Calais Winery – Hye, Texas

Did someone say French style wine in Texas? Why yes....it is possible and this is "THE" spot for some really, really fine French style wine made in Texas from Texas grown grapes.  Plus, owner Ben Calais just happens to be from France as well!  He grew up in the French town of Calais where he learned to make wine in Bordeaux.  Many long time Texas wine fans may remember him at his first location in the Deep Ellum area of Dallas.  That is where we first visited and tasted his wines many harvest moons ago.  A quick check of our inventory and we still have a 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon as well as a 2006 (yes, 2006!) La Cuvee du Commerce still aging in our cellar from those early days.  Since then, Ben has been able to acquire quality Texas grapes to make his fine wines.   Ben has been pretty much a one man show getting the land and building construction done.  His hard labor of wine love is finally coming to form.  His wine cave will bring you a unique and cool (literally) wine tasting experience as well as a country like feel.  Not every grape makes the cut for Ben’s wine making techniques and it definitely shows in the aroma and taste.  Currently, Ben's lineup includes a Rose, two whites and three reds to sip and savor. The 2014 chilled dry Rose is great for our Texas summer heat.  It’s a blend of Cinsault and Mourvedre.  You’ll definitely enjoy it's cool, dry texture. You may need at least a case to get you through this hot and muggy summer.  The 2013 and 2012 Roussanne wine from the High Plains are like night and day.  Both are uniquely good.  The 2013 harvest for Texas was a bit lean because of the late freeze.  As such, there wasn’t that much fruit, but what was available is full in flavor.  The 2012 Roussanne was aged for 30 months.  Leave it to Ben to be able to age this white varietal for this long and turn out so well.  The 2012 Sangiovese has that nice earthy unfiltered flavor that just makes your whole mouth feel satisfied.  Ben has also done a fine job on the 2012 Tempranillo.  It should age well for those who are patient with their reds.  For the 2012 Cabernet Suavignon, just put a case of this in your coffin for the afterlife.  Yes, it is that good.  Ben knows cabs!  Available for purchase is the 2011 Marrons.  After all, what is a good meal without a nice Madera to end off the night?  Add this to your wine stash.  Future estate plans do call for a vineyard to be planted.  It sounded like Ben was focused on Tannat and only Tannat.  After all, the right grapes with the right soil in the right climate is where the “Q” in quality wine starts.  Future wine releases include some single vineyard varietal wines as well as a limited Bordeaux style release.  In addition to wine, Ben also makes some great homemade bread.  Yes, he is talented in food and wine. Maybe he should have a bread shop alongside his winery!  One thing we guarantee, you won’t find a bad drop of wine here.  So, come on out and sip and chat with Ben while enjoying his great tasting wines.  It’s a great place to visit!  Cheers!

www.calaiswinery.com

Five Year Anniversary!

Five years?  No way!  My how wine goes by when you're sipping and having fun.  Last year our wine bottle inventory count was near 600.  Now the current count nearing 800 bottles.  How did that happen? It's like great bottles of wine just like to fly into our cellar(s). Visiting great wineries is how that happened and we have enjoyed sharing another amazing year of wine and winery adventures with you.  That just means many more great wines and to share and post about in the future as well.  Not to mention the great visits and unique stories at each winery which really add to the character of each bottle, winery, and the people behind every label. Our complete wine list is on Cellertracker.  Just lookup Wine Of The Moment under people.  Take a look and see what you like.  Give us a shout if you see something you're interested in hearing more about and maybe we can feature  it on a future post.  We really enjoy trying new varietals, visiting new places, and exploring the growing industry and hope you are enjoying the ride along with us. Here's to five more years and beyond! Cheers!

4 Blend reserve – 2005; Sister Creek Vineyards; Sisterdale, Texas

Can you just say delicious? Sister Creek is one of those wineries that always produce consistently good quality red blends. The Cabernet four blend reserve is no exception.  This Bordeaux style blend is a mixture of Cabernet Sauvignon (51%), Merlot (20%, Cabernet Franc (19%), and Malbec (10%).  Savor bold fruit aroma and indulge in the smoky, vanilla, and cherry flavors that wash across your palate. The fact that this wine is 10 years old and still holding its own, just adds more enjoyment to the wine sipping experience!  The wine pairs well with a good Mediterranean dish. It’s a classic worth bragging about and sharing with friends.  Cheers!

