Red

NV

W&J Graham's

Six Grapes Special Vila Velha Edition Reserve Port

This is a Reserve with the “seriousness” factor dialed up a notch. The fruit is sourced from Quinta da Vila Velha, purchased by James Yumington in the late 1980s. Deep, dark, and downright brooding, this shows hints of resin, mint, dried black figs, mocha, and succulent blackcurrants. The palate carries both power and refinement, almost like a young Vintage Port. – J.R.

N/A

Texas Heritage Vineyard

Non-Vintage (NV) Stella Solitaria

“Stella Solitaria,” meaning “Lone Star” in Italian, is a blend of 45% Montepulciano and 45% Aglianico (both sourced from Wildseed Farms Vineyard in the Hill Country AVA near Fredericksburg), and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon (from Family Vineyard near Brownfield in Terry County). Fermented in open-top small-lot bins, the wine is pressed to tank, cold-settled, and then aged for up to 48 months in mostly neutral oak. The result is an elegant, vibrant red wine with crunchy red fruit flavors, powerful tannins, and notes of mocha. Blood orange acidity and a rich vein of chalky minerality on the finish add balance and complexity to this bright, spicy, and zippy red blend.

Red

2023

Uplift Vineyard

Estate Red III

(Barrel Sample) Incredibly polished with power, energy, and tension, this blend of 70% Monteuplicano, 22% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 8% Sangiovese offers gorgeously pure red fruits laced with vanilla and tobacco spice notes. Medium-bodied with polished tannins that are already poised for foundational success, it shows great promise. This is going to be a killer wine when it’s finally released, and I can’t wait to re-taste it. There’s been a dynamic shift—a watershed moment—in the production of these wines since Napa-based consultant Jean Hoefliger began consulting with Uplift Vineyard in 2022. The transformation is evident, and this wine is a testament to that evolution, promising an exciting future for these wines.

Red

Vintage

Wine

Type

Color

Rating

$

2022

Producer

Name

Fermented in stainless steel and barrique, then aged in neutral oak for up to 14 months. This full-bodied red shows dark red berry fruit layered with savory brown spices, walnut husk, dried rose petals, and a touch of dark chocolate. Cocoa powder tannins frame the juicy, dark berry finish, while a firm spine of acidity keeps it lifted and bright, in the vein of a great Morgon—try it with duck à l’orange.

Red

2022

Producer

Name

This 2022 is a bold, robust Cabernet Franc with dark fruit intensity and firm, building tannins. Bright currant fruit weaves through layers of rich mahogany spice, black olive, and brown baking spices. The finish is long and structured, anchored by juicy, concentrated fruit and a compelling wet stone minerality.

Red

2022

Producer

Name

Winemaker Kareem Massoud says this took six weeks to finish fermentation—and he was thrilled with the vintage. And no wonder: this is something else. Deep black in color with blue highlights, it opens with inky dark berry fruit, blue fruit, and violet aromatics. A bold, ripe expression of Long Island Cabernet Sauvignon, it delivers a full-bodied palate with soaring tannins and a finish that layers cedarwood spice, tar, black olive, and pressed rose petals. Powerful, structured, and built to age—this is a red wine with serious longevity.

Red

2022

Producer

Name

The flagship wine for Pedernales Cellars, this blend was aged for 18 months in a combination of new and neutral oak and sourced primarily from Lahey Vineyard, with fruit from Daniel Vineyard supplementing. It’s a fantastically bold, supple, and dark-fruited wine, showing blue fruit nuances, dark chocolate notes, and a touch of chalky minerality. Supple tannins frame the full-bodied finish.

Red

2022

Producer

Name

Sourced from Pepperjack Vineyard in the Texas High Plains, the 2022 Teroldego was aged for 18 months in a mix of neutral French and American oak. It’s a bold, juicy wine brimming with red and black fruit, showing a meaty richness on the palate nuanced by violets and candied rose petal notes. Supple yet firm tannins provide structure, while the finish is bold, juicy, and rich.

Red

2022

Producer

Name

As the name, ‘Extravagance’ suggests, this is hedonistic and concentrated, especially so for the Rogue Valley; yet restrained at just 14.3% alcohol. Full-bodied with mixed berry compote, blueberry, and warm baking spices, with rich flourless chocolate cake notes, a lavishly bold mid-center, plump and round tannins, and a mouthwatering, juicy, fruit-driven finish marked by subtler mineral nuances, dried herbs, and sweet dates. Love this wine. It hits all the right notes at $42 per bottle and was made by Barrel 42 (Nichole Schulte and Herb Quady). Aged 22 months in 25% new French oak.

