese is perfectly balanced in tannins, acids, and fruit for this medium bodied wine. There is also a little vanilla on the finish for good measure. As a gold medal winner of the International Women's Wine Competition, it’s no wonder you will keep reminiscing about this wine after the bottle is empty. Simply stunning and we believe our favorite all time Sangiovese yet. So elegant and refined. A true gem. Salute!

www.kuhlmancellars.com

Thieves On the Promenade – 2017; William & Chris Wines; Hye, Texas

This mystery red blend just might surprise you in more ways than one. As part of the winemaker series, you just never know what might be created based on inspiration or experimentation.  The 2017 vintage certainly contributed nicely to this delicious red wine blend. At first, you will notice that the color is quite opaque as you let it breathe for about an hour. This beauty needs some time to unfold and unpack all it has to offer. On the nose, this one has a lot of different fruit aromas to offer with plum, blackberry, and little bit of strawberry being the primary notes. The tannins and structure are quite strong for this very dry wine and the acids are on the high side, too. Given that it is also a heavy bodied wine, pick your favorite big bold red wine food pairing and feast away. It is worth your cellar room storage to save and sample again in a few years, as well. You’ll be very delighted with this lovely bottle and really liked the unique artwork as well. Cheers and well done!

www.williamchriswines.com

Texas Port – 2005; Kiepersol Estates Winery; Tyler, Texas

Going way back when to the early days of Kiepersol, this initial 2005 vintage port is still holding up quite well.  A blend of Cabernet, Merlot and Syrah, it not only still maintains its strength, but also presents rich notes of raspberry and blackberry. The diverse flavors also shine with dried fruit and chocolate in there to delight the palate.  At 18.5% abv, there is no chance of being unhappy with this after dinner pleaser.  Save your best balsamic or merlot cheese for a great after dinner pairing. A lovely evening sipper worth every delicious drop. Cheers!

www.kiepersol.com

Kfire Winery & Vineyard – Bertram, Texas

This hidden gem on the western side of US HWY 183 in Bertram is worth your wine trekking travel stop.  Owners Gail and Kenny Fowler opened their tasting room five years ago. Long time Texas wine fans might remember them from the Lakeway Winery at the Oasis. Retired firefighter, Kenny, developed the theme for the winery and the décor with firefighter paraphernalia such has a fire hydrant out front, and interior walls decorated with fire patches, helmets and even some firehoses curled up on the floor.  Not to mention that many of the wines’ names are firefighter related. Their grapes and juice are sourced from the Texas High Plains as well as from other areas across the state.  There is an A-to-Z selection from white, rosé, red, and sweet wines. On this visit, we started off with the two whites on the menu, both of which will help quench a very hot Texas summer thirst.  The Viognier is dry and crisp with a bit of oak on the nose.  The 2019 Engine 12 is a Rhone style blend of Viognier, Roussanne, and Marsanne. It is very well balanced and floral with some citrus notes and a bit of oak on the finish. The Rescue Rosé is Cinsault based and will fill your palate with fresh ripe strawberry and black currant flavors - a wine great to sip or pair with a variety of food options. For the reds, we started with the Engine 39. This red beast is a Barbera with rich cherry and blackberry notes and a hint of vanilla. The wine had good tannins and acids (should pair nicely with meaty pasta dishes). We tried the Cabernet Franc called The Specialist.  Cherry and plums dominated this red gem. Most everyone knows how dominant Tempranillo is in Texas wineries and the 2019 Ignite is their take on this Texas varietal. It is quite bold, with firm tannins, bright acids, and plum aromas with a bit of nut on the finish. Bring on your best ribeye with that monster!  For the sweet wines, check out the Cadet.  It has a rhubarb flavor with strawberry bouquet and makes a light sweet summer sipper.  For port lovers, they save the best for last with the Extinguisher.  Twelve years in the making (part barrel and bottle aged), this crown jewel is rich in pecan, caramel, and dried fruit. On the horizon, they should be releasing a Sangiovese in the future. With a very nice quiet setting in the country overlooking the vineyard, this is a good spot for chilling and sipping. Check them out when in the area or planning a wine outing and be on the lookout for their food wine dinners. Always a treat to find new wineries and tasting rooms, so explore and enjoy!