www.sistercreekvineyards.com

Graciano - 2012; Alamosa Wine Cellars; Bend, Texas

This is a great successor to the 2010 vintage.  It has a beautiful nose and is not too dry.  For the 2012 wine, you'll note subtle peppery and smoky flavors along with hints of black cherries and a bit of a cocoa to round out the flavor profile.  Mild on the tannins, you should be able to enjoy this one with a wide variety of dishes. We especially love the bouquet and believe you could keep inhaling and sipping this one until  the cows come home.  Yes, it's one of those "I can't get enough of" wines, yet there are sadly only so many bottles available. Be sure to check out our 2010 Graciano posting.  It's worth another 90+ score!  This is one of those hidden  treasures of Texas wines that you'll want to seek out and stash away as the winery is for sale and the original wine maker will be looking to officially retire. So drink well and enjoy what bottles you have with friends! Extra Cheers!!

 

www.alamosawinecellars.com

Viognier – 2008; Brennan Vineyards; Comanche, Texas

Just one look at this rich yellow hued white wine and you know you’re in for a special treat.  This nicely aged un-oaked Viognier has buttery and apricot notes and a smooth body.  You'll also notice the light acidity and good minerality of this dry wine.  The wine is a very easy, soft white with a delicate taste and a good lingering finish.  This is a great wine to pair with cheese or to enjoy alone. Serve chilled and you’ll be a happy wine camper.  Kudos to Brennan Vineyards for showing how well the right varietal does in Texas.   A job well done!

www.brennanvineyards.com

The Weimary – Weimar, Texas

Each winery we’ve visited has had its own unique story to it.  At The Weimary, you get that plus a unique story to each bottle. That is one of the added unique characteristics that you’ll love about this place.  Each bottle label features old black and white photos of many of the owner’s different family members. However, along with tasting each bottle and enjoying what's inside, you need to also savor each label unique character and story, as there are some really interesting ones to be found here.  That is something special that owners Sue and Patrick Gibson have added to this place, setting it apart from the others.  If you happen to have the pleasure of meeting Sue on your visit, she will definitely tell you a lot of each family photo and the story behind it with a great zest for life and humor!  The stories are quite interesting and will keep you as a customer engaged and interested.  Patrick can be found talking, too, but mostly to the vines. They planted their 4 acres of vines back in 2009 planting Blanc du Bois and Lenoir on what was once the old Grahmann Farms property and opened their tasting room and winery on Memorial weekend in 2012. They are currently on their 6^th leaf.  Braman Winery and Haak have been helping them out with their wine production as well as facilities in New Mexico.  Besides the story telling on the wine labels, you’ll also enjoy a good selection of good wine from sweet to medium to dry.  It's best to have your tasting partner around so both of you can divide and conquer their extensive list.  They've done a nice job with the Blanc du Bois wines (Fred & Frieda), but you'll be in for a treat with the Sweet Cheeks version.  It actually has about 8% Malbec blended with it to kick it up a notch. The Sunshine & Victory blends (white & red) have some Moscato blended in to make for a great chilled lemonade alternative summer time  treat.  If you like reds, they have some good red blends with the Wrestler Red and Sidekick. The Broken Bow is a actually a nice light version of Cabernet Sauvignon that'll surprise some white wine drinkers with its good taste and aroma.  For Merlot drinkers, do try The Competition. The bold red wine drinkers should appreciate Strong Arm Jack which has been aged 18 months and is bold, earthy, and everything else you love in a good red wine.  Coming attractions planned for future releases are a Pinot Grigio and a Gewurztraminer, which we believe will not disappoint. The Weimary has a great outdoor area for just about any event, lots of open spaces, and the ideal spot for a spectacular sunset and lovely countryside views.  This is a cool place to visit next time you’re out this way so do check it out! 

 

www.weimary.com

Palette – 2010; Alamosa Wine Cellars; Bend, Texas

Introduce your taste buds to some fine Rhone style wines from Texas. This blend of Syrah, Mourvedre, Grenache, and Cinsaut is what it’s all about in fine Texas wines.  From the color, to the aroma, to the taste, you will definitely have the full sensory experience with this red wine.  Upon the initial pour and first swirl you will enjoy the sensory aroma of this wine, noting nice deep earthy scents.  Take a few sips and you experience a smooth dry finish on your palate.  Good isn’t it?  You may also find some raspberry and cherry flavors presenting themselves while melding with light pepper. Take a few more sips and you’ll be thoroughly pleased with the smooth and balanced feel of this wine.  Now the only question left for you to ponder is what nice steak you’ll pair this one with when you decide to drink it. Enjoy!

www.alamosawinecellars.com