This
red wine blend has a mix of delicious varietals to entice your aroma and palate
sensations. Sourced from the Texas High plains AVA, this magical creation of 39%
Carignan, 29% Cinsault, 20% Grenache, and 12% Mourvèdre pours a light maroon
color and is quite fruit forward. It has a mix of great notes including plums
and blackberries along with some cranberries. Top that with a nice light finish
and serve slightly chilled, and you have a great summer red sipper. Santé!
Be
prepared to enjoy this extra special Oregon Pinot Noir. Sourced from Willamette
Valley, this wine is a blend of four distinct terroirs. It pours a deeper red
color than most Pinot Noirs of Northwest America and is quite fruit
forward. Cherries and raspberries are
the predominant notes along with some pepper.
Take a few sips and repeat and then you’ll have that extra satisfaction
of some smoke plus leather. It has a medium length finish, great acidity, and
subtle earthy undertones. This lovely wine makes a fantastic food companion, as
well. Enjoy well!
At
3700 feet, Newson Vineyards has been well known for growing some stellar Texas
fruit. Add to that the 2017 vintage year with all Mother Nature imparted to the
mix, and you get some amazing, crafted wines. This Cabernet Sauvignon made by
Bending Branch exemplifies all that and more. Clocking in at 14.8 ABV, the
color looks great, and the aromas of dark fruit are wonderful. Cherries and
strawberries are notable along with some leather. Let’s call this red jewel
medium plus along with some earthy undertones for added character. A quality food pairing would be the ideal
companion for this red wine, but it is also a great stand-alone sipper. Cheers!
This
vineyard has been a well known source for a number of Texas wineries over the
last 20 years. Planted in 2000 and named
after Major Joshua Peters, the history behind the prairie can be its own
lengthy writing of itself. Fast forward to 2018 and you have Kim Henderson who
gazed upon this land and the for sale sign, then realized dreams can come true.
With her husband Curt, they have dived right into the world of Texas vineyards
and the rest is still history in the making.
Many
may remember their Mason courtyard tasting room that opened back in 2022. Now
they have their own onsite estate tasting room that opened towards the end of
June 2024. It is quite an amazing tasting facility that you should be on your “must
do” check the box list. With high vaulted ceilings, a relic windmill, old
vines, and comfy seating, there is much to sip and relax in there. But
wait…there is also an outside patio for you to enjoy the gorgeous vineyard
views and surrounding countryside. It is quite breath taking and you can see
why Kim and Curt couldn’t say no to this place.
The
estate vineyard has 12 acres planted of Nebbiolo, Pinot Grigio, Syrah,
Zinfandel, Malbec, Albariño, and Malbec. They’ve taken the commitment to
sustainable agriculture practices that will give life to this land for a long
time to come as well as producing quality fruit. They use a custom crush facility in Comfort
to make their estate wines.
You’ll
be quite impressed with the selection of wines they have. All but the Tempranillo are estate wines, and
all are Texas Hill Country AVA. Check out the 2022 Bubbly Syrah Rosé for
starters. You get the best of a fine Rosé plus the classic sparkling sensation
all in one with a touch of brut feel. If Rosé wine
is your thing for the Texas 100 degree summers, then both the Mourvèdre and
Syrah Rosé wines will add that refreshing chill factor for you. Peter’s Prairie
has definitely helped put Pinot Grigio on the map for a go to Texas white.
Their 2020 vintage has fresh fruit on the nose with hints of tropical notes. A must start for the reds would be the 2020
Barbera. Barbera fans will be mesmerized by its light color, refreshing medium
bodied texture, good red fruit notes, plus, it clocks in at 15.3 abv! Next up,
are the Tempranillos. Do try to compare the 2019 and 2020 (assuming
availability). Both are sourced from Tallent Vineyards in Mason County. With
rich blackberry notes, good acids, and solid tannins, there is much
anticipation as to which red meat you’ll pair with these. The Syrah has to be
the star of the estate creations. As one of the oldest vines, you get a very
rich flavor and smooth feeling from this red beast. You’ll be in for an extra
special treat with the 2020 Chaparral Red. As a blend of Malbec and Barbera, its
touch of sweetness feel along with fruit forward notes makes this a very
enjoyable summer red wine.
The
winery has a great team working there and will be more than happy to help you
select the best sipper for you. Plus, with gorgeous views inside and out, you
just might take up a semi residence here for your regular wine sipping
days. They’ve also done a great job at
showing how well Mason County fruit thrives in the Texas wine industry. Cheers!
Say
it can’t be done, but it can! Behold, some mighty fine Rive Droite wine made
with Texas grapes. Throw in some Cabernet
Franc, toss in some Cabernet Sauvignon, add some Merlot along with a dash of Petit
Verdot and voilà! Of course, meticulous vineyard management and expert winemaking
skills play a large part as well. The wine pours a dark ruby red shade and
fills the air with notes of red currant and cherries. Sip and savor and you will
relish those silky tannins and tobacco notes, too. This full-bodied gem is
quite smooth and very well balanced. This lovely wine will also reveal a hint
of spice for added enjoyment. A good hour of decanting should suffice for ultimate
sipping sensations. However, the best way to enjoy may be to sip and relish
this one over the course of the evening so you see how this wine truly unfolds
over time. This red vintage can probably cellar longer than most Texas reds, so
save a few bottles and enjoy a new experience in the future. Santé!
Estate
wines are always a special treat and typically afford us the opportunity to
reminisce that last visit to the winery. This wine is no exception how this Rosé
blend of Sangiovese/Mourvèdre highlights how fine Texas Hill Country AVA fruit can
translate to beauty in the glass. After sitting six months in stainless steel,
this baby has developed into a pleasant sipper worth enjoying with food or
alone. Notes of honey and pepper shine through well after those initial sips. This
wine has a nice soft finish with a touch of strawberry, which one would expect.
Chilled is the way to go with this light and easy drinker and it is
delightfully an all-day Rosé. Cheers!
At
under $15, this Bordeaux Blend is a decent go to wine for value and good taste.
A blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Merlot, notes of blackberry and plums
shine through along with some dark cherries. The color when pouring looks intense,
too. It is dry, fruity, full-bodied and well balanced. You will note some earthiness
and smoke along with a touch of leather as you sip and repeat, while enjoying
the lovely melding of flavors in this beauty - proof that price point is never
an indication of wine quality. Do not be
afraid to give this wine a try, it proves you never know what interesting new
wines you might discover at your local wine merchant. Santé!
Behold,
yet another example of some fine Mason County grown fruit making a wonderful
wine worthy of savoring every drop. This
Estate wine focuses the spotlight on how well wine can be made in the Texas
Hill Country AVA, and more importantly in the hickory sandstone area of Mason
County. Take a few swirls and sips and you may be mesmerized by all the
luscious floral notes that greet your nose. Blackberries are a top note that
will grab your attention, but don’t stop there. Plums and some clove will
equally provide glorious sensations on the nose and palate as you enjoy this
beauty. This wine is one to be savored, so if you have bottles in your cellar,
get one out and pop the cork, as it is time to enjoy the fruit of this lovely
vintage. Cheers!