www.kfirewineryandvineyard.com

Super Texan – 2012; Flat Creek Estate Winery & Vineyard; Marble Falls, Texas

A decade later, this Texas Sangiovese blend is still holding up quite well. Little color change is noticeable, and the aromas of blueberries and cherries are still intact. Plum is the dominate fruit profile now along with a touch of spice on the palate.  The acids are still holding well for this medium bodied red jewel plus you will get some distinct earthiness in there for good measure. It still holds a nice long finish for extra sipping pleasure.  No reason not to keep longer if you have some.  Cin Cin!

www.flatcreekestate.com

Marsanne – 2019; French Connection Wines; Hye, Texas

Aged 15 months on the lees, their first release of this single varietal really shines with enticing aromas and long-lasting flavors. Sourced from the Texas High Plains AVA, this straw colored Marsanne has intense aromatics of lime and orange initially followed by pear.  As you take those first few sips, be prepared for a big mouthful of peach flavors along with some raisins.  There is a touch of cinnamon in there, as well, along with moderate acidity.  It’s quite a delightful sipper and it is refreshing. Feel free to repeat the next day.  Santé!

www.frenchconnectionhye.com

Mourvèdre – 2013; Lewis Wines; Johnson City, Texas

2013…ugh!  A very late spring frost in Texas did not bring high hopes for that year’s crop, but what did come through was some excellent fruit.  This Texas High Plains sourced Mourvèdre from Lost Draw Vineyards is not only aging well but drinking nicely right now.  The color of the pour is a light red hue, and you will immediately discern a lovely cherry bouquet with a bit of pepper.  Savor that first sip and brace yourself for some big plum flavors mingled with a bit of cranberry.  There is a slight silky texture to it followed by a lingering long finish.  You could probably cellar this vintage a couple more years or so, but why wait when it is tasting so great now? Plus, your barbeque is begging for this pairing. Cheers!

www.lewiswines.com

12-year Anniversary!

Last July marked a dozen years at this. Never planned it that way, but glad that things have continued.  We still see new varietals being planted and making Texas their new home. On the global stage, places like England are beginning to rival other regions with their bubbles.  We have seen how well some decades old Texas wines have aged from vintages that many considered unlikely. Breaking out a 2008 Viviano from Llano Estacado Winery was a real treat! We might have a few well aged surprises for the upcoming year, too.  Texas does produce World Class wines! Speaking of great vintages for Texas, it looks like 2022 might be reminiscent of 2011 with the super extreme heat and drought – time will tell. We always get excited about potentially exceptional wine years. On the winery side, we have seen a number of them start to embrace the keg wine model. It’s the same great wine you typically get in a bottle - just bring your growler for a refill like they do in the old country. Speaking of new wineries, look at how Mason, Texas has changed in recent years. Having gone from just one winery when we first visited in 2008 to at least 10 if you include Voca. This makes Mason a new cool wine destination. Additionally, have you noticed how Johnson City has been gaining new tasting rooms, too?  The future continues to look bright for new wines to try, wineries to visit, and wine trail and travel adventures to be explored and told. Looking back across the dozen years, we can say we have enjoyed a lot of places and tried to visit as many different wineries as possible. We have also met many wonderful wine friends along and way and are as grateful for those friendships. We likewise believe it is important to test the potential that our finer wines have for longer aging and cellaring and will continue to shine a light on that aspect of many wines discovered along our travels.  Though the past couple of years have caused us to slow down on some of the traveling and exploring, we have continued to support “local” wineries and grape farmers through a lot of wine purchases (thank goodness for shipping) and have enjoyed many a fine wine and food pairing at home during the pandemic. As we look ahead in the coming year, we hope we can begin to leave the pandemic behind us and venture forth into many more wineries to continue to help celebrate and cheer on the many wonderful people working hard to produce some amazing products. Cheers!

Sémillon – 2019; Kerrville Hills Winery; Kerrville, Texas

This full-bodied white wine really stands out as a go-to wine for serious white wine lovers. Sourced from Rustic Spur Vineyards of the Texas Hill Country AVA, its floral and lemon aromas really entice the senses for what is about to be enjoyed in the glass.  This smooth sleek beauty offers notes of apples with a touch of nuttiness to this masterpiece. It a has a big round mouthfeel and a sensational firm finish.  It should not be a surprise that this Sémillon really stood out as a platinum medal winner of the 2021 TEXSOM competition.  It is also proof that great fruit can come from the Pedernales river valley.  Cheers!

www.kerrvillehillswinery.com