Red

2022

Producer

Name

From the Presqu’ile Vineyard comes this elegant, light- to medium-bodied Pinot Noir with supple, velvet-textured tannins and graceful, lifted acidity. Layers of strawberry-rhubarb interlace with bright baking spice notes, while a subtle pink Himalayan sea salt nuance adds intrigue on the medium-length finish.

Red

2022

Producer

Name

The Runaway Vineyard Pinot Noir is a supple, juicy expression of the grape, offering generous dark berry fruit layered with fine cedarwood spice, a hint of agave nectar, and espresso bean. Gentle tannins and medium-bright acidity frame the wine, making for an easy-going, approachable, and thoroughly satisfying sip.

Red

2022

Producer

Name

A supple, juicy Petite Sirah with expressive notes of rose petal, blackberry, and black cherry, accented by black pepper. Medium-bodied on the palate, with soft plum-like tannins, bright red berry fruit, and baking spices, all wrapped in a salty, saline minerality on the medium-length finish. The tannic muscle of Petite Sirah is nicely tamed here.

Red

2022

Producer

Name

An incredibly juicy red that’s dark and plummy and still a bit young. You can really sense the structure in the dryness of the mid-palate, amid the flavors of black cherry and hints of leather. Grab a burger to tame it and enjoy. – J.R.

Red

2022

Producer

Name

The Buena Suerte Vineyard in the Texas High Plains, planted on Patricia and Amarillo loamy fine sands, supplies the Mourvèdre for this 2022 release. My favourite of the four Portree Cellars reds I sampled from the 2022 vintage, it is ripe and red-fruit driven, with nicely integrated cedarwood spice. Full-bodied, with round, supple tannins, it brims with juicy dark-berry fruit, loamy earth, dried sage, paprika and a fine sprinkling of cocoa powder on the long, saline finish. A wine to drink all night long — ideally paired with brisket, pulled pork or beer-can chicken rubbed with smoked paprika.

Red

2022

Producer

Name

Malbec sourced from the 1,040-acre Lahey Vineyard in Portree Cellar’s hands is high-toned, floral-driven, with mixed berry fruit, cedar spices, and dried sage. Medium-bodied with sinewy tannins, a hint of fig paste layers itself under that mixed berry fruit character, and high-toned acidity keeps everything light and fresh on the finish.

Red

2022

Producer

Name

Portree’s Touriga Nacional from the Phillips Vineyard in the Texas High Plains leaps out of the glass with surprising florality, red berries, and tropical fruit like guava and passion fruit, with underpinnings of cinnamon spices and a building depth of dark cherry fruit and raspberry fruit, and exotic florals with high-toned acid tension on the finish. Not exactly what you’d expect from a red, and a little sharp on the finish, but if you’re making Sangria, I’d buy this by the case-load. Keep following this producer and see how the 2023 release turns out.

Red

2022

Producer

Name

Sourced from Timmons Estate, an 18-acre vineyard in Lubbock County, Texas High Plains — purchased by several Texas wineries including Lost Draw Cellars and William Chris Vineyards — where vines are rooted in sandy-loam soils. Portree’s Tempranillo from this site opens with ripe red-berry fruit before segueing into an intensely savoury profile, with prairie grass, green olives and lavender. The juicy ruby-red fruit is framed by grippy acidity, finishing with rose-petal florals and grapefruit zest.

Red

2022

Producer

Name

From Mae’s Vineyard—named for Margaux Mae, the owner’s daughter—this is a gorgeous Syrah, bursting with pure red cherry and blueberry fruit, interlaced with rose petal, violet, and a dusting of white pepper. The palate is all satin and silk, energized by tangy blood orange acidity and layered with hints of clove, mountain herbs, and wet stone minerality on a long, saline-acid finish. Simply spectacular.

Red

2022

Producer

Name

Named for the terraced vineyards surrounding this often underrated estate’s ancient dovecote (“pombal” in Portuguese), this release hails from a hot and dry vintage (even by modern Douro standards). Exceptionally spicy on the nose, with green and dried herbs, pepper, violets, and wild blackberry notes. On the palate, this is ripe, plummy, dense, and full, with tannins that carry a dusty edge. Delicious now, this will be even better with 2-3 years of cellaring. – J.R.

Cristaldi Scores

Vintage

Wine

Color

Rating

Vintage

Wine

Color

Rating

W&J Graham's

Six Grapes Special Vila Velha Edition Reserve Port

Texas Heritage Vineyard

Non-Vintage (NV) Stella Solitaria

Uplift Vineyard

Estate Red III

Vintage

Wine

Type

Color

Rating

$

Producer

Name

Producer

Name

Producer

Name

Producer

Name

Producer

Name

Producer

Name

Producer

Name

Producer

Name

Producer

Name

Producer

Name

Producer

Name

Producer

Name

Producer

Name

Producer

Name

Producer

Name

Producer

Name

Vintage

Wine

Type

Rating

$