Aglianico – 2015; Perissos Vineyard and Winery; Burnet, Texas

One stop at Perissos will get you hooked on their estate Aglianico. Their unique location in the Texas Hill Country AVA produces such beautiful fruit.  For the 2015 vintage, it is rich in blueberry and blackberry notes and has a pleasing and lovely dark ruby color. Couple that with the soft vanilla and dark chocolate notes in this one and what’s not to relish about this beauty? This full-bodied red wine packs some good tannins and medium acidity with a touch of pepper on the finish. One to enjoy with good friends and loved ones. Salute!

www.perissosvineyards.com

RTM - 2016; Robert Clay Vineyards; Mason, Texas

Behold this big, bold, and beautiful red blend made from estate grown Mason County fruit! This mix of 75% Ruby Cabernet, 15% Touriga Nacional, and 10% Merlot has been aged in French oak for 40 months.  What comes out of each bottle is great balance with an exceptional fruit profile.  This full on bold red wine clocks in at 14% ABV with good acids and well-integrated earthy undertones.  The finish is long and will surely entice you for a repeat sip.  This one could certainly cellar long if you would like to, just make sure to pair this beast with a great meaty dish.  Enjoy!

www.robertclayvineyards.com

Frico Rosso – 2013; Scarpetta Wines; Tuscany, Italy

This Sangiovese blend from Tuscany is mouth puckering dry on that initial sip, so be prepared!  You may sense some minerality initially, as well. There are some good cherry notes followed by some raspberries to greet your wine senses.  The acids are on par with roasted tomatoes, and the tannins are moderate. You will sense a bit of leather and a hint of spice on the finish. Not a bad find for under $10, but a wine that we highly recommend pairing with food.  Cin Cin!

www.scarpettawine.com

Chardonnay – 2020; Adega Vinho Winery; Stonewall, Texas

One sip of this beauty and you just might swear up and down that you are in Chardonnay heaven. What may seem like an unlikely place for a great Chardonnay is only a preconceived notion. Sourced from Texas Hills Vineyard of the Texas Hill Country AVA, this “David” went toe-to-toe with some mighty “Goliaths” at the San Francisco Wine Competition and came out as a double gold winner.  Yes…for real! However, do not let some fancy wine competition be the sole reason that seduces you into drinking this fine wine. Try it yourself and let your wine senses do the talking.  The “secret” to this fantastic beast? Well, the public secret is that it’s sourced from old 1995 Texas vines (which can be a scarce quality fruit) and cellared on the lees.  The result is a full bodied and bold white wine that exceeds expectations.  This Texas Chardonnay vintage has light buttery notes along with a touch of lemon zest and green apples. The acids are bright, and the touch of vanilla is just right.  With an ever so slightly creamy finish, what is truly not to love here?  Drink more Texas wine and “Cheers” to everyone who had a hand in making of this wine, it is outstanding!

www.adegavinho.com

Riesling Auslese – 2020; Wilhelm Bergmann; Mosel, Germany

What’s not to like and enjoy about a good Riesling? This light golden colored treat is rich in notes of pears, apples, and peaches.  It is both sharp, sweet, and complex.  There is a touch of zesty lemon in there with light acidity. This wine is a great warm afternoon sipper. It can be elegant and simple and pairs readily with food yet still sips beautifully on its own. Enjoy!

Arroyo Blanco – 2018; Lost Draw Cellars; Fredericksburg, Texas

The Arroyo Blanco has been one of those reliable yet surprising blends from Lost draw to savor. The 2018 vintage is a blend of Albariño 72% and Muscat 28%. The mild pale-yellow shade is eye catching, but the tropical notes on the nose really capture your attention. Apples and pears compliment the aromatic nose of this beauty. After taking that first sip, you will taste good acidity and a touch of minerality.  It is quite crisp and has a clean finish. A sip of this will certainly put you in that tropical beach side food pairing mood. Cheers!

www.lostdrawcellars.com

Andorian Blue – NV; Star Trek Wines; Earth, UFP

This Star Trek themed wine pays homage to one of the classic alien races that were part of the original founders of the United Federation of Planets.  This wine boldly goes with a vibrant turquoise color. The Andorian race were…well, blue skinned, hence why the wine has a similar color. This wine is sourced from Santa Lucia Highlands AVA in California.  A dye was used to give the color tint to this white wine which does not seem to mar the tasting profile.  So, how does this “alien” wine hold up to Terran tastebuds?  It is good.  The wine was aged about 12 months before bottling, so it has had a decent time to “sit”.  This Chardonnay hits the 14.2% abv mark with primary notes of citrus and apricot.  It has a classic clean, fresh, and long finish. With the higher price point, you are paying for the sci-fi theme more so than the wine, but the raised UFP bottle emblem makes it a keeper. Not sure what the Andorian word is for cheers, but drink with your favorite alien friends and enjoy!

www.startrekwines.com

Cabernet Franc – 2013; Compass Rose Cellars; Hye, Texas

You never know what “blast from the past” will be discovered in our cellar.   Surprise, surprise, we found this nine-year-old Cabernet Franc from Compass Rose that not only shows great aging potential but is still retaining great flavors. Decant this wine for about an hour or more for full enjoyment.  Notes of plums are most pronounced along with some cherries and a touch of smoke. Relish in those red cherry sensations, as well, and don’t be surprised when that touch of vanilla kicks in.  This medium bodied red wine has moderate tannins and will also present a bit of leather to mingle in. You could probably keep longer and see what surprises unfold later, but we can happily report that it is drinking well now. Alas, the winery is no longer in business, but if you are still cellaring any of these bottles, they appear to be aging nicely. Cheers!

"The Circle" Field Blend – 2017; Reddy Vineyards; Brownfield, Texas

Behold this fantastic field blend from their 360-degree vineyard plot! This Texas High Plains AVA fruit is a mix of Barbera, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Carignane, Petit Verdot, Petite Sirah, Sangiovese, and Tannat. These grapes were not only harvested together, but they were co-fermented together to produce this unique style of red wine blend. Clocking in at 14.7% abv, let’s see how this old-world style stacks up.  How does it look? A very dark rich crimson color is visually pleasing as you prepare for that initial sip. How does it smell? It is very fruit forward with black cherries, strawberries, and cranberries.  How does it taste?  It is ultra-smooth with soft tannins. You will discern figs and tobacco notes in there in addition to the big bold berry fruits. This medium bodied wine has moderate acidity and kicks in just a touch of oak for the finish.  We think you will thoroughly enjoy this special treat, so stock up and enjoy well. One of our favorites we have sipped this year. Cheers!

www.reddyvineyards.com

Chardonnay – 2018; Rodney Strong Vineyards; Healdsburg, California

This white wine from the Chalk Hill AVA in Sonoma County is a rock-solid Chardonnay to have in your wine cellar and glass. From the golden straw color to the aromas of apple and apricot, your tastebuds just might get goosebumps in anticipation for this beautiful Chardonnay. There is a little bit of spice in there along with a light hint of vanilla.  It presents like a full-bodied wine and does pack a respectable amount of minerality as well.  Savor every sip because you will want to thoroughly enjoy the light butter and creamy finish of this lovely white wine. Outstanding to sip on its own or pair with food. You cannot go wrong with this one.

www.rodneystrong.com