Carménère Reserve – 2019; Safari Winery; Fredericksburg, Texas

Sourced from Curico Valley wine region of Chile, this very dry red wine is a great introduction to enjoying this “lost” grape.  Almost purple in color on that first pour, your wine senses will first be greeted by notes of plums and pepper.  Your palate will then be enriched with flavors of cherries and blackberries. Tannins are on the light side, and it finishes about medium. This is a great red wine to not only try from South America, but also compare with other Carménère wines from North America. A wonderful varietal to find and try. Salud!

www.safariwinery.com

Late Harvest Roussanne – 2021; 10 Mile Productions; Brownwood, Texas

This unfiltered and late harvested sweet wine is quite soothing to the taste and easy on the soul. Sourced from Lahey Vineyards of the Texas High Plains AVA, notes of peaches and honeysuckles will be the first to please your wine sense. Follow that up with a touch of lemon, and you’ve got a tropical beach-side pleaser to put your mind at ease.  Sure, the color of the wine may be a bit cloudy, but one glass will certainly brighten your day. Cheers!

www.10mileproductions.com

Rosé – 2020; Tatum Cellars; Johnson City, Texas

This 100% Grenache Rosé is quite a refreshing treat to sip.  Sourced from Salt Lick Vineyards of the Texas Hill Country AVA, this chilled wine makes a great welcoming celebration come springtime.  Those tropical sensations will greet you at that initial pour to be followed by some lovely lavender notes. It is full of bright acids and has a satisfying mouthfeel finish.  It is perfect to drink as is by itself, but feel free to pair this wine with charcuterie, fresh fruit, spring vegetables, and poultry or fish dishes. It is a great accompaniment to a beautiful spring meal. Cheers!

www.tatumcellars.com

Viognier – 2022; Texas Heritage Vineyard; Fredericksburg, Texas

This new Viognier vintage might be something you’ll want to seek to help take the edge off the upcoming Texas summer. Sourced from Wildseed Farms Vineyard on HWY 290, this Texas Hill Country AVA fruit will initially greet you with fresh notes of peach and some lemon.  Swirl, breathe in, and relish that first sip.  Apricot flavors will be happy to excite those tastebuds followed by a bit of honeysuckle, as well.  The acids are about moderate, and it has a nice balanced, medium finish to it.  That “ahh” sensation will kick in at the right time, so no reason not to repeat for additional satisfaction. Enjoy this white wine treat well!

www.texasheritagevineyard.com

Klingon Blood Wine – 2018; Star Trek Wines; Earth, UFP

Klingons have always been one of the top fan favorites of the Star Trek world. Whether they play the friend or foe, you know it will be a good episode. Perhaps one of the iconic drinks of their race has been the Klingon Bloodwine. The Trek world version has been described as perhaps too potent for most non-Klingons to drink but was always used to toast to a great victory. This 2018 earthly version is crafted by the E2 Family Winery using Cabernet Sauvignon and does clock in at a respectable 14.5% abv. The bottle has an interesting dark red design along with a dipped wax finish.  The top of the cork has the iconic Klingon symbol along with a proverb on the side written in Klingon.  Pouring this wine was a delight as it showed a deep ruby red hue with very intense aromas. Perhaps dark chocolate is the most prevalent note to this bottle, along with good acids and a very long finish. It might be tight at first, so let it breathe for an hour. This wine was created to last, so if you have extra bottles, they are keepers for sure in the cellar. Enjoy this one well, earthlings. “IwlIj jachjaj!”

www.startrekwines.com

Syrah Reserve – 2012; Flat Creek Estate Winery & Vineyard; Marble Falls, Texas

Classic estate fruit from this winery is an extra special treat to enjoy.  Sourced from two different blocks, this Texas Hill Country AVA wine still shows how nicely this eleven year old jewel has aged.  This big, bold red wine is full bodied with notes of cherries and blackberries still hanging in there.  Adding to that are pepper and a little bit of leather, as well.  The palate confirms most of the same and still holds a very nice lengthy finish. This bottle is probably at its peak now, but can still hold it for a few more years. Cheers!

www.flatcreekestate.com

Lescalo Rosé – 2021; Fall Creek Vineyards and Winery; Tow, Texas

Fall Creek’s latest take on a Texas Rosé is a low alcohol/calorie wine.  Yes, some long time Rosé lovers might raise an eyebrow or two at first, but tasting is believing. Clocking in at just 9.8% abv, this low alcohol wine is full of flavor and zest that you would expect from a good Rosé thanks to the handcrafting magic of their longtime winemaker, Sergio Cuadra.  It is a blend of Chenin Blanc and Tempranillo using low intervention methods. It pours a deep, bright pink shade and is very fruit forward with just the right touch of citrus notes.  There are raspberry and peach notes to dance on your happy tastebuds in each sip along with a hint of strawberry too. For a Rosé, it has a great body to it along with great acids and a nice “ahh” pleasing finish. The low alcohol does nothing to detract from the full flavor and wonderful tasting experience and helps strike a good balance. It’s a wonderful wine to enjoy any time of day with food or on its own. One more wonderful option in the aisle of Rosés to please so why not try a bottle and have no fear of enjoying this Rosé all day!

www.fcv.com

Dirt Farmer – 2017; Bingham Family Vineyards; Meadow, Texas

This red blend from their Texas High Plains AVA vineyard shows how well good managed soil can yield quality fruit.  For this 14.6 abv wine, most of the fruit is Tempranillo with some Merlot, Carignan, Petit Verdot, and Cabernet Sauvignon.  Lots of blackberry, some fig, and a bit of cherry will be on the nose of this lovely bottle. The wine is bright and elegant with some earthy undertones.  Tannins are about medium, and it does have good acids. There is a bit of smoke on a very nice finish that will leave you with a that “ah” sensation after every sip. This wine should continue to be one that you can cellar for a few more years if you have extra bottles. Cheers to the Dirt Farmer!

www.binghamfamilyvineyards.com

Tempranillo – 2013; Perissos Vineyard and Winery; Burnet, Texas

This nearly 10-year-old jewel is maturing quite nicely.  The cork is well intact, minimal color fading, and still holds some good rich fruit flavors. Aromas of raspberries will be the first to greet you followed by blackberries and cherries.  After taking that first sip or two, you may notice those earthy undertones and a touch of tobacco for this medium bodied beast. There are some dark fruit flavors in that final finish along with a touch of pepper. You can keep this wine in the cellar and sample again in a couple of years to gauge if it has peaked yet. Cheers!

www.perissosvineyards.com

Farmhand – 2020; Kerrville Hills Winery; Kerrville, Texas

Piquette may be a more familiar name for old world wine drinkers, but this classic and simple Parisian style beverage really hits the spot on those warm afternoons. What is this type of wine you might ask? This very “old” style drink from ancient Greek/Roman days is crafted from the second press of grape pomace - like the pulp, skins, seeds, and stems (aka leftovers). Although technically not wine, no reason not to enjoy this with your favorite Rosé pairings.  At just 7% abv, this off-beat wine has a very light ruby color and fresh strawberries and cherries on the nose. It has some high acids and little to no finish, but boy does it refresh the palate when served chilled on a hot day.  This very light style beverage might be your next go-to drink after working around the ponderosa all day. A fun find worth the try for those wanting to expand their wine and beverage experiences. Santé!

www.kerrvillehillswinery.